If you’re new to Chromebooks, you must navigate through various learning curves. If you’re transitioning from another operating system, it’s crucial to note that the shortcut keys and keyboard layout are different. While the ChromeOS interface is user-friendly, understanding the right shortcuts can significantly enhance your productivity and make you feel like a pro user.
In this guide, we’ll explore some essential Chromebook shortcuts to help you navigate ChromeOS like a pro. However, please note that if you are using an external keyboard for your Chromebook (Windows or Mac keyboard), you can substitute the Search key on Chromebooks with the Windows key or Command key.
How to Check List of Keyboard Shortcuts on Chromebook
Before we dive into the list of Chromebook shortcuts to use ChromeOS, here are the quick steps you can follow to access the keyboard shortcuts list for your Chromebook. This will help you explore more useful keyboard shortcuts that you can use to improve your productivity.
1. Press Ctrl + Search + S on your keyboard to access the list of keyboard shortcuts.
2. The keyboard shortcut overview is now open. Here, you can browse keyboard shortcuts from various categories.
3. Now, try typing the shortcut name you are looking for in the search box. For instance, if you want to take a screenshot, search for keywords related to screenshots in the search box.
4. After that, you will get the shortcut keys you can use to take a screenshot.
Best Chrome OS keyboard shortcuts
Using the above method, you can find the keyboard shortcut you are looking for. However, here we’ll explore some of Chromebooks’ most important and useful keyboard shortcuts.
You can click on the link below to jump to the corresponding section of the best Chrome OS keyboard shortcuts.
Note: In this article, we have listed only the essential keyboard shortcuts for your Chromebook.
Text-editing Shortcuts
Here is the list of shortcuts that you can use while typing and editing text:
1. Select All the Texts: Ctrl + A
When you press Ctrl + A, it will select the text. Use it when you need to copy all the text or when you want to delete it.
2. Copy and Cut Text/Files/Folders: Ctrl + C and Ctrl + X
Use Ctrl and C together to copy the selected text, and to cut or move anything, including text on Chromebooks, use Ctrl + X.
3. Paste Content: Ctrl + V
Now, to paste the copied text or files and folders, you can use Ctrl + V. However, in case you want to paste the text without any formatting, then use Ctrl + Shift + V.
4. Undo and Redo: Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y
If you want to undo your last action, use Ctrl + Z, and to redo it, use Ctrl + Y. These keyboard shortcuts are helpful when you quickly want to redo and undo things.
5. Navigate to the Start/End of Text: Search + Left or Right key
When editing paragraphs and in need of swiftly moving to the beginning or end of a line, simply press the Search key and opt for the left or right key.
Essential Chromebook Shortcuts
Check out the essential Chromebook shortcuts that will help you navigate through the Chrome OS seamlessly.
1. Launch Google Assistant: Search + A
If you have turned on the Google Assistant service on your Chromebook, then you can perform most tasks like setting reminders, setting alarms, asking Google Assistant for the time, and weather info, and more. You can use the Search + A to launch Google Assistant.
2. Preview a File: Press the Space key once
One of the impressive features of Chromebook is its ability to quickly preview files, regardless of their format. Whether it’s a PDF, image, or video clip, you can easily preview the file by selecting it and pressing the Space key once.
The preview of the file will appear on the right pane along with its properties, without actually opening the file. This feature saves time and makes it easy to manage files on your Chromebook.
3. Turn Caps Lock On/Off: Alt + Search
On the Chromebook keyboard, there is no dedicated key for Caps Lock. However, there is a keyboard shortcut that you can use to turn on and off Caps Lock on your Chrome OS. Use Alt + Search to turn on Caps Lock and press Alt + Search again to cancel the Caps Lock or press the Shift key.
4. Delete a File/Folder: Alt + Backspace
Since there is no delete key on the Chromebook keyboard, users have to use a keyboard shortcut to delete files and folders. Select the files and folders that you want to delete and press Alt + Backspace.
5. Create a New Folder in Files App: Ctrl + E
To create a new folder in the Files App, you can also make use of a shortcut. Open the Files app and press Ctrl + E, then type the folder name and hit the Enter key to create a new folder.
6. Take a Screenshot: Ctrl + Overview button
On a Chromebook, you can take multiple kinds of screenshots with simple keyboard shortcuts. Just press the Ctrl + Overview button to capture a full-page screenshot.
However, if you want to select a particular area of the screen to take a screenshot, then you can do it by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Overview button.
7. Lock the Screen: Search + L
When you leave your Chromebook idle, it is a good practice to lock the screen so that nobody else can use the device. When you lock your Chromebook, you have to enter the Google Account password or the PIN to unlock the device. To quickly lock the device, use Search + L.
8. Open Task Manager: Search + Esc
If you want to see all the processes currently running on the system, plus a button to end processes you desire, then you have to use the Search + Esc shortcut to open the Task Manager on your Chromebook.
9. Open the Files App: Alt + Shift + M
The Files app is a convenient place to store and manage system files, Google Play Store files, and Linux files. To open it quickly, press Alt + Shift + M.
10. Launch Shelf Apps: Alt + 1-9
On Chrome OS, you can pin apps and websites to the Chromebook Shelf for quick access to your favorite apps. You can also launch them quickly using keyboard shortcuts. To open the first app on the Shelf, press Alt + 1. For the second app, use Alt + 2, and so on until the 9th app.
11. Maximze and Minimze Apps: Alt + and –
Efficiently navigating through Windows is essential for a seamless computing experience, and Chrome OS offers convenient keyboard shortcuts to make this process a breeze. One of my favorite shortcuts involves maximizing and minimizing windows with just a few keystrokes.
To minimize a window, you will need to press the Alt and – (minus) key. To maximize the app’s window, use the Alt and + key.
Chrome Browser Shortcuts
Google Chrome is the default browser on your Chromebook, and if you want to use it productively, you should know these Chromebook shortcuts.
1. Open the Chrome Menu: Alt + E
To change any settings in the Chrome browser, we have to access the Chrome browser menu. You can access it using the UI element; however, if you want, you can also access it using the keyboard shortcut. For that, open the Google Chrome browser and press Alt + E.
2. Switch Tabs in Chrome: Ctrl + 1-9
The shortcut Ctrl + 1-9 is used to switch between tabs in the Chrome browser. It allows you to quickly jump to a specific tab based on its position in the tab bar. For example, pressing Ctrl + 1 will take you to the first tab, Ctrl + 2 to the second tab, and so on, up to the ninth tab. This can be a handy way to navigate efficiently if you have multiple tabs open in your Chrome browser.
3. Clear Browsing Data: Ctrl + Shift + Backspace
The Chrome browser has a handy shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Backspace that opens the Clear Browsing Data dialog box. This keyboard shortcut allows you to easily access the settings for clearing your browsing history, cookies, cached images and files, and other site data. It’s a convenient way to manage your privacy and clear data from your browsing session.
4. Go Incognito: Ctrl + Shift + N
If you want to browse the internet privately, then you can use the Incognito feature of Google Chrome. Incognito mode allows you to browse privately, and the browser won’t save your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms. You can access it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + N.
Conclusion
These are some of the essential keyboard shortcuts for your Chromebook. However, many other shortcuts are similar to those used on Windows and Mac. You can explore the complete list by opening the Keyboard Shortcuts option on your Chromebook.
Using these shortcuts can help you work faster and navigate your Chromebook more efficiently in everyday tasks.
