Google does a great job of simplifying ChromeOS, but sometimes that simplicity leads to small head-scratchers and Caps Lock is one of them. If you’re coming from Windows or macOS, your first instinct is probably to press the Caps Lock key, only to realize that Chromebooks don’t have one.
Thankfully, ChromeOS still gives you a quick and painless way to enable Caps Lock, customize the shortcut, and even assign it to another key if you prefer a more traditional layout. In this guide, we’ll show you all the ways to turn on Caps Lock on a Chromebook so you can type in uppercase without holding down the Shift key.
Turn On Caps Lock on a Chromebook
There are different ways to turn on the Caps Lock feature on your Chromebook, depending on the keyboard layout. Recently, Chromebooks received a new keyboard design with changes such as the Quick Insert key replacing the Search key and the addition of the G key for the Launcher.
So, based on your keyboard layout, you have different options for enabling Caps Lock on a Chromebook. Let’s go through all the methods.
1. Turn On Caps Lock Using the Keyboard Shortcut
This is the fastest way to enable Caps Lock on any Chromebook. On the older keyboard layout, Google replaced the classic Caps Lock key with the Search key (sometimes labeled with a magnifying glass). On the newer layout, it has been replaced with the Quick Insert key.
To enable Caps Lock instantly, use the following keyboard shortcuts:
1. For the old keyboard layout with the Search key: Press Search + Alt to enable or disable Caps Lock.
2. For the new keyboard layout with the Quick Insert key: Press Fn + Quick Insert, or press Shift to turn off Caps Lock.
3. When enabled, ChromeOS will briefly display a popup saying Caps Lock is on in the chromebook shelf area (taskbar), and you’ll notice that everything you type appears in uppercase.
2. Remap a Key to Caps Lock
If you prefer having a dedicated Caps Lock key, just like on a traditional keyboard, you can remap one of your Chromebook’s existing keys. Most users choose the Search (Launcher) or Quick Insert key since this is the traditional location for Caps Lock.
Here’s how you can remap a key to caps lock:
1. Click the clock, Wi-Fi, and battery section, then select the gear icon to open Settings. Alternatively, you can open Settings directly from the Launcher.
2. Click on Device, then select Keyboard and inputs.
3. Click Customize keyboard to remap special keys on your Chromebook.
3. Use the drop-down menus to assign new actions for the Search or Quick Insert key and turn it into a Caps Lock key.
Once you do this, pressing that key will function exactly like a dedicated Caps Lock key, tap once to turn it on and tap again to turn it off. No need for shortcuts or continuously holding the Shift key to type in uppercase.
How to Use the On-Screen Keyboard to Enable Caps Lock
If you’re using a touchscreen Chromebook or the physical keyboard isn’t responding, the on-screen keyboard offers another way to enable Caps Lock. However, you must first enable the On-Screen Keyboard feature on your Chromebook. Here’s how:
1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Accessibility, then click Keyboard and text input.
3. Enable the On-screen keyboard toggle.
4. Once it’s enabled, a virtual keyboard icon will appear on the Chromebook shelf. Tap it to open the on-screen keyboard, then tap the Caps key to activate Caps Lock and tap it again to turn it off.
Wrapping Up
Turning on Caps Lock on a Chromebook is quick once you know the shortcuts. Whether you use Search + Alt, fn + Quick Insert, want to remap a key to make your Chromebook feel more like a Windows or Mac keyboard, or prefer the on-screen keyboard, ChromeOS gives you multiple flexible options.
With these steps, you can type in uppercase effortlessly and customize your keyboard so it works exactly the way you like.
