Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts

chromebook

Are you currently working from home and struggling to navigate the Chromebook your boss has supplied you? Do not worry, help is at hand. Here’s a handy list of keyboard shortcuts to make life easier. You can thank us later!

You can use keyboard shortcuts to complete some tasks more quickly.

Tip: To find shortcuts on this page, press Ctrl + f and enter what you’re looking for.

Popular shortcuts

  • Take a screenshot: Press Ctrl + Show windows 
  • Take a partial screenshot: Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows  , then click and drag.
  • Take a screenshot on tablets: Press Power button + Volume down button.
  • Turn Caps lock on or off: Press Search  + Alt. Or press Launcher  + Alt.
  • Lock your screen: Press Search  + L. Or press Launcher  + L.
  • Sign out of your Google Account: Press Shift + Ctrl + q (twice).
  • See all keyboard shortcuts: Press Ctrl + Alt + / (forward slash).

Shortcuts on external keyboards

If you’re using a Windows or Mac keyboard, press the Windows key or Command key instead of Search key  or Launcher key .

To change how a specific keyboard key works:

  1. At the bottom right, select the time. Or press Alt + Shift + s.
  2. Select Settings .
  3. Under ‘Device’, choose Keyboard.
  4. Change the function of one or more keys.

All other shortcuts

Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key  or the Launcher key  for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same. 

Tabs and windows

Open a new windowCtrl + n
Open a new window in Incognito modeShift + Ctrl + n
Open a new tabCtrl + t
Open a file in the browserCtrl o
Close the current tabCtrl w
Close the current windowShift + Ctrl w
Reopen the last tab or window that you closedShift Ctrl t
Go to tabs 1–8 in the windowCtrl + 1 to Ctrl + 8
Go to the last tab in the windowCtrl + 9
Go to the next tab in the windowCtrl + Tab
Go to the previous tab in the windowShift + Ctrl + Tab
Switch quickly between windowsPress and hold Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window that you want to open, then release. You can also press and hold Alt, then tap Tab, and select a window with the left or right arrow keys, mouse or touch.
Open the window that you used least recentlyPress and hold Shift + Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window that you want to open, then release.
Go to previous page in your browsing historyAlt + Left arrow 
Go to the next page in your browsing historyAlt + Right arrow 
Open the link in a new tab in the backgroundPress Ctrl and click a link
Open the link in a new tab and switch to the new tabPress Shift + Ctrl and click a link
Open the link in a new windowPress Shift and click a link
Open the link in the tabDrag the link to the tab’s address bar
Open the link in a new tabDrag the link to a blank area on the tab strip
Open the web page in a new tabType a web address (URL) in the address bar, then press Alt + Enter
Return the tab to its original positionWhile dragging the tab, press Esc
Dock a window on the leftAlt + [ (left square bracket)
Maximise windowAlt + =
Minimise windowAlt + – (minus)
Dock a window on the rightAlt + ] (right square bracket)
Switch windows between screens (when your Chromebook is connected to a monitor)Search  + Alt + (or)
Launcher  + Alt + m

Page and web browser

Page upAlt + Up arrow 
Page downAlt + Down arrow 
Scroll down the web pageSpace bar
Go to top of pageCtrl + Alt + Up arrow 
Go to bottom of pageCtrl + Alt + Down arrow 
Print your current pageCtrl + p
Save your current pageCtrl + s
Reload your current pageCtrl + r
Reload your current page without using cached contentShift + Ctrl + r
Zoom in on the pageCtrl and +
Zoom out on the pageCtrl and – (minus)
Reset zoom levelCtrl + 0
Stop the loading of your current pageEsc
Right-click a linkPress Alt and click a link
Open the link in a new tab in the backgroundPress Ctrl and click a link
Save the link as a bookmarkDrag link to bookmarks bar
Save your current web page as a bookmarkCtrl + d
Save all open pages in your current window as bookmarks in a new folderShift + Ctrl + d
Search the current pageCtrl + f
Go to the next match for your searchCtrl + g or Enter
Go to the previous match for your searchShift + Ctrl + g or Shift + Enter
Go to an inactive information fieldAlt + Shift + a
Perform a Google searchCtrl k (or) 
Ctrl e
Add www. and .com to your input in the address bar, then open the pageCtrl + Enter
View page sourceCtrl + u
Show or hide the Developer tools panelShift + Ctrl+ i
Navigate to selected section in the Developer tools panelCtrl + Shift + c
Open the Console tab in the Developer tools panelShift + Ctrlj
Show or hide the bookmarks barShift Ctrlb
Show the toolbarAlt + Shift + t
Navigate to selected selection in the Developer tools panelCtrl + Shift + c
Open the History pageCtrl + h
Open the Downloads pageCtrl + j
Delete selected auto-fill suggestion when filling in a formShift + Alt + Backspace

System and display settings

Open the Files appShift + Alt + m
Preview a file in the Files appSelect the file, then press Space
Display hidden files in the Files appCtrl + . (full-stop)
Open the status area (where the time appears)Shift + Alt + s
Click icons 1–8 on your shelfAlt + 1 to Alt + 8
Click the last icon on your shelfAlt + 9
Use function keysSearch  + your preferred function key (or)
Launcher  + your preferred function key
See your notificationsShift + Alt + n
Change screen resolutionShift Ctrl and + or – (minus)
Reset screen resolution to defaultShift + Ctrl + 0
Rotate screen 90 degreesShift + Ctrl + Rotate 
Switch to the next userCtrl + Alt + . (full-stop)
Switch to the previous userCtrl Alt + , (comma)

Text editing

Turn Caps lock on or offSearch  + Alt (or)
Launcher  + Alt
Select everything on the pageCtrl + a
Select the content in the address barCtrl + L or Alt + d
Select the next word or letterShift + Ctrl + Right arrow  
Select text to the end of the lineSearch  + Shift + Right arrow  (or)
Launcher  + Shift + Right arrow 
Select text to the beginning of the lineSearch  + Shift + Left arrow  (or)
Launcher  + Shift + Left arrow 
Select previous word or letterShift + Ctrl + Left arrow 
Move to the end of the next wordCtrl + Right arrow 
Move to the start of the previous wordCtrl + Left arrow 
Move to beginning of the lineSearch  + Left arrow  (or)
Launcher  + Left arrow 
Move to end of the lineSearch  + Right arrow  (or)
Launcher  + Right arrow 
Go to end of documentSearch  + Ctrl + Right arrow  (or)
Launcher  + Ctrl + Right arrow 
Go to beginning of documentSearch  + Ctrl + Left arrow  (or)
Launcher  + Ctrl + Left arrow 
Copy selected content to the clipboardCtrl + c
Paste content from the clipboardCtrl + v
Paste content from the clipboard as plain textShift + Ctrl + v
CutCtrl + x
Delete the previous wordCtrl + Backspace
Delete the next letter (forward delete)Alt + Backspace
Undo your last actionCtrl + z
Redo your last actionShift + Ctrl + z
Switch between the keyboard languages that you’ve set.Learn how to choose your keyboard language.Shift + Ctrl + Space
Switch to the previous keyboard language that you were using.Learn how to choose your keyboard language.Ctrl + Space
Dim keyboard (for backlit keyboards only)Alt + 
Make keyboard brighter (for backlit keyboards only)Alt + 

Accessibility

Learn how to make your Chromebook accessible.

Turn ChromeVox (spoken feedback) on or offCtrl + Alt + z
Turn on high contrast modeSearch  + Ctrl + (or)
Launcher  + Ctrl + h
Magnify your whole screenCtrl + Search  + m (or)
Ctrl + Launcher  + m
Magnify part of your screenCtrl + Search  + (or)
Ctrl + Launcher  + d
Move around in full-screen magnifier modeCtrl + Alt + Up Down , Left  or Right 
Highlight the launcher button on your shelfShift + Alt + L
Highlight the next item on your shelfShift + Alt + L, then Tab (or) 
Shift + Alt + L, then Right arrow 
Highlight the previous item on your shelfShift + Alt + L, then Shift + Tab (or)
Shift + Alt + L, then Left arrow 
Open the highlighted button on your shelfShift + Alt + L, then Space (or) 
Shift + Alt + L, then Enter
Remove the highlight from a button on your shelfShift + Alt + L, then Esc
Switch focus between:Status area (where the time appears)LauncherAddress barBookmarks bar (if visible)The web page that’s openDownloads bar (if visible)Ctrl + Back  or Ctrl + Forward 
Highlight the bookmarks bar (if shown)Shift + Alt + b
Highlight the row with the address barShift + Alt + t
Open right-click menu for highlighted itemSearch  + Shift + Increase volume  (or)
Launcher  + Shift + Increase volume 
Move an app icon up, down or to the side in the launcherCtrl + Up Down , Left  or Right 
Move an app in or out of a folder in the launcherCtrl + Shift + Up , Down , Left  or Right 
Use shortcuts on a braille keyboardSee braille keyboard shortcuts