Chromebook: Shortcut Keys
Jul 02, 2024
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You can use keyboard shortcuts to complete some tasks more quickly on Chromebooks. Keyboard shortcuts usually involve holding down two or more keys at a time.
You can jump to the following sections if you don't want to scroll through the entire article
- What are Some of the Chromebook Keys/Symbols
- Popular Shortcuts
- Tab and Window Shortcuts
- Web Page and Browser
- System & Display Shortcuts
- Text Editing Shortcuts
- Accessibility Shortcuts
Tip: To search for a shortcut on this page, press Ctrl + f and type what you're looking for into the cell that appears.
What are Some of the Chromebook Keys/Symbols
Many shortcuts will include one of the following keys. If you are unsure which key is being referenced check below for a picture of the key.
- Show Windows
- Search
- Settings
- Left arrow
- Right arrow
- Up arrow
- Down arrow
- Rotate
- Back
- Forward
- Volume
Popular Shortcuts
- Take a screenshot: Press Ctrl + Show Windows
- Take a partial screenshot: Press Alt + Screenshot , then click and drag. Or press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows , then click and drag
- Take a screenshot on tablets: Press the Power button + Volume down button
- Turn Caps Lock on or off: Press Search + Alt
- Lock your screen: Press Search + L
- Sign out of your Google Account: Press Shift + Ctrl + q (twice)
- See all keyboard shortcuts: Press Ctrl + Search + S or Ctrl + Shift + T
Shortcuts on External Keyboards
If you’re using a Windows or Mac keyboard, press the Windows key or Command key instead of the Search key
- At the bottom right of the Chromebook screen, click on the oval that has the time in it. Or press Alt + Shift + s
- Select Settings
- Under "Device," choose Keyboard
- Change the function of one or more keys
All Other Shortcuts
Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.
Tab and Window Shortcuts
| Open a new window | Ctrl + n |
| Open a new window in Incognito mode | Shift + Ctrl + n |
| Open a new tab | Ctrl + t |
| Open a file in the browser | Ctrl + o |
| Close the current tab | Ctrl + w |
| Close the current window | Shift + Ctrl + w |
| Reopen the last tab or window you closed | Shift + Ctrl + t |
| Go to tabs 1-8 in the window | Ctrl + 1 through Ctrl + 8 |
| Go to the last tab in the window | Ctrl + 9 |
| Go to the next tab in the window | Ctrl + Tab |
| Go to the previous tab in the window | Shift + Ctrl + Tab |
| Switch quickly between windows | Press & hold Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window you want to open, then release. |
| Open the window you used least recently | Press & hold Shift + Alt, tap Tab until you get to the window you want to open, then release. |
| Go to previous page in your browsing history | Alt + Left arrow |
| Go to the next page in your browsing history | Alt + Right arrow |
| Open the link in a new tab in the background | Press Ctrl and click a link |
| Open the link in a new tab and switch to the new tab | Press Shift + Ctrl and click a link |
| Open the link in a new window | Press Shift and click a link |
| Open the link in the tab | Drag the link to the tab's address bar |
| Open the link in a new tab | Drag the link to a blank area on the tab strip |
| Open the webpage in a new tab` | Type a web address (URL) in the address bar, then press Alt + Enter |
| Return the tab to its original position | While dragging the tab, press Esc |
| Dock a window on the left | Alt + [ (left square bracket) |
| Maximize window | Alt + = |
| Minimize window | Alt + - (minus) |
|
Dock a window on the right |
Alt + ] (right square bracket) |
|
Switch windows between screens (when your Chromebook is connected to a monitor) |
Search + Alt + m |
Web Page & Browser Shortcuts
| Page up | Alt + Up arrow |
| Page down | Alt + Down arrow |
| Scroll down the web page | Space bar |
| Go to top of page | Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow |
| Go to bottom of page | Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow |
| Print your current page | Ctrl + p |
| Save your current page | Ctrl + s |
| Reload your current page | Ctrl + r |
| Reload your current page without using cached content | Shift + Ctrl + r |
| Zoom in on the page | Ctrl and + |
| Zoom out on the page | Ctrl and - (minus) |
| Reset zoom level | Ctrl + 0 |
| Stop the loading of your current page | Esc |
| Right-click a link | Two finger tab on trackpad |
| Open the link in a new tab in the background | Press Ctrl and click a link |
| Save the link as a bookmark | Drag link to bookmarks bar |
| Save your current webpage as a bookmark | Ctrl + d |
|
Save all open pages in your current window as bookmarks in a new folder |
Shift + Ctrl + d |
| Search the current page | Ctrl + f |
| Go to the next match for your search | Ctrl + g or Enter |
| Go to the previous match for your search | Shift + Ctrl + g or Shift + Enter |
| Perform a Google search | Ctrl + k (or) Ctrl + e |
|
Add www. and .com to your input in the address bar, then open the page |
Ctrl + Enter |
| View page source | Ctrl + u |
| Show or hide the Developer Tools panel | Shift + Ctrl + i |
|
Navigate to selected section in the Developer Tools panel |
Ctrl + Shift + c |
| Open the Console tab in the Developer Tools panel | Shift + Ctrl + j |
| Show the toolbar | Alt + Shift + t |
|
Navigate to selected selection in the Developer Tools panel |
Ctrl + Shift + c |
| Open the History page | Ctrl + h |
| Open the Downloads page | Ctrl + j |
| Delete selected Autofill suggestion when filling out a form | Shift + Backspace |
System & Display Shortcuts
| Open the Files app | Shift + Alt + m |
| Preview a file in the Files app | Select the file, then press Space |
| Display hidden files in the Files app | Ctrl + . (period) |
| Open the status area (where the time appears) | Shift + Alt + s |
| Click icons 1-8 on your shelf | Alt + 1 through Alt + 8 |
| Click the last icon on your shelf | Alt + 9 |
| Use function keys | Search + your preferred function key |
| See your notifications | Shift + Alt + n |
| Change screen resolution | Shift + Ctrl and + or - (minus) |
| Reset screen resolution to default | Shift + Ctrl + 0 |
| Rotate screen 90 degrees | Shift + Ctrl + Rotate |
| Switch to the next user | Ctrl + Alt + . (period) |
| Switch to the previous user | Ctrl + Alt + , (comma) |
Text Editing Shortcuts
| Turn Caps Lock on or off | Search + Alt |
| Select everything on the page | Ctrl + a |
| Select the content in the address bar | Ctrl + L or Alt + d |
| Select the next word or letter | Shift + Ctrl + Right arrow |
| Select text to the end of the line | Search + Shift + Right arrow |
| Select text to the beginning of the line | Search + Shift + Left arrow |
| Select previous word or letter | Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow |
| Move to the end of the next word | Ctrl + Right arrow |
| Move to the start of the previous word | Ctrl + Left arrow |
| Move to beginning of the line | Search + Left arrow |
| Move to end of the line | Search + Right arrow |
| Go to end of document | Search + Ctrl + Right arrow |
| Go to beginning of document | Search + Ctrl + Left arrow |
| Copy selected content to the clipboard | Ctrl + c |
| Paste content from the clipboard | Ctrl + v |
| Paste content from the clipboard as plain text | Shift + Ctrl + v |
| Cut | Ctrl + x |
| Delete the previous word | Ctrl + Backspace |
| Delete the next letter (forward delete) | Alt + Backspace |
| Undo your last action | Ctrl + z |
| Redo your last action | Shift + Ctrl + z |
|
Switch between the keyboard languages you've set. |
Shift + Ctrl + Space |
|
Switch to the previous keyboard language you were using. |
Ctrl + Space |
| Dim keyboard (for backlit keyboards only) | Alt + |
| Make keyboard brighter (for backlit keyboards only) | Alt + |
Accessibility Shortcuts
Learn how to make your Chromebook accessible.
| Turn ChromeVox (spoken feedback) on or off | Ctrl + Alt + z |
| Turn on high contrast mode | Search + Ctrl + h |
| Magnify your whole screen | Ctrl + Search + m |
| Magnify part of your screen | Ctrl + Search + d |
| Highlight the launcher button on your shelf | Shift + Alt + L |
| Highlight the next item on your shelf | Shift + Alt + L, then Tab (or) Shift + Alt + L, then Right arrow |
| Highlight the previous item on your shelf | Shift + Alt + L, then Shift + Tab (or) Shift + Alt + L, then Left arrow |
| Open the highlighted button on your shelf | Shift + Alt + L, then Space (or) Shift + Alt + L, then Enter |
|
Remove the highlight from a button on your shelf |
Shift + Alt + L, then Esc |
Switch focus between:
|
Ctrl + Back or Ctrl + Forward |
| Highlight the bookmarks bar (if shown) | Shift + Alt + b |
| Highlight the row with the address bar | Shift + Alt + t |
| Open right-click menu for highlighted item | Search + Shift + Increase volume |
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Support Center via a HappyFox ticket or by calling 719-520-2211.
Please Note:
The information provided in this knowledge base article is a living document and is subject to change. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content per the last edited date, but due to the evolving nature of the subject matter, updates and revisions may occur at any time. Please continue to check back to the knowledge base for the most updated information or call the Support Center at the number above.
