Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (2024)

You can use keyboard shortcuts to complete some tasks more quickly.To find shortcuts on this page, press Ctrl + f and enter what you want to find.

To find keyboard shortcuts in your Chromebook:
  1. At the bottom right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (1).
  3. Scroll, then select Keyboard.
  4. Select View keyboard shortcuts.
Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (2)

Important: This article is only for US Chromebook users with a standard English QWERTY keyboard. If you have an international keyboard, go to SettingsChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (3) DeviceChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (4) KeyboardChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (5) View keyboard shortcuts to find keyboard shortcuts for your device.

Popular shortcuts

  • Take a screenshot: PressCtrl + Show WindowsChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (6)
  • Take a partial screenshot: PressShift + Ctrl + Show windows Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (7),then click and drag.
  • Take a screenshot on tablets: Press Power button + Volume down button.
  • To access more screenshot features: Press Shift + Ctrl + Show windows Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (8), then select a screenshot feature from the toolbar.
  • To access more screenshot features on tablets: Press and hold the Power button Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (9) select “Screen capture,” or, select time Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (10) select Screen capture. Learn more about screenshot features.
  • Turn Caps Lock on or off: Press Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (11) + Alt. Or press LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (12)+ Alt.
  • Lock your screen: Press Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (13) + L.Or press LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (14) + 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 keyChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (15) or Launcher key Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (16).

To change how a specific keyboard key works:

  1. At the bottom right, select the time. Or press Alt + Shift + s.
  2. Select Settings Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (17).
  3. Under "Device," choose Keyboard.
  4. Change the function of one or more keys.

Expand all

All other shortcuts

Important: Depending on your keyboard, you can press the Search key Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (18)or the Launcher key Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (19)for some shortcuts. Both keys work the same.

Tabs & windows

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. You can also press & hold Alt, then tap Tab, and select a window with the left or right arrow keys, mouse, or touch.
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 Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (20)
Go to the next page in your browsing history Alt + Right arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (21)
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 Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (22) + Alt + m (or)
LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (23) +Alt+ m

Page & web browser

Page up Alt + Up arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (24)
Page down Alt + Down arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (25)
Scroll down the web page Space bar
Go to top of page Ctrl + Alt + Up arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (26)
Go to bottom of page Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (27)
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 Press Alt and click a link
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
Go to an inactive information field Alt + Shift + a
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 or hide the bookmarks bar Shift + Ctrl + b
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 + Alt + Backspace

System & display settings

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 Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (28) + your preferred function key (or)
LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (29)+ 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 Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (30)
Switch to the next user Ctrl + Alt + . (period)
Switch to the previous user Ctrl + Alt + , (comma)

Text editing

Turn Caps Lock on or off Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (31) + Alt (or)
Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (32) + 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 Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (33)
Select text to the end of the line Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (34) + Shift + Right arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (35) (or)
Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (36) + Shift + Right arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (37)
Select text to the beginning of the line Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (38) + Shift + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (39) (or)
Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (40) + Shift + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (41)
Select previous word or letter Shift + Ctrl + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (42)
Move to the end of the next word Ctrl + Right arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (43)
Move to the start of the previous word Ctrl + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (44)
Move to beginning of the line Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (45) + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (46) (or)
Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (47) + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (48)
Move to end of the line Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (49) + Right arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (50) (or)
Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (51) + Right Arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (52)
Go to end of document Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (53) + Ctrl + Right arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (54) (or)
Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (55) + Ctrl + Right arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (56)
Go to beginning of document Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (57) + Ctrl + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (58) (or)
Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (59) + Ctrl + Left arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (60)
Open clipboard menu Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (61) + v (or)
Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (62) + v
Tip: You can navigate the clipboard menu with the tab or arrow keys.
Copy selected content to the clipboard Ctrl + c
Tip: You can select up to five items to copy to your clipboard.
Paste content from the clipboard Ctrl + v
Paste content when clipboard menu is open Enter
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

Learn how to choose your keyboard language.

Shift + Ctrl + Space

Switch to the previous keyboard language you were using.

Learn how to choose your keyboard language.

Ctrl + Space
Dim keyboard (for backlit keyboards only) Alt + Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (63)
Make keyboard brighter (for backlit keyboards only) Alt + Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (64)
Insert an emoji Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (65) + Shift + Space (or) Launcher Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (66) + Shift + Space

Text app

New file in a new tab Ctrl + n
New file in a new window Ctrl + Shift + n
Find in current file Ctrl + f
Open file dialog Ctrl + o
Delete line Ctrl + d
Indent the current line by one indent unit Ctrl + ]
Dedent the current line by one indent unit Ctrl + [
Save current file Ctrl + s
Save current file as dialog Ctrl + Shift + s
Print current file Ctrl + p
Jump to next file Ctrl + Tab
Jump to previous file Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Close current file Ctrl + w
Close window Ctrl + Shift + w
Show or hide sidebar Alt + Space
Focus the sidebar Ctrl + e
Zoom in Ctrl + =
Zoom out Ctrl + -
Reset zoom scale Ctrl + 0

Accessibility

Learn how to make your Chromebook accessible.

Turn ChromeVox (spoken feedback) on or off Ctrl + Alt + z
Turn on high contrast mode Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (67) + Ctrl + h (or)
LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (68)+ Ctrl + h
Magnify your whole screen Ctrl + Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (69) + m (or)
Ctrl + LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (70)+ m
Magnify part of your screen Ctrl + Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (71) + d (or)
Ctrl + LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (72)+ d
Move around in fullscreen-magnifier mode Ctrl + Alt + Up Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (73), Down Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (74), Left Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (75), or Right Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (76)
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, thenRight arrowChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (77)
Highlight the previous item on your shelf Shift + Alt + L, then Shift + Tab(or)
Shift + Alt + L, thenLeft arrow Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (78)
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:
  • Status area (where the time appears)
  • Launcher
  • Address bar
  • Bookmarks bar (if visible)
  • The webpage that's open
  • Downloads bar (if visible)
Ctrl + Back Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (79) or Ctrl + Forward Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (80)
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 Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (81) + Shift + Increase volume Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (82)(or)
LauncherChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (83) + Shift + Increase volume Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (84)
Move an app icon up, down or to the side in the launcher Ctrl + Up Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (85), Down Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (86), Left Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (87), or Right Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (88)
Move an app in or out of a folder in the launcher Ctrl + Shift + Up Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (89), Down Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (90), Left Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (91), or RightChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (92)
Use shortcuts on a braille keyboard See braille keyboard shortcuts

Desks

Create a new desk Shift + SearchChromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (93) + =
Switch to a desk on the left or right Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (94) + [ or ] (left or right square bracket)
Switch to a specific desk Shift + Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (95) + [desk position number]
Move a window to a different desk Shift + Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (96) + [ or ] (left or right square bracket)
Move a window to all desks Shift + Search Chromebook keyboard shortcuts - Chromebook Help (97)+ a
View all windows in your desk Alt + Tab
View a different window in your desk Hold Alt and press Tab
View a different window in your current desk Select Current desk
View windows across all desks Select All desks

Related resources

  • Use your Chromebook keyboard

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