Chromebook Tips & Tricks
Can you think of a device that is more puzzling or misjudged than Google Chromebook? Now that we think about it, what exactly is a Chromebook? Why are Chromebooks the way they are? Why doesn’t the Chromebook have a Caps Lock key on the left side of the keyboard?
As puzzling as Chromebooks may be, at least 40 million Chromebooks will be shipped globally in 2021. Millions of people use Chromebooks, but despite their simple nature, not every Chromebook feature is easy to access.
Numerous powerful Chromebook tools are just waiting to be used to their full potential. Once you know some Chromebook tips and tricks, you will finally feel like you’re getting even more value out of your device. Today, we are breaking down a few tips and tricks for you to try on your Chromebook.
Finding Your Way Around Chrome OS
Chrome OS has a launcher just like an iOS or Android device. The Chrome OS launcher can be compared to a drawer because it opens whenever you tap the Everything key or when you click the circular icon located near the lower-left corner of the screen.
A good tip to know is that as soon as the Chrome OS launcher is opened, you can start typing things like “what is the Cleveland Browns’ record?” or what is “what is 2744 cubed?” and you’ll get your answer in a matter of seconds. You can also use the launcher to search through your apps or search for anything on the web. That sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it?
Save Time When Opening Your Apps
Did you know you could pin any app to your Chromebook’s shelf? You can do so by right-clicking the app’s icon while the app is open and choosing the app from the menu. This will leave the icon there as a shortcut even when the app has been closed.
You can also open your apps quickly by pressing the Alt key along with the number your app is in the line. For example, pressing Alt and 5 will open the fifth app you have pinned to the shelf. This feature works for up to nine apps. If you often find yourself needing to open an app, this is a nice shortcut to keep in your back pocket.
Screenshot the Easy Way
Having a Chromebook does not mean you cannot take a screenshot. You can take a screenshot on your Chromebook just as easily as you can on other computers. Whether there is a critical piece of information you need to save for reference purposes or you found a nice image that you want to show someone, creating a screenshot is easy. Hold the CTRL key and tap the task switching key to take a screenshot of the screen. You will receive a notification of the screen capture, and the screen capture file will be saved in the Files app.
Get To Know Your Keyboard Shortcuts
By now, you are getting the picture that Chrome OS has a variety of useful keyboard shortcuts. From taking a screenshot of a webpage or reloading a page. There are so many Chromebook keyboard shortcuts that there is no way for your to keep track of every shortcut. Instead of trying to keep track of all the keyboard shortcuts, you can simply find out what you can do with each shortcut so you know which ones will benefit you the most. You can find the keyboard shortcuts by pressing Ctrl Alt ?
You will see a rundown of all the key functions and shortcuts.
Hide the Shelf
You can hide the shelf (the row of pinned applications at the bottom of your screen). You can do this by right-clicking the shelf or long-pressing on it and selecting the Autohide shelf option that appears. When you autohide the shelf, the shelf will disappear anytime you have an app or window open and it will reappear when you position the mouse over the area or swipe upward from the bottom of the screen. The shelf will also still show up when you are viewing your desktop.
Make Multitasking Easier
Chrome OS allows you to snap windows to the sides of your display, basically splitting your screen in two. You can work on an important in Google Docs on the right, while you use your web browser on the left. When you multitask by using the snap feature, you will no longer have to worry about stacked windows. You can use this feature by doing the following:
- Select your second window and press Alt + ] to snap it to the right. Press it again to un-snap the window.
- Select one window and press Alt + [ to snap it to the left. Press it again to un-snap the window.
You can also just click and hold on a window and drag it to the right or the left edge of your screen. Let go of the mouse button when the window fills the target half. Repeat the steps for the next window.
Lock Your Device Before Walking Away
When you have to step away from your Chromebook and you do not want anyone to see your confidential files or anything you have been working on while you are still signed in, you can activate the lock screen by pressing the search key and L. Your apps and windows will still be opened, but no one else will be able to see anything because you are no longer logged in. When you return to your Chromebook, you will need to sign in again. If you want to close all of your apps and have your device sign you out, you can press Ctrl Shift Q twice.
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