Essential Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts for Everyday Use

Why keyboard shortcuts matter

Keyboard shortcuts are the quickest way to maneuver through ChromeOS. Instead of moving your hand between the touchpad and the keys, you keep your fingers in place and press a two-key combination. Once you learn the core set, you will spend less time hunting for buttons and more time actually working.

ChromeOS ships with dozens of built-in shortcuts that cover editing, tab management, screenshots, and system controls. Many use the Ctrl or Alt keys, and some use the dedicated Search key that sits where Caps Lock is on other laptops. If you want to check every possible combination, press Ctrl+Alt+/ to open the keyboard shortcut overlay. You can also explore the keyboard and trackpad guide and the trackpad gestures article to complement the shortcuts below. ChromeOS devices receive automatic updates for 10 years from the platform release date, so the system you buy today will stay secure and stable for a long time, and these updates occasionally introduce new shortcuts and features. See the updates support article for details on how long your device will stay current.

Essential editing shortcuts

The editing shortcuts are universal across ChromeOS, whether you are typing in a web form, a Google Doc, or a chat window. They follow the same patterns you already know from other operating systems, so you can rely on them immediately.

• Ctrl+C: Copy the selected text or item.
• Ctrl+V: Paste the copied content.
• Ctrl+X: Cut the selected text or item.
• Ctrl+Z: Undo your last action.
• Ctrl+Shift+Z: Redo the action you just undid.
• Ctrl+A: Select all the text on the page or in the document.
• Ctrl+F: Search for a word or phrase on the current page.

Window and tab management

Most of your time in ChromeOS likely involves the browser, so learning the shortcuts for tabs and windows will pay off daily. You can open, close, switch, and snap without ever touching the trackpad.

• Ctrl+T: Open a new tab.
• Ctrl+W: Close the current tab.
• Ctrl+Shift+T: Reopen the last closed tab.
• Ctrl+Tab: Move to the next tab.
• Ctrl+Shift+Tab: Move to the previous tab.
• Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+8: Jump to a tab at that position.
• Ctrl+9: Jump to the last tab.
• Alt+Left arrow: Go back to the previous page.
• Alt+Right arrow: Go forward to the next page.
• Alt+[ : Snap the current window to the left half of the screen.
• Alt+] : Snap the current window to the right half of the screen.
• Ctrl+N: Open a new browser window.
• Ctrl+Shift+N: Open a new incognito window.

Screenshots and screen capture

Capturing what is on your screen is a routine task, and ChromeOS makes it straightforward with two shortcuts. The key you need is the Show windows key, which looks like a rectangle with two short lines on the right side of the top row. On some keyboards it is labeled with an icon instead of text.

• Ctrl+Show windows: Take a full screenshot and save it to your Downloads folder.
• Ctrl+Shift+Show windows: Take a partial screenshot, letting you drag to select the exact area.

System and navigation shortcuts

Beyond editing and tabs, there are shortcuts that control the operating system itself. These help you lock the screen, open the app launcher, switch between tasks, and access system tools.

• Search (the Launcher key): Open the app launcher.
• Search+L: Lock the screen.
• Ctrl+Esc: Open the app menu that shows a grid of all installed apps.
• Alt+Tab: Switch to the next open window.
• Search+Esc: Open the Task Manager to see what is consuming resources.
• Ctrl+Alt+/: Show all keyboard shortcuts in an overlay.

Browser shortcuts beyond tabs

Beyond the essential tab shortcuts, Chrome offers a set of commands that help you manage bookmarks, history, and downloads without leaving the keyboard.

• Ctrl+D: Bookmark the current page.
• Ctrl+H: Open the History page.
• Ctrl+J: Open the Downloads page.
• Ctrl+Shift+B: Show or hide the bookmarks bar.
• Ctrl+Shift+Delete: Clear browsing data.
• Ctrl+Shift+O: Open the bookmark manager.

Find every shortcut and make them your own

The Ctrl+Alt+/ overlay is your best friend. It lists every shortcut available in ChromeOS, organized by category. You can browse through it while you work, and you will soon memorize the ones you use most often.

ChromeOS does not currently allow you to remap most built-in shortcuts, but you can change the behavior of certain keys through the accessibility settings. For example, you can make the Search key act as a Caps Lock or vice versa, and you can adjust the keyboard repeat rate and delay. You can also customize the behavior of the top row keys and the Search key in the Keyboard settings. For deeper personalization, check the keyboard layout guide.

What to pick for your use

Questions

What is the shortcut to take a screenshot on a Chromebook?

Press Ctrl+Show windows to capture the entire screen, or Ctrl+Shift+Show windows to select a portion. The Show windows key is the one with a rectangle and two lines near the top row of your keyboard.

How do I snap a window to the left or right?

Press Alt+[ to snap the current window to the left half of the screen, and Alt+] to snap it to the right. You can also drag the window to the edge of the screen with your touchpad.

Can I change the shortcut keys on a Chromebook?

ChromeOS does not support remapping most shortcuts. However, you can change the behavior of the Search key and a few other keys through the Keyboard settings under Accessibility. For example, you can swap Search and Ctrl if you prefer a different layout. See the keyboard layout guide for more details.

Do these shortcuts work in Android and Linux apps?

Most basic editing shortcuts like Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, and Ctrl+Z work in Android and Linux apps because ChromeOS passes them through. Some app-specific shortcuts may differ, but the core ones generally behave the same.

Is there a way to see all available shortcuts?

Press Ctrl+Alt+/ at any time to display the complete keyboard shortcut overlay. It is organized by category and you can close it by pressing the same shortcut or clicking the X.