Use your Chromebook keyboard

Your Chromebook keyboard works just like a regular keyboard, with a few differences.

Unique keys on your Chromebook keyboard

Your unique Chromebook keys usually appear on the top row of your keyboard from left to right.

or	Use the search key or the Launcher key to search, show your apps and interact with Google Assistant. To turn Caps Lock on or off, press Alt + Search . Or press Alt + Launcher .
	Go to the previous page
	Go to the next page
	Refresh your current page
	Make your page take up the full screen
	Show all your open windows
	Take a screenshot
	Decrease screen brightness
	Increase screen brightness
	Turn on electronic Privacy Screen
	Decrease keyboard backlight brightness
	Increase keyboard backlight brightness
	Rewind to last track
	Play/pause
	Skip to next track
	Turn off the sound
	Lower the volume
	Raise the volume

Tip: If you're using a Windows keyboard with your Chromebook, the Windows key between Ctrl and Alt works as the Search key or the Launcher key .

Change your keyboard settings

Change how the Ctrl, Alt and Search or Launcher keys work

For example, you can make the Search or Launcher key work as a Caps Lock key.

1. If you haven't already, sign in to your Chromebook.
2. At the bottom right, select the time.
3. Select Settings .
4. In the 'Device' section, select Keyboard.
5. Under 'Built-in keyboard', select Remap keyboard keys.
6. For the keys listed under 'Remap keyboard keys', choose an action that you want it to perform.

Alt + key behaviour

You can set up how to right-click with your touchpad and keyboard based on your preference. It's either alt + click, search + click or turned off.

You can also set up six actions (Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page up, Page Down) and choose the set of keys that you want to perform those actions.

Tip: If the shortcut that you use to simulate a right-click or six-pack key action is different to the shortcut that is set at present for those settings, you'll find a notification. This notification shows that the keyboard shortcut has been updated to your new shortcut from your previous shortcut with an 'Edit shortcut' and 'Learn more' button.

Add words to your dictionary

To add a word to your dictionary:

1. Right-click the word.
   • Tip: You can also press Search + Shift + Increase volume . Or press Launcher + Shift + Increase volume .
2. Select Add to dictionary.

To add several words to your dictionary:

1. If you haven’t already, sign in to your Chromebook.
2. At the bottom right, select the time.
   • Or, press Alt + Shift + s.
3. Select Settings .
4. Under 'Device', select Keyboard Input settings.
5. Select your enabled keyboard.
6. At the bottom, select the Edit dictionary entries.
7. Enter a word into the field 'Add a new word'.
8. Select Add word.
9. To delete a word from your dictionary, next to the word, select X.

Correct words automatically

Auto-correct is on by default for on-screen keyboards and Latin languages. It can be used with both physical and on-screen keyboards.

If your auto-correct is not turned on:

1. If you haven't already, sign in to your Chromebook.
2. At the bottom right, select the time.
   • Or, press Alt + Shift + s.
3. Select Settings .
4. Under 'Device', select Keyboard Input settings.
5. Select Input method.
6. Next to your enabled keyboard, select Right arrow .
7. To turn on auto-correction:
   • For physical keyboard: Under 'Physical keyboard', turn on Auto-correction.
   • For on-screen keyboard: Under 'On-screen keyboard', turn on Auto-correction.

Tip: If you have more than one keyboard language, you'll need to turn on auto-correct for each one. Some keyboards don't have auto-correct.

Turn off auto-correct

If you want to turn off auto-correct:

1. If you haven't already, sign in to your Chromebook.
2. At the bottom right, select the time.
   • Or, press Alt + Shift + s.
3. Select Settings .
4. Under 'Device', select Keyboard Input settings.
5. Select Input method.
6. Next to your enabled keyboard, select Right arrow .
7. To turn off auto-correction:
   • For physical keyboard: Under 'Physical keyboard', turn off Auto-correction.
   • For on-screen keyboard: Under 'On-screen keyboard', turn off Auto-correction.

Show suggested words as you type

Important: Currently, word prediction only works in Gmail.

1. If you haven't already, sign in to your Chromebook.
2. At the bottom right, select the time.
   • Or, press Alt + Shift + s.
3. Select Settings .
4. Under 'Device', select Keyboard Input settings.
5. Select your enabled keyboard.
6. Turn on Auto-correction.
7. Tick the box next to Enable next word prediction.

Add or turn off emoji suggestions

When you type certain words, like 'wow' or 'haha', Chromebook will suggest emojis to enhance your text. On personal Chromebooks, emoji suggestions are on by default.

Important: If you’re on a Chromebook that is set up and maintained by a school, company or other group, emoji suggestions are off by default.

Apply emoji suggestions

1. When you type a message in some websites or apps, like Google Chat, an emoji suggestion may appear.
2. To navigate the emoji options, on your keyboard, press the up arrow or down arrow.
3. To choose an emoji, on your keyboard, press Enter.

Tip: If you’re on tablet mode, your Chromebook’s on-screen keyboard will suggest emojis in the virtual keyboard suggestions bar.

Turn off emoji suggestions

1. At the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under 'Device', select Keyboard Input settings.
4. Under 'Suggestions', turn off Emoji suggestions.

Change the colour of your RGB keyboard

To personalise your gaming experience, you can choose the colours of your keyboard backlight.

1. At the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Settings .
3. Under 'Wallpaper and style', select Set your wallpaper and style.
4. At the bottom, under 'Keyboard backlight', select your custom colour.

Tip: The default keyboard colour is based on your current wallpaper.

Fix problems with your keyboard

If the volume or brightness keys don't work, you might be at the upper or lower limit for that setting.

If the backward or forward buttons don't work, check if the same icons in a browser window are greyed out. For example, if the back button on a web page is grey, the browser isn't aware of a page to move backward to.

If you have other problems with your keyboard, try these steps:

1. Turn off the Chromebook and then turn it back on.
2. Use the keys while you browse as a guest. If the keys work, delete the account that has the problem on your Chromebook and then add it again.
3. Complete a hard reset on your Chromebook hardware.
4. If the owner account has problems, perform a factory reset on the Chromebook.

If you still have trouble after trying these steps, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Troubleshoot issues with the keyboard

1. On your computer, open Settings .
2. Select About ChromeOS Diagnostics.

Tips:

• Make sure that you stay in the same window while you test. If you leave the window, you’ll receive a message that says, 'Keys aren’t tested when you’re using another window.' The test can’t continue until you return.
• If you continue to have problems, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Related resources

• Using keyboard shortcuts
• Change your keyboard language
• Change the Search key's default search engine
• Use the on-screen keyboard
• Use a text cursor to navigate and select text