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

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 and then 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.

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