Use camera features on your Chromebook

You can use the camera on your Chromebook to take photos or videos, edit and print photos, and scan documents.

Take a photo or video, or scan a document with your Chromebook

1. In the corner of your screen, select Launcher .
2. Open Camera .
3. At the bottom, choose an option:
   • Select Photo Take photo .
   • Select Portrait  Take photo .
   • Select Video Start recording .
   • Select Square Take photo .
   • Select Scan Document or QR code Scan .

Make a time-lapse video or GIF animation

You can create a time-lapse video on your Chromebook.

• To make a time-lapse video, select Video Time Lapse.
• To make a GIF animation, select Video GIF.

Tip: You can create a GIF animation that lasts for up to five seconds, but shorter videos are better for compatibility.

Learn more about time-lapse videos

Time-lapse videos are created automatically by speeding up a video so that it fits into a length of between 15 and 30 seconds. For example, if you take a 100-second time-lapse, it'll be sped up 4 times and the final video will be 25 seconds long. There's no limitation on how long you can take a time-lapse video for, but for the best results, make sure that your Chromebook is plugged into a power source.

Change how photos or videos are captured

• Change your settings: Select Settings . Change the size of the grid, the length of the timer or the camera resolution.
• Flip your photo from left to right: Select Mirroring .
• Use gridlines to straighten photos: Select Grid .
• Switch between cameras: At the left, select Switch camera .
  • Tip: You can only switch cameras if you plug in an external camera or your Chromebook has two built-in cameras.
• Take photos with a timer: Select Timer .
• Take photos with the volume buttons: When your Chromebook is in tablet mode, you can press the up or down volume button to take a photo. Learn more about tablet mode.
• Take a photo while you record a video: While you record a video, select Take video snapshot .
• Pause a recording: You can pause a recording, and continue recording on the same video later.
  • Important: When you pause a video recording, your Chromebook will save the video unless you delete it.
• Pan, tilt and zoom your camera: Select 'Pan, tilt and zoom' .
  • Tip: If you don’t have this option, your camera doesn’t support pan, tilt and zoom.

Use the camera with Google Assistant

You can ask your Google Assistant to help you take photos and videos, and scan documents. First, set up Google Assistant on your Chromebook. Then, say 'Hey Google', and use the commands below.

Open the camera: 'Launch my camera.' 
Take a picture: 'Take my picture.'
Take a portrait: 'Take a portrait photo.' 
Record video: 'Take a video.'

Find or save your photos or videos

• Find your photos and videos: In the Camera app , on the bottom right, select your most recent photo or video.
• Find new photos and videos: In Files , select My files  Camera. Older photos and videos may be found in the 'Downloads' folder. Learn how to store your downloaded files.

Edit, delete or print your photos

1.  Select the photo that you want to edit.
   • Tip:  In the Camera app ,  at the bottom right, you can select your most recent photo or video.
2. Choose an option:
   • Rename a photo: At the top left, select the filename. To save the new name, press Enter.
   • Crop or rotate your photo: At the top, select crop and rotate .
   • Change your photo’s width and height: At the top, select Rescale .
   • Adjust contrast or brightness: At the top, select Lighting filters .
   • Undo or redo changes: Select Undo  or Redo .
   • Delete a photo: At the top, select Delete .
   • Print a photo: At the top right, select More  Print.

Tip: To do more advanced photo editing, you can use an app like Google Photos, Pixlr Editor or Sumo Paint.

Scan a document

Important: For best results:

• If available, use your external or back camera to scan.
• Use a background that’s a different colour from your document.
• Align all edges of the document within the camera frame.
• Scan in a well-lit space.

To scan a single page:

1. Open Camera .
2. At the bottom, select Scan Document.
3. Place the document to be scanned inside the viewfinder.
4. Once detected, press the shutter button .
5. To save your document, select Save as photo or Save as PDF.
   • To recapture, select Retake.

To scan multiple pages:

1. Open Camera
2. At the bottom, select Scan Document.
3. Place the first document to be scanned inside the viewfinder.
4. Once detected, press the shutter button.
5. Instead of saving, select Multi-page.
6. Repeat steps 3–5 until each page has been scanned.
   • To remove pages, select Bin .
7. To save your documents, select Save as PDF.

Scan a QR code

1. Open Camera .
2. At the bottom, select Scan QR code.
3. Position the QR code in the viewfinder.
   • The recognised URL, text or Wi-Fi connection prompt will appear.
4. To use the code, tap the text or URL.

Tips:

• To scan without selecting the QR code scanning mode, you scan the QR code directly from the viewfinder.
• The ‘Save as photo’ option is only available for single pages.
• You can also scan documents with your printer.

Related resources

• Back up photos from your camera
• Edit your photos and videos, and make movies with the Google Photos Android app on Chrome OS