Customize your Pixelbook desktop

At the bottom or side of your Pixelbook screen, you'll see a row of apps, called the shelf. You can change which apps are included and bookmark webpages.

Next to the time in the lower right corner of your screen, you can see your Pixelbook's battery level and Wi-Fi status. Tap the time to see your notifications and find more settings.

Choose a background wallpaper

You can personalize your Pixelbook with a custom wallpaper for your desktop.

Add, move, or remove apps

If you use an app often, you can add it to your desktop to get to it quickly.

Add an app

1. In laptop mode: Select the Launcher Up arrow .
   In tablet mode: Go to your Home screen. To get there, tap the Launcher in the corner of your screen.
2. Find the app you want to add.
3. On your touchscreen, tap and hold the app icon to see the menu.
   On your trackpad or mouse, right-click the app icon.
4. Select Pin to Shelf.

When you pin an app to your shelf, the app will stay there until you move or remove it.

Change the order of the apps

To change the position of an app:

1. Select and hold the app you want to move.
2. Drag it to a new position.
3. Release to put the app in a new spot.

Remove an app

1. On your touchscreen, tap and hold the app icon you want to remove to see the menu.
   On your trackpad or mouse, right-click the app icon you want to remove.
2. Select Unpin.

Pin a webpage to your desktop

If you go to the same webpage often, you might want to pin it to your desktop.

1. Open the webpage in Chrome.
2. Select More Create shortcut.
3. To add the shortcut to your shelf, select Create.

Move or hide the row of apps

In laptop mode, you can change the position of the row of apps, also called the shelf:

1. On your touchscreen, tap and hold the shelf to see the menu.
   On your trackpad or mouse, right-click the shelf.
2. Select Shelf position.
3. Choose where you'd like the shelf to go: on the bottom of the screen (default), or on the left or right side.

To hide the shelf and status area:

1. On your touchscreen, tap and hold the shelf to see the menu.
   On your trackpad or mouse, right-click the shelf.
2. Select Autohide shelf.

To see the hidden shelf and status area:

1. On your touchscreen, swipe from that side of the screen.
2. On your trackpad or mouse, move the pointer to that side of the screen.

To stop hiding the shelf:

1. On your touchscreen, tap and hold the shelf to see the menu. On your trackpad or mouse, right-click the shelf.
2. Uncheck Autohide shelf.

Related articles

• Turn notifications on or off
• Change your background wallpaper