Looking for a new laptop? There are other options beside the Windows and MacBook ones you might be more familiar with. Chromebook computers run off Google’s operating system – Chrome OS – which was built to make the most of Google apps such as the Chrome internet browser, Gmail and Google Workspace. “Chromebooks are a great, often much less expensive, alternative to a traditional Windows laptop,” says Geeks2U Head of Technology Anthony Hill. “Unless you require some very specific Windows applications or are heavily into Windows gaming, they can be a great option for a new laptop.” If you’ve taken the plunge and are keen to start unlocking the features that will make you more productive and organised and let you have fun with your new device, try these top Chromebook tips and tweaks.
Overview Mode
Chromebooks are powerful enough to run several applications at the same time and it’s easy to see all the windows you have open through the “Overview Mode”, which can come in handy when you’re working on a project that requires you to do many things at once. Press the button on the top row of keys that has a rectangle and two vertical lines on its right side – this will show each open app in a grid on your screen. You can also activate Overview Mode by swiping down with three fingers on the trackpad, or, if you have Australian scrolling turned on, by swiping up.
Hot Tip Swipe left or right with three fingers on the trackpad also allows you to switch between multiple browser tabs.
Run Android Apps
Google created both Chrome OS and the Android operating system, so it’s possible for some Chromebooks to run Android apps through the Google Play Store. Go to “Settings” and then to the “Google Play Store” and switch on “Google Play Store”. The Google Play Store icon will now appear on the home screen and you can download and install apps like you would on a smartphone or tablet.
Cast to a Larger Screen
You can cast your Chromebook screen to a TV to enjoy a larger view of your task – or the TV series you’re currently bingeing – so long as your TV is plugged into Chromecast or is running the Android operating system. Find the cast option (a square with a Wi-Fi symbol in the corner) on the Chrome browser and it will open a list of nearby TVs with Chromecast. Simply choose the TV and your Chromecast screen will appear on the TV.
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Unlock with Android Smartphone
Instead of trying to remember yet another password, you can unlock your Chromebook with your Android smartphone instantly – so long as the two devices are near each other. Make sure Bluetooth is activated on the Android device. Then go to Chromebook’s Settings cog wheel and click on “Connected Devices”. Beside the Android phone option, click “Set Up”. Select your smartphone in the dropdown menu and hit “Accept and Continue”. When the smartphone is registered in the list of connected devices, turn on “Smart Lock” to authorise the device to unlock the Chromebook.
Use a Button That Does Everything
Its name pretty much sells itself: Chromebook’s Everything Button allows you to search on Google, in your Google Drive and in your apps and files with a single click. Can’t find it? It used to be called the “Launcher” or “Search” button (where the Caps Lock key is on the left-hand side of most keyboards), so if you have an older model, pressing these will perform the same task.
Speed Up Copying and Pasting
The Everything Button has another nifty trick, too – it’s a much faster way to copy and paste items into a new page or documents. Chromebooks save the last five items you have copied in the Clipboard, so when you’re ready to add them to what you’re working on, simply press the Everything Button + V simultaneously to paste all or one of the items.
Turn on Caps Lock – Without a Caps Lock Key
Chromebook keyboards don’t have a Caps Lock key. So, to capitalise a heading to make it stand out (or shout at someone online!), here’s what to do: hold down the ALT and Search keys (the one with the magnifying glass on it) to activate Caps Lock. When you’re ready to type in lowercase again, press ALT and the Search key together again. Simple.
Master Keyboard Shortcuts
Instead of searching through application menus to perform simple tasks like cutting and pasting, keyboard shortcuts can save you valuable time – but only if you can remember them all. Until you can commit all the combinations to memory, Chromebooks have a handy inbuilt guide that outlines all the hotkeys and functions. Just press Ctrl +Alt + ?/ to bring it up and search for the shortcut you’re looking for.
Capture Your Screen
If you need to take a screenshot or screen recording, the recent Chrome OS 89 update has made it super simple: go to the Quick Settings menu and click Screen Capture. Done! You can also choose if you want to capture the entire screen, a full window or just a specific area of your screen.
Type With Your Voice
Not everyone can type fast, so using dictation can get your words into your document quickly. Go to Settings, select “Advanced”, go to the “Accessibility” section and select “Manage Accessibility Features”. Within the “Keyboard and Text input” menu, select “Enable Dictation”. Now, wherever you want to type, click the microphone in the status bar on the bottom right of the screen and you can start talking instead of typing.
Pin Your Favourite Websites
There is a section on the Chromecast screen called the Shelf – similar to the task bar on a Windows PC – where you can pin your favourite apps and websites. To do this, go to the site you’d like to pin on the Chrome browser and click on the three dots on the right, select “More Tools” > “Pin to Shelf” and click “Add”.
Enable a Blue Light Filter
Want a better night’s sleep after using your Chromebook late at night? Then try filtering out the device’s blue light, which is thought to interrupt your circadian rhythm and make it harder to fall asleep. To change from blue light, go to Settings > “Device” > “Displays” and under “Night Light”, turn it on. You can even schedule when the Night Light setting turns on and off.
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Split Screen Mode
One of the simplest Chromebook tips that will increase your productivity is entering split screen mode to run two apps side by side. Start with the first application you want to use and click and hold the top bar via the trackpad. Drag it to one side of the screen until you see that half of the screen greyed out. Take your finger off the trackpad and it will lock onto that side. Do the same thing to the second app and move it to the opposite side of the screen. To exit split screen, click on the top bars of each application.
Randomise Your Wallpaper
Spice up your desktop with an unexpected wallpaper each time you restart your computer. Right-click anywhere on your desktop, select “Set Wallpaper” and check the box next to “Surprise Me” and a series of images curated by Google will appear on your screen. If you prefer a bit more control, but are still keen to see some variety, rotate your favourite wallpaper images by heading to Personalisation in Settings and under “Wallpaper”, choose your category of images and select “Daily Refresh”.
Find Answers to Your Questions Quickly
Working on a recipe and need to quickly convert measurements from imperial to metric? Or come across a word in an article you’re not familiar with? Chromebook’s Quick Answers lets you solve the riddle in real-time without starting a fresh Google search. Just right-click the word and the answer will pop up – the feature is grabbing relevant information from its own search process.
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