Updated 03-Aug-2025
This is a brief overview of ChromeOS Keyboard Shortcuts / Keystrokes.
Hardware Key Differences
- No Windows key, no Command key
- However external keyboards can have these mapped to other keys
- Capslock Key replaced by Search Key
Shft+Search=Capslock
Remap Keys
> Settings > Device > Keyboard
- Remap
CapslocktoSearchkey on external keyboards - Remap
External Meta(aka Win/CMD) toControlKey- this will preserve the keys pressed for basics such as select all, copy, paste, undo, find, etc.
Function Keys
Function keys can generally be accessed by a Function Key and a Function Number Key. In ChromeOS, the top row functionality can be accessed on external keyboards via Fn + Fn#. Here are the top row functional keys in ChromeOS:
| Key | Function in ChromeOS |
|---|---|
| Esc | Esc |
| Fn-1 | Previous/Last |
| Fn-2 | Forward/Next |
| Fn-3 | Reload page (also Ctrl+R) |
| Fn-4 | Fullscreen Toggle |
| Fn-5 | Overview (akin to Alt+Tab, Alt+Shift+Tab) |
| Fn-6 | Dim |
| Fn-7 | Brighten |
| Fn-8 | Mute |
| Fn-9 | Volume Down |
| Fn-10 | Volume Up |
| Lock | Lock |
There is a setting in > Settings > Keyboard to change the top row to Function keys (for app-specific needs), and also they can be accessed by using Search + 1-12.
Note that these keys and settings effect the internal keyboard as well as external keyboards
Help Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Function in ChromeOS |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Shift+/ | Help |
| Ctrl+Alt+/ | Keyboard shortcuts |
Chrome Browser Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Function in ChromeOS |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Alt+T | Terminal (Crosh) |
| Ctrl+R | Reload tab |
| Ctrl+Tab, Ctrl+Shift+Tab | next and previous tabs |
| Ctrl+T, Ctrl+N | new tab, new window |
ChromeOS Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Function in ChromeOS |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Space | Switch Languages (duplicates OS + Space in external keyboard |
| Shift+Search+L | Sleep (Suspend) |
| Ctrl+Shift+F5 (Overview) | Partial screenshot |
| Ctrl+F5 (Overview) | Screenshot |
| Alt+1 (to 8) | Launch one of the first 8 apps on the shelf |
| Ctrl+. | Display hidden files in Files app |
Keyboard Settings
> Settings > Languages and Input > Show input options in the shelf
Other Notes
See also the following (the above is incomplete and can be supplemented) ...