How To Use The Chromebook Keyboard Function Keys
How To Use The Chromebook Keyboard Function Keys
The keyboard of all computers are pretty alike, but Chromebooks break the mold. Instead of having the typical function keys, there’s a row of different keys for specific Chrome OS functions. However, all the functional keys are still present if you know the right place to look.
Like your computer, the Google Chrome browser has got its own full set of keyboard shortcuts.
While Chrome's keyboard shortcuts are much available across all devices, they will have slight difference depending on the operating system that you have.
There are different shortcut for Chrome keyboard on the window and tab navigation, different browser features and tools, also the address bar, and many more.
If you check closely, you'll see the top row of keys on a typical Chromebook keyboard. You may discover or seem to notice that they may not look like it, but there are function keys that are hidden in that row. The keys between the "ESC" and "Power/Lock" double as "F1 through F10". We’llWe take you through how to use them.
Using The Hidden Function Keys On A Chromebook
There are 2 ways that you can utilize the hidden function keys on a Chromebook. The method you select will depend on how often you will need the function keys.
The 1st method does not require any configuration at all.
1. You just need to hold down the "Search/Launcher" key and then press one of the keys in the top row. This will enable the secondary purpose of the key, which in the case of the top row, is the F1, F2, F3, etc.
2. Hold down Search and tap the top keys
3. One important thing that you should note is that this won’t work if you have already changed the function of the Search/Launcher key. It needs to return back to its default state.
The 2nd method is a more permanent solution.
4. You can make your choice to have the top row always act as function keys.
5. First, tap the clock on the Shelf to bring up the Quick Settings panel. You will see the gear icon, choose the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
6. Open Quick Settings and tap the gear
7. In the Settings app, go to the “Device” section.
8. Now, choose the “Keyboard” from the “Device” section.
9. Simply select keyboard
10. Scroll down a little and you’ll see the “Treat Top-Row Keys as Function Keys.” Just toggle the switch on.
11. Toggle on using the top row as function keys
That’s all to it. What we have done here is flip the purpose of the top row. Now the default actions are F1, F2, F3, etc., and you can now just hold down the Search/Launcher key to use the Chrome OS functions.
It’s really unfortunate that the Chromebook keyboards do not show the function keys on the top row labels. You’ll need to learn which Chrome OS icons are associated with which function keys. If you are the type that uses function keys a lot, these are good tricks to know.
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