How to Customize the Chromebook Shelf (Taskbar): The Complete Guide

Applies to: All Chromebooks running ChromeOS, current Stable channel. The Shelf is a core system feature — no flags needed.

To move the Shelf: right-click an empty area of the Shelf, hover over Shelf position, and choose Left, Bottom, or Right. To hide it until you need it, right-click the Shelf and select Autohide shelf instead.

The Chromebook Shelf is the bar that runs along the edge of your screen. It holds your pinned apps, shows what is currently open, and gives you access to the system tray. Most people never touch it beyond the defaults, but a few small changes can make your Chromebook feel significantly faster and more organized.

This guide covers everything you can do with the Shelf: moving it, pinning and unpinning apps, hiding it, reordering icons, creating folders, and fixing the common problems people run into.

What Is the Chromebook Shelf?

ChromeOS calls its taskbar the Shelf. By default it sits at the bottom of the screen, similar to the taskbar on Windows or the Dock on a Mac. It contains:

• The Launcher button (the circle icon on the left) for searching and opening apps
• Pinned app icons that stay on the Shelf whether the app is open or not
• Open app icons for any running apps or browser windows
• The system tray on the right, showing time, battery, Wi-Fi, and notifications

How do I move the Shelf to the left, right, or bottom?

By default the Shelf sits at the bottom of the screen, but you can move it to the left or right side. Some people find a side Shelf more comfortable when using an external monitor in landscape orientation.

There are two ways to do it.

Method 1: Right-Click the Shelf

1. Right-click anywhere on an empty area of the Shelf (not on an app icon).
2. Hover over Shelf position.
3. Choose Left, Bottom, or Right.

Method 2: Through Settings

1. Open Settings (click the system tray in the bottom-right, then the gear icon).
2. Go to Device > Displays.
3. Scroll down to find the Shelf position option.
4. Select Left, Bottom, or Right.

The change takes effect immediately. You can switch positions as often as you like.

How do I right-click without a mouse?

If you are using the built-in touchpad, right-clicking is done by tapping with two fingers at the same time. On a touchscreen Chromebook, press and hold on the Shelf until the context menu appears.

How do I auto-hide the Shelf?

Auto-hide makes the Shelf disappear until you move your pointer to the edge of the screen. This gives you more vertical space for your browser and apps.

1. Right-click an empty area of the Shelf.
2. Select Autohide shelf.

To bring the Shelf back, move your pointer to the edge where the Shelf is (bottom, left, or right). To turn auto-hide off, right-click the Shelf edge and select Always show shelf.

How do I pin apps to the Shelf?

Pinned apps stay on the Shelf permanently, even when they are closed. To pin any app:

1. Open the Launcher (the circle button) and find the app you want to pin.
2. Right-click the app icon.
3. Select Pin to Shelf.

You can also pin apps that are currently open: right-click the app icon on the Shelf and select Pin.

To pin a website as a Shelf shortcut:

1. Open the website in Chrome.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
3. Go to Save and share > Create shortcut.
4. Check Open as window if you want it to open in its own window.
5. Click Create. The shortcut appears in your Launcher, where you can then right-click it and pin it to the Shelf.

How do I unpin apps from the Shelf?

Removing an app from the Shelf does not uninstall it. The app stays in your Launcher.

1. Right-click the app icon on the Shelf.
2. Select Unpin.

The icon disappears from the Shelf immediately.

How do I reorder apps on the Shelf?

You can drag pinned icons into any order you prefer.

1. Click and hold the app icon you want to move.
2. Drag it left or right (or up and down if the Shelf is on a side).
3. Release to drop it in the new position.

The Launcher button is always fixed at the left end (or top if the Shelf is on a side) and cannot be moved. The system tray is always fixed at the right end.

How do I create app folders on the Shelf?

You can group related apps into a folder directly on the Shelf.

1. Click and hold one pinned app icon.
2. Drag it on top of another pinned app icon.
3. ChromeOS creates a folder automatically.
4. Click the folder to expand it, then drag more icons into it to add more apps.

To remove an app from a folder, open the folder, click and hold the icon you want out, and drag it back to the Shelf.

Can I change how big the Shelf icons are?

The Shelf itself is a fixed height and width — you cannot resize it directly. However, you can make the icons and the entire Shelf appear larger or smaller by adjusting the display scale.

1. Open Settings > Device > Displays.
2. Under Display size, adjust the slider.
3. Moving it right makes everything (including Shelf icons) larger. Moving it left makes everything smaller.

Note that this changes the scale of everything on screen, not just the Shelf.

Does the Shelf work differently in tablet mode?

On 2-in-1 Chromebooks and Chromebook tablets, the Shelf behaves slightly differently in tablet mode. ChromeOS may hide the Shelf automatically and shift to gesture-based navigation. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the Shelf or open the app overview. The Shelf reappears normally when you fold the keyboard back into laptop position.

What does the Shelf show for each open app?

A small dot appears below an app icon when that app is currently open. If multiple windows of the same app are open, you will see multiple dots. Click the icon once to switch to the app. If several windows are open, ChromeOS shows a thumbnail preview so you can pick the right one.

Common Problems and Fixes

Right-clicking only shows “Set wallpaper” — no Shelf options

You are right-clicking on the desktop, not the Shelf. Make sure you right-click directly on the Shelf bar itself (the dark strip along the edge). If the Shelf is auto-hidden, move your pointer to the screen edge first to make it appear, then right-click it.

The Shelf position option is missing or greyed out

This usually means your Chromebook is managed by a school or workplace. Administrators can lock the Shelf position as part of their device policy. If your device is managed, contact your IT administrator.

The Shelf keeps jumping back to the bottom

If you are signed in to multiple Chromebooks with the same Google account and Chrome sync is on, the Shelf position syncs across devices. Changing it on one device changes it everywhere. If another device set it back to the bottom, your change will be overwritten on the next sync.

An app icon keeps reappearing on the Shelf after I unpin it

Some apps managed by your school or workplace administrator are pinned by policy and cannot be removed. If unpinning does not stick, the device policy is setting it back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move the Shelf on any Chromebook?

Yes, as long as your device isn’t managed by a school or workplace that locks the setting via policy. It works the same across all current ChromeOS Chromebooks.

Will moving the Shelf affect my other Chromebooks?

If you’re signed in to multiple Chromebooks with the same Google account and Chrome Sync is on, the Shelf position can sync across devices.

Why did my Shelf position reset on its own?

Most often this is Chrome Sync pulling in a setting from another device, or a managed-device policy re-applying itself.

Related Guides

• How to Pin a Chrome Profile to Your Taskbar
• Separate Shelf Auto-hide Settings for Tablet and Clamshell Modes