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How to Use a Chromebook (2022 Edition)

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Chromebook User Guide

Welcome to Chrome Story’s Chromebook / Chrome OS user guide.

We have written various How-to guides over the years to help you operate your Chromebook. This page lists the best of such guides.

Here are a few resources that will help you get started. Let’s get started by taking screenshots, changing the wallpaper, and taking some photos.

Take Screenshots

Chrome OS has a keyboard shortcut to take screenshots. Learn how to take screenshots and how to annotate them here.

Change Wallpaper

Time to customize your Chromebook and give it a personal touch. Begin by changing your wallpaper.

Take Photos

Want to take a selfie and share it with your friends? Here is how to pictures using your Chromebook.

Oh, that keyboard looks different

Your Chromebook’s keyboard has a different layout compared to a PC or a Mac. Let’s get to know these keys.

More Resources for Beginners

Join Meetings and Video Calls

WhatsApp

You can install the Android app or Web App on your Chromebook to use WhatsApp

Zoom

Zoom has a Chrome app that you can use on your Chromebook.

Microsoft Teams

Use the Microsoft Teams web app or Android app to schedule and join meetings.

Customize

Let’s change the wallpaper, screensaver, and more. Add some color and give your Chromebook a touch of your personality. This is where the Chromebook user guide gets interesting.

Enable Night Light

Turn off the blue light on your screen. Chrome OS can automatically enable this from sunset to sunrise.

Change Cursor Size

Don’t like the current size of your mouse cursor? Here is how to change the cursor size.

Enable Screensaver

You can show photos from your Google Photos albums when your device is idle. Here is how.

Managing Your Chromebook

Now that you know the basics about Chromebooks, here are a few things that you might want to learn.

How to Get Things Done

Want to get things done on your Chromebook?

Want more?

We regularly publish the latest Chromebook news and tips. Enter your email to receive free updates via email.

Signing In

You will need a Google account to use Chrome OS. You can later create local accounts called Supervised Users for specific use cases. However, a Google account is required to set up and manage Chrome OS.

  • You can add up to 17 users.
  • For those quick browsing sessions and also to hand over your computer to guests without any worry, use the Guest Mode to sign in.

How To Add a New Bluetooth Device

To add a new Bluetooth device:

  1. Click on the bottom right corner of the screen where your profile picture and time are.
  2. Choose Add device.
  3. Select the device you wish to add from the list of available Bluetooth devices and click Connect.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete pairing.

To connect to a device that is already added, click the device from the Add Bluetooth device popup menu and click Connect.

Powerwash Without Logging In

What if you get your hands on a Chromebook with a user account already logged in? If the user has blocked signing in of new users from the login screen, you cannot format Chrome OS to change the owner or to get yourself in. In such a scenario, you need a way to reset without logging in.

At the login screen, press ALT + CTRL + SHIFT +R and tap the Restart button. You will get the prompt to Powerwash the device. After the powerwash, log in using the new account.

Troubleshooting Issues

Experiencing problems with your device? Here is a section with troubleshooting help for Chrome OS.

Advanced Tips for Power Users

This is a collection of things you can try if you are a power user and wants to tweak your device and play with it.

How-To Videos

Chrome Story recently started a YouTube channel to share Chrome OS tutorial videos. Here is a collection of our how-to videos:

Do you have suggestions? Is there anything that you think I should write and add here? Drop a comment.

PS: Google also has a good collection of how-to resources here.

In

8 responses

  1. Robert Nicholson Avatar
    Robert Nicholson

    Your instructions lack valuable input. I find that I cannot use them for valuable insight. Couldn’t you simplify the instructions?

    Reply
    1. Dinsan Francis Avatar
      Dinsan Francis

      Can you please be specific? Where are you getting stuff?

      Reply
  2. Marge Novick Avatar
    Marge Novick

    Is there a pdf file i can print out?

    Reply
  3. richard flanagan Avatar
    richard flanagan

    Hi everyone :

    My problem is that when I use my shift key to go to the number ‘2’ it no longer defaults to the ‘at sign’ but displays the ” instead. Please give me some help to correct this.
    Thanks

    Reply
  4. Tony A Avatar
    Tony A

    I have a notifications question. If I do this (see below) will I still receive notifications for updates to the Chrome Operating System?

    Turn off notifications on your Chromebook
    Next to the clock, click the notification. It can look like an app or extension icon with a number next to it.

    Dismiss a notification: Click Remove .
    Dismiss all notifications: Click Clear all .
    Stop future notifications: Click Settings . To the left of the site, app, or extension, uncheck the box.
    If you haven’t gotten a notification recently, you’ll see No notifications .

    Reply
    1. Dinsan Avatar
      Dinsan

      Can you try disabling notifications from the system tray?

      Reply
  5. Cassandra Samson Avatar
    Cassandra Samson

    Im not able to put the E with the accent ive tried alt gr, alt, ctrl and shift, theirs a button with the /? and E with the accent but it only does the /? please help me figure this out

    Reply
    1. Dinsan Avatar
      Dinsan

      Please refer to this: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1059492?hl=en

      Reply

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