How to Turn Caps Lock On and Off on a Chromebook

To turn Caps Lock on or off on a Chromebook, press ALT + SEARCH. Chromebooks have no Caps Lock key, so the same shortcut toggles it both ways. The Search key is the one in the position where Caps Lock sits on other keyboards, and it may be labelled Search, Launcher, or marked with a magnifier or circle.

Before you start

• Applies to: Every Chromebook running ChromeOS, and any external keyboard plugged into one.
• You need: Nothing. The shortcut works on the sign-in screen too.
• Good to know: An external USB or Bluetooth keyboard keeps its real Caps Lock key, and that key works normally on a Chromebook.

Why is there no Caps Lock key on a Chromebook?

Google replaced the Caps Lock key with the Search key when it designed the ChromeOS keyboard. The reasoning was that most people search far more often than they type in capitals. The Caps Lock function did not disappear. It moved to a keyboard shortcut, and the key itself can be handed back to Caps Lock if you want it.

How do I turn Caps Lock on?

1. Press ALT + SEARCH together.
2. A notification appears in the system tray to confirm Caps Lock is on.
3. Type. Every letter comes out in capitals.

How do I turn Caps Lock off?

Press ALT + SEARCH again. It is the same shortcut, so there is nothing new to remember. Pressing SHIFT on its own also cancels Caps Lock, which is the quickest escape when you notice mid-sentence that everything has gone loud.

The notification in the tray disappears as soon as Caps Lock is off. If it is still there, Caps Lock is still on.

How do I type capital letters or ALL CAPS on a Chromebook?

There are three ways, and which one you want depends on how much text you are capitalising.

• One capital letter: hold SHIFT and press the letter. This is the right choice for names and the start of sentences.
• A whole word or sentence in ALL CAPS: press ALT + SEARCH, type, then press ALT + SEARCH again.
• Text you already typed: ChromeOS has no built-in change-case command. In Google Docs, select the text and use Format, then Text, then Capitalisation, then UPPERCASE.

How do I make the Search key a permanent Caps Lock key?

If you capitalise text often enough that the shortcut is a nuisance, ChromeOS lets you reassign the key itself.

1. Click the time at the bottom right, then the gear icon to open Settings.
2. Select Device, then Keyboard.
3. Under Built-in keyboard, select Remap keyboard keys.
4. Find the Search or Launcher key in the list.
5. Choose Caps Lock from the options.

Think about this one before you commit. The Search key is the anchor for a large set of ChromeOS shortcuts, including Search + Backspace for Delete and Search + L to lock the screen. Give the key to Caps Lock and you lose all of them. Most people are better off keeping the ALT + SEARCH shortcut, and the setting is easy to reverse if you change your mind.

If your Chromebook has separate settings for an external keyboard, remap that one instead and leave the built-in keyboard alone.

Where is the Delete key on a Chromebook?

Chromebooks drop the Delete key as well. These two shortcuts cover it.

• ALT + BACKSPACE: delete the character after the cursor, which is forward delete.
• CTRL + BACKSPACE: delete the whole word before the cursor.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if Caps Lock is on?

ChromeOS shows a notification in the system tray at the bottom right for as long as Caps Lock is on. There is no light on the keyboard, because there is no Caps Lock key to put one on.

Why is my Chromebook typing in all capitals?

Caps Lock was switched on, usually by pressing ALT and Search by accident. Press ALT + SEARCH or tap SHIFT to turn it off.

Can I disable Caps Lock completely on a Chromebook?

No. There is no way to remove the Caps Lock function. Because it lives behind a two-key shortcut rather than a single key, it is hard to trigger by accident in the first place.

Does Caps Lock work on an external keyboard plugged into a Chromebook?

Yes. A standard USB or Bluetooth keyboard has a real Caps Lock key, and ChromeOS treats it as Caps Lock. The ALT + SEARCH shortcut keeps working at the same time.

What is the Caps Lock shortcut on an Acer, HP, Lenovo, or ASUS Chromebook?

It is ALT + SEARCH on all of them. The shortcut is part of ChromeOS, not the hardware, so it does not change between brands.

The short version

ALT + SEARCH turns Caps Lock on and off, SHIFT cancels it, and the tray notification tells you which state you are in. Remap the Search key only if you type in capitals constantly, because that key earns its place in a lot of other shortcuts.

Related guides

• 100+ Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete List
• How to Use a Windows Keyboard With a Chromebook
• Chromebook and ChromeOS Settings Guide
• Chromebook Tutorial for Beginners

Last verified: 15 August 2026