Chromebook Keyboard Shortcuts for Students (Printable Cheat Sheet)

Quick answer: The most useful Chromebook shortcuts for students are Ctrl + Show Windows (screenshot), Alt + Search (Caps Lock), Ctrl + Shift + V (paste without formatting), and Ctrl + Alt + / (see every shortcut).

Chromebooks are the most common laptops in classrooms, but their keyboards differ from Windows and Mac keyboards. There's no Caps Lock key, no Delete key, and no Home or End keys. These shortcuts cover the gaps and help students work faster in Google Docs, Classroom, and the browser.

Chromebook keys you need to know

Search / Launcher key: where Caps Lock would be on other keyboards. Shown as a magnifying glass or a circle icon.
Show Windows key: in the top row, a rectangle with two lines. Used for screenshots and the window overview.
Top-row keys: back, forward, refresh, full screen, brightness, and volume, in place of F1–F12.

Missing keys: Caps Lock, Delete, Home, End

Missing key	Chromebook shortcut
Caps Lock	`Alt` + `Search`
Delete (forward)	`Alt` + `Backspace`
Home (start of line)	`Search` + `Left Arrow`
End (end of line)	`Search` + `Right Arrow`
Page Up	`Search` + `Up Arrow`
Page Down	`Search` + `Down Arrow`
Top of page / document	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Up Arrow`
Bottom of page / document	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Down Arrow`

Screenshots and screen recording

Action	Keys
Full-screen screenshot	`Ctrl` + `Show Windows`
Screenshot / screen recording menu	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Show Windows`

Copy, paste, and typing

Action	Keys
Copy / Cut / Paste	`Ctrl` + `C` or `Ctrl` + `X` or `Ctrl` + `V`
Paste without formatting	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `V`
Clipboard history	`Search` + `V`
Undo / Redo	`Ctrl` + `Z` or `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Z`
Select all	`Ctrl` + `A`
Emoji picker	`Search` + `Shift` + `Space`
Find on page	`Ctrl` + `F`

Why it matters: Ctrl + Shift + V pastes research quotes into your essay without the website's fonts and colors.

Tabs and the browser

Action	Keys
New tab	`Ctrl` + `T`
Close tab	`Ctrl` + `W`
Reopen closed tab	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `T`
Next / previous tab	`Ctrl` + `Tab` or `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Tab`
Go to address bar	`Ctrl` + `L`
Zoom in / out / reset	`Ctrl` + `+` or `Ctrl` + `-` or `Ctrl` + `0`

Windows and split screen

Action	Keys
Switch apps	`Alt` + `Tab`
Dock window left / right	`Alt` + `[` or `Alt` + `]`
Maximize window	`Alt` + `=`
Lock screen	`Search` + `L`
Sign out	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Q` (press twice)
Show all shortcuts	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `/`

Google Docs shortcuts for essays

Action	Keys
Bold / Italic / Underline	`Ctrl` + `B` or `Ctrl` + `I` or `Ctrl` + `U`
Insert link	`Ctrl` + `K`
Word count	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `C`
Add a comment	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `M`
Voice typing	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `S`
Clear formatting	`Ctrl` + `\`
Search the menus	`Alt` + `/`

Accessibility shortcuts

Action	Keys
ChromeVox screen reader on/off	`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `Z`
Full-screen magnifier	`Ctrl` + `Search` + `M`
Docked magnifier	`Ctrl` + `Search` + `D`
Make everything bigger / smaller	`Ctrl` + `Shift` + `+` or `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `-`
High contrast mode	`Ctrl` + `Search` + `H`

The full list is on our Chromebook keyboard shortcuts page.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn on Caps Lock on a Chromebook?

Press Alt + Search (the key with a magnifying glass or launcher icon). Press it again to turn Caps Lock off. You can also make the Search key work as Caps Lock in Settings > Device > Keyboard.

How do I see every shortcut on my Chromebook?

Press Ctrl + Alt + / to open the built-in Key Shortcuts app, where you can search for any shortcut.

Where is the Delete key on a Chromebook?

Chromebooks don't have a separate Delete key. Press Alt + Backspace to delete the character in front of the cursor.

Can teachers print this cheat sheet for a classroom?

Yes. Click the Print this cheat sheet button at the top of the page. Site navigation is removed so only the shortcut tables print. You're welcome to share or link to this page in class materials.

Why don't some shortcuts work on my school Chromebook?

Schools can disable features such as screenshots, incognito mode, or certain apps through device management. If a shortcut does nothing, it may be blocked by your school's settings.