Chromebooks areon the up and up . If you ’re using a laptop go Google ’s lightweight , web - based Chrome OS software , there are a bunch of hide tricks you might not be aware of , from safely give others entree to your Chromebook to getting the newest features for the type O before anyone else . Here are 10 tips for becoming an expert Chromebook user .
1) Save files straight to Google Drive
Chromebooks have limited local entrepot , but you ’re encouraged not to use it , and Google Drive appears as an option whenever you download something from the web . To have Chrome OS save files flat to Google Drive with no immediate , open up the options dialogue then click Show advanced options .
Under Downloads , click Change , then specify your Google Drive ( or any brochure inside it ) , and snap on Open . Back on the preferences sieve , untick the box marked Ask where to save each file before download . The change is saved automatically and new downloads will go straight to your cloud storage .
2) Use Google Drive offline
Chromebooks have slowly been getting better at working without an internet connection , and Google ’s office suite has been leading the way . you may create , edit , and look at written document , spreadsheet , and introduction without any internet connectivity , but there ’s a setting you necessitate to enable first .
From the front My Drive sight in Google Drive , press the gear ikon and choose options , then tick the box next to Offline label Sync Google Docs , Sheets , Slides & Drawings files to this computer so that you could edit offline . Any modification are mechanically synced back when an net connection is detected .
3) Mirror the display on a Chromecast
A Chromecast gives you an easy elbow room of let your laptop computer ’s display up on your tv CRT screen . sink in the position taproom in the lower right-hand - hand box , then break up the Chromecast pick and select your HDMI dongle from the list . Confirm the action at law on the next dialog box .
The casting feature lets you send audio as well as visuals over to the Chromecast dongle , so it ’s one way of flummox video from Chrome OS to a goggle box or reminder . It also work well for photo slideshows . To stop throw off , select the condition bar again , then prize break off next to the Chromecast option on the pop - up bill of fare .
4) Fit more on the screen
Most Chromebooks do n’t come with the well - looking displays , but you may aline this ( and fit more on the covert ) by chatter on exhibit background in the preferences menu and changing the resoluteness manually . you’re able to usually increase the resolution without get any glitches .
Of course , there are also the standard zoom tools uncommitted in the Chrome browser app as well if you ’re hold trouble fitting everything on one screen . expend the rapid growth tool in the principal Chrome OS card or Ctrl+plus or Ctrl+minus to deepen the rapid growth level . Ctrl+0 reset the zoom tier back to 100 percent .
5) Unlock Chrome OS with your smartphone
sustain to typecast out your Google password every time you start up your Chromebook is n’t idealistic , as secure as it might be . Instead , you’re able to say Chrome o to sign you in automatically if it detects a trust smartphone is nearby . open up up the configurations page then snap Show advanced circumstance to get started .
Smart Lock is the option you need . Click Set up and you ’ll be guide on through the process of connecting Chromebook to phone ( Bluetooth require to be switched on on both equipment ) . When your phone is in range in the time to come , you ’ll just postulate to tap your drug user account avatar to get into your Chromebook .
6) Get the newest features first
As with the Chrome internet browser , there are different versions of Chrome OS to pick out between , and if you discover the stable version too staid and boring , you’re able to live life on the edge byswitching to the beta or developing epithelial duct . You get the new feature of speech first in riposte for a few additional bugs .
From the preferences screen click About Chrome OS , then More info … , and the Change distribution channel button appears . Make your choice ( Google explain the different option ) and cluck Change transmission channel … to confirm . If you ’re exchange to a more stable epithelial duct , then your Chromebook will be pass over in the process .
7) Troubleshoot problems with the Chromebook task manager
As straightforward and lightweight as Chrome OS is compare with other operating systems likeWindowsandmacOS , there might still be function when you run into problem . If that take place , the task manager can help . found it with Shift+Esc from the desktop and it appears in a separate windowpane .
It will be intimate to anyone who ’s ever see a project manager before . you’re able to see each opened tablet and every running extension , together with how much CPU time , storage space and web bandwidth they ’re all using up . Select any entry and dawn closing process to stop any troublesome apps or add - ons .
8) Use Guest Mode when sharing your Chromebook
There might be times when other people are using your Chromebook , but how do you compel without giving them access to your Google search history and Facebook bill and everything else that opens mechanically with your web web browser ? The response is the Guest Mode built into Chrome OS .
From mount , flick Manage other user and then tick Enable Guest browsing . On the login screen you ’ll notice a Browse as Guest pick . tap this and you get a blank , anon. web browser window that anyone can apply to surf the web , check societal media , and so on without affecting your account .
9) Talk to your Chromebook
Everyone’stalking to their computersthese days , and you could set up the same “ hunky-dory Google ” vocalization trigger available on Android on Chrome OS as well . All you need to do is open up up the options dialog and tick off the box label Enable “ OK Google ” to start a voice search ( under the Search heading ) .
With that done , you’re able to say “ OK Google ” on the Google website , with a new tab key open , or with the Chrome type O app launcher . You ’ll need to deed over license to use the microphone the first time , and you could then run any search enquiry using your articulation , with the results show on CRT screen and read back to you .
10) Learn some Chromebook keyboard shortcuts
The Chromebook keyboard has some unusual tweaks — a hunt key or else of a Caps Lock push button for instance — and there are also plenty of keyboard shortcuts build into the OS . To see them all , press Ctrl+Alt+ ? . Hold down Alt , Ctrl , Shift or Search to see the shortcuts associated with each one .
There are spate of crosscut to play around with but some of the one we found ourselves using most often let in Ctrl+W to close a tablet and Ctrl+Shift+T to bring back the most recently close tab . Alt+ [ or Alt+ ] are also utile shortcuts for dock Chrome bone windows to the left or rightfield of the display .
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