The great thing about Chrome OS as we speak is its versatility: The working system helps an enormous vary of purposes in quite a lot of completely different codecs — internet apps, progressive internet apps, native Chrome OS packages and Chrome browser extensions, Android apps, Linux apps, and typically even Windows apps (gracious!).That’s sufficient to make anybody’s head spin. As a results of that platform-defying setup, although, Chromebooks can now deal with all kinds of superior productiveness duties and are viable far past their authentic web-centric focus, when the idea was fairly actually only a “browser in a box” — a full-screen Chrome window with no desktop, nothing resembling a conventional app, and subsequent to no choices to contemplate.But with energy comes complexity, and — you guessed it — the weak point of Chrome OS as we speak is that exact same versatility. With so many varieties of apps and so many sources for software program, it is nearly unattainable to know the place to start and methods to get began in your Chromebook journey. And that is to say nothing of determining the finer factors of the working system and methods to optimize the setting for effectivity.The interface itself should still be comparatively minimalist, in comparison with different working programs — with its customizable dock (the “shelf”) for holding frequently-accessed packages, its scrolling app drawer (the “launcher”) for locating the whole lot else put in on a system, and its Android-reminiscent settings and notification panel — however past that unassuming floor, there’s truly a good quantity occurring. JR Raphael/IDG
The principal Chrome OS desktop does not have a lot, however the launcher’s search operate and the docked icons within the shelf make it simple to entry the whole lot you want. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
For a platform as soon as touted for its simplicity, issues positive have gotten sophisticated. But they do not should be daunting. Follow this fastidiously crafted information to getting began with Chrome OS — each discovering the precise apps from the precise locations and getting your system organized for optimum effectivity — and we’ll have you ever up and operating with a custom-tuned setup very quickly.Step 1: Figure out what apps you want — and the place to seek out themThe first step is just to determine what software program you want in your Chromebook — what apps will most successfully aid you get your work (and non-work) achieved. Make a fast checklist of your necessities: What app or service do you favor to make use of for e-mail? Do you want an app for chatting with colleagues? What about undertaking administration? Image enhancing? Note taking? Word processing and different workplace work?Once you’ve got discovered what packages you need, it is time to assume by means of one of the best place to seek out every of them. Let’s undergo the primary Chrome OS app varieties one after the other and see which could take advantage of sense for various objects in your checklist:Web appsIn common, with most Google apps and web-centric providers, you may be superb sticking with the common internet variations — the identical websites you all the time pull up in your browser. You may even create shortcuts to make them look and act extra like apps and to maintain them readily accessible: Just open the suitable web site in a traditional browser tab, click on the three-dot menu icon in Chrome’s upper-right nook, after which choose “More tools” adopted by “Create shortcut.” Give the shortcut no matter identify you need — and if you would like it to open in its personal app-like window as a substitute of a regular browser tab, choose the “Open as window” choice. JR Raphael/IDG
When you create an online shortcut after which set the positioning to open as a window, it seems and acts like an app. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
If you wish to get actually superior and customise the app’s icon and even the colour scheme of its window, comply with the steps outlined right here.Progressive internet appsWe’ve heard lots of buzz currently about progressive internet apps, or PWAs — apps that set up straight from the browser after which look and act like common desktop apps, with their very own standalone home windows and shortcuts, speedier begin instances, and built-in help for offline use.PWAs generally is a good different to common internet apps, however the issue is that there simply aren’t a ton of worthwhile choices at this level — neither is there any spectacular storefront for shopping by means of out there choices.Not to fret, although: I’ve obtained you lined. I keep an evolving checklist of one of the best PWAs for productiveness. You can reference that information for a broader set of worthwhile suggestions, however listed below are just a few fast highlights which might be significantly related to the Chromebook realm:The Todoist PWA seems, feels, and acts nearly precisely like an everyday native program, and it allows you to work together with your lists and notes even once you’re offline.
The Zoom PWA frees you from the scaled-back web site model of the videoconferencing service and allows you to make and place calls with a fuller set of options and an expertise that is optimized for the Chrome OS setting.
And Photopea can act as an admirable Photoshop-level graphics enhancing suite in your Chromebook, with or with out an energetic web connection.
JR Raphael/IDG
No matter what sort of pc you are utilizing, you’ll be able to accomplish superior graphic work with or with out an energetic web reference to the Photopea progressive internet app. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
For extra distinctive PWAs price exploring and a full clarification of the not-so-simple steps concerned in putting in them, make your method over to my full information.Chrome OS packages and extensionsSo you’ve got obtained some common internet apps and possibly a progressive internet app or two — wonderful. Now take into consideration if there could be some native Chrome OS packages or Chrome browser extensions that would flesh out your assortment even additional.This space of the Chromebook expertise can get a bit of complicated, and it is principally due to terminology. So brace your self: “Chrome Apps” — as a correct noun — are not supported on the platform. Those have been vaguely PWA-like packaged apps that had been current on Chrome OS early on however have been phased out this summer time.You can, nevertheless, nonetheless discover native Chrome OS packages, even when they are not technically “Chrome Apps.” First, the Chrome Web Store boasts a bunch of cross-platform Chrome browser extensions, that are program-like add-ons that convey quite a lot of helpful features into your common Chrome home windows.For occasion: JR
Snippyly is considered one of many app-like extensions that’ll add further worth into your Chrome OS setup. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
The Chrome Web Store additionally has a whole part of offline-capable extensions which might be price trying over.Remember, too, that providers equivalent to Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive provide their very own built-in offline choices (although do remember that you’re going to have to allow the offline choice in every of these providers earlier than it will work; you will discover way more on that topic in my separate Chromebook offline information). Chromebooks additionally include a handful of preinstalled offline-capable apps, together with a calculator, a plain textual content editor, a picture editor, and a file supervisor. All of these ought to be in your machine’s launcher and able to roll proper out of the gate.Android appsAnother class of software program that works offline and provides fascinating potentialities into the Chrome OS setting is Google’s sprawling assortment of Android apps — all the identical stuff you’d set up in your Android telephone, from the exact same Google Play Store storefront. Most present Chromebooks help the Play Store and provide it as an choice throughout the Chrome OS launcher; if you happen to do not see it in your machine, attempt opening up your Chromebook’s settings and looking for “Play Store” within the field on the high. If an choice labeled “Google Play Store” comes up, click on it and comply with the steps to allow its presence. If no such choice seems, your machine might be among the many crop of older and lower-powered legacy Chromebooks that do not help the characteristic.The trick with Android apps on Chrome OS is to know which apps are price getting — which, in different phrases, will truly improve your Chromebook expertise in some significant method. Especially since so many Android apps are additionally out there in web-based varieties, figuring that out is not all the time simple.I keep an evolving checklist of Android apps for Chromebooks that goals to establish essentially the most worthwhile titles. Among the apps I’d suggest putting in from the Play Store are Microsoft’s Office utilities (supplied you will have a Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription and like Word and its counterparts over the Google Docs household), both OneNote or Keep (relying in your note-taking choice), and Duet Display (which helps you to have your Chromebook double as a wi-fi second show in your Mac or PC, if you happen to use a number of gadgets).Microsoft’s Outlook app for Android can also be in some ways superior to the service’s internet model, and the Google Calendar Android app will allow you to entry your calendar offline — one thing its web-based brother will not do. JR Raphael/IDG
The Outlook Android app is extra highly effective and nice to make use of than its web-based equal. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
There are lots extra noteworthy choices within the checklist, and it is up to date usually with new suggestions.Linux appsThe subsequent kind of app to contemplate one of many newer additions to Chrome OS and one which sure older programs nonetheless cannot help: the geek-adored area of Linux apps. Provided you will have a fairly latest Chromebook and do not thoughts getting your arms a bit of soiled with technical trickery, it is effectively price your whereas to discover.To begin, click on over to my Linux apps on Chrome OS information to discover ways to get Linux up and operating in your system. Then, look by means of my evolving checklist of Linux app for Chromebook suggestions to see which titles could be best for you.From a real native desktop Slack app to a completely featured native workplace suite and an Outlook-reminiscent e-mail and calendar consumer, oodles of beneficial choices await. JR Raphael/IDG
The Linux-based Evolution program offers you an Outlook-like interface for native mail, calendar, and get in touch with administration in Chrome OS. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Windows appsFinally, if you happen to work in a spot that also depends on some conventional PC software program, you may need the choice to entry a digital Windows desktop and use apps from that setting proper in your Chromebook (sure, actually!).Google began providing an choice for firms to try this in 2020, and Microsoft is anticipated to comply with go well with with its personal Windows 365 Cloud PC program in August.This class of apps is related provided that your employer has an enterprise-level license to make use of it, however if you’re in that scenario, it may very well be an essential a part of your Chromebook productiveness image. You can see extra about the way it works and what it is like to make use of in my hands-on evaluation. JR
Windows and Chrome OS can come collectively in some fairly trippy methods as of late. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
Step 2: Organize your apps for straightforward entryWith your apps all set, our subsequent step is to get the whole lot organized so you’ll be able to entry what you want with a minimal quantity of ongoing effort. Chrome OS might not have a desktop within the conventional sense, but it surely does have two essential areas for app storage, as we mentioned firstly of this story: the launcher, or app drawer, and the shelf — the tray of docked icons on the backside of the display.The launcher is the place the whole lot put in in your system seems. You can open it by both tapping your Chromebook’s Everything key (the one the place Caps Lock normally goes, additionally typically referred to as the Search key or Launcher key) or by clicking the circle-shaped icon within the lower-left nook of the display after which clicking the upward-facing arrow within the partial drawer that seems. If your machine is a two-in-one that converts right into a pill — by swiveling the display round previous the 180-degree mark or by detaching the display from the keyboard utterly — the launcher will stay open in your desktop by default each time it is in a pill state.You can drag and drop icons all through the launcher to alter their order or drag icons atop different icons to kind folders and arrange issues in any method you want. Truthfully, although, you most likely will not have to flick thru that space too usually; it is quicker to easily faucet the Everything key or click on the circle-shaped icon within the lower-left nook of the display after which begin typing the identify of the app you need. After one or possibly two letters, it ought to seem as the highest choice — and you’ll merely hit enter to open it. JR Raphael/IDG
Using the Chrome OS launcher’s search operate is a quick strategy to open any app, anytime. (Click picture to enlarge it.)
For apps you open usually, discover them within the launcher, right-click (or two-finger faucet) them, after which choose “Pin to shelf.” Once the icon seems in your shelf, you’ll be able to drag and drop it to alter its place. Pay cautious consideration to that, as every place holds a hidden shortcut: From wherever within the system, you’ll be able to press Alt and the quantity key corresponding with an icon’s placement in your shelf to open the related program (or shift your focus to it, if it is already open).Between the Alt-number key shortcut, the Alt-Tab app-switching command, and the Overview key (the important thing exhibiting a field with two traces, on to the left of the brightness controls in your keyboard), opening and shifting amongst apps on Chrome OS can all the time be swift and snappy.Step 3: Learn some superior shortcuts and power-user tricksCongratulations! Your Chromebook is formally stocked, organized, and prepared that will help you get stuff completed. All that is left to do now is consider studying some superior methods for getting round Chrome OS and making the most of the whole lot it has to supply.First of all, Chrome OS is stuffed with helpful shortcuts past the few talked about above. You can seize a screenshot by holding down Ctrl after which urgent the Overview key, for example — or if you wish to seize a particular space of the display as a substitute of all the show, hit Ctrl, Shift, and the Overview key collectively after which use the on-screen guides to pick out any space you need.Some different particularly useful shortcuts price remembering:
Action
Key Combination
WINDOW MANAGEMENT
Dock window on the left
Alt + [
Dock window on the right
Alt + ]
Maximize window
Alt + =
Minimize window
Alt + –
Close present tab
Ctrl + W
Close present window
Ctrl + Shift + W
Move to a particular tab inside a window
Ctrl + 1 (or any quantity representing a tab’s place)
Open the Chrome browser menu
Alt + E or Alt + F
WEB NAVIGATION
Open hyperlink in a brand new tab
Ctrl + Shift + click on the hyperlink
Open hyperlink in a brand new tab within the background
Ctrl + click on the hyperlink
Open hyperlink in a brand new window
Shift + click on the hyperlink
Go again to earlier web page in your historical past
Alt + <
Go ahead to subsequent web page in your historical past
Alt + >
Go to the very high of a web page
Ctrl + Home or Ctrl + Alt + up arrow
Go to the very backside of a web page
Ctrl + End or Ctrl + Alt + down arrow
Page down one display
Spacebar or Alt + down arrow
Page up one display
Shift + spacebar or Alt + up arrow
Start a brand new Google search from a tab
Ctrl + Ok or Ctrl + E
Focus on the handle bar
Ctrl + L or Alt + D
SYSTEM TOOLS
Open the duty supervisor
Everything key + Esc
Make the whole lot on display bigger
Ctrl + Shift + =
Make the whole lot on display smaller
Ctrl + Shift + –
Open the Files app
Alt + Shift + M
Open the standing bar/notification panel
Alt + Shift + S or Alt + Shift + N
Turn Caps Lock on and off
Alt + Everything key
Got all that? Good. Now, some Chromebook betterment initiatives price pursuing — or hanging onto for a quiet day:Creating your individual {custom} Chrome handle bar actions. With a couple of minutes of easy setup, you can provide your self super-fast shortcuts to virtually something conceivable — be it a component of your system, a particular web site you frequent, or perhaps a particular command inside an internet site (like launching a brand new clean e-mail draft).
Bringing widgets into Chrome OS. For all of its Android-inspired parts, one factor Chrome OS does not help but is the time-saving residence display widget. But there is a workaround.
Cranking up your Chromebook’s cloud-connecting energy. Just a few easy tweaks that’ll make your Chromebook an much more related a part of your cloud-centric setup.
Learning quick fixes for frequent Chrome OS issues. An inventory of frequent Chromebook issues you would possibly encounter and the expert-approved options to resolve ’em.
Last however not least, if you wish to get Google-centric ideas and perception all all year long, take 20 seconds now to enroll in my Android Intelligence e-newsletter. It’ll convey all kinds of next-level data to your inbox each Friday — only one e-mail per week, from me to you.This article was initially revealed in March 2019 and up to date in August 2021.
Copyright © 2021 IDG Communications, Inc.