How to remap your Chromebook’s keyboard

Chromebooks are not the same as traditional laptops in a lot of ways.

The most obvious physical difference? Chromebooks don't have standard keys like F1 or Caps Lock, because they have keyboards with a variety of Chrome OS-specific functions. It could be a welcome change or a huge pain.

Related

The best Chromebook for 2022

Don't despair if you aren't happy with that arrangement. You can change how you use your device by rearranging your keys.

Simply head into the Keyboard section of your settings to get started.

• Click the clock in the lower-right corner of the screen.
• Tap the gear-shaped icon in the panel that appears.
• Scroll down to the Device subhead and click the Keyboard option.

You will see a list of keys you can modify.

• The Launcher key (also called the Search key)
• The Ctrl key
• The Alt key
• The Escape key
• The Backspace key
• The Assistant key (on Pixelbooks only)

Any of the functions can be handled by remapped keys.

• Launcher / Search (the Chrome OS app drawer and search prompt)
• Ctrl
• Alt
• Caps Lock
• Escape
• Backspace
• Assistant (on devices where Google Assistant is available)

Click the box alongside the key and select the function you want it to have. You could change the key back to a Caps Lock. Caps Lock can be assigned to your Escape or Assistant keys if you like having the Launcher key in its default role.

The Escape key or even the Launcher key could be assigned to handle that function if you have a Chromebook other than the Pixelbook.

There is a setting called Treat top-row keys as function keys under the keyboard remapping option. The commands for going back, reloading a page, maximizing a window, and so on will be transformed into standard F1 style if you use the toggle alongside that. If you first hold down the key and then press them, you will be able to access their specialty functions.

The article was originally published on October 21st, and has been updated with a few slight clarifications.