Chromebooks without a Caps Lock key: how to get Caps Lock back and master the keyboard

If you've just started a Chromebook and you come from Windows or macOS, you've probably been left speechless You might look at your keyboard and realize that the classic Caps Lock key is nowhere to be found. It's not a defect, and you haven't been sold a rare model: in ChromeOS, that key doesn't exist as such, but the function is still available and can be restored in several very simple ways.

For many users, this absence remains a mere curiosity because they almost never write. long texts in capital letters and they always pull the Shift keyBut for others, it significantly disrupts their workflow when they need to type entire paragraphs in capital letters, work with acronyms, or use specific shortcuts. The good news is that ChromeOS is full of options for Customize the keyboard, remap keys, use shortcuts, and adjust typingand you can even connect external Windows or Mac keyboards to recover the good old Caps Lock key.

How a Chromebook keyboard works and why there's no Caps Lock

Chromebooks use a keyboard that, at first glance, looks very similar to any other, but with several key differences in layout and some special keys. Google This keyboard was designed with web browsing and ChromeOS in mind, hence the prioritization of actions such as searching, window control, and multimedia handling over other classic PC functions.

In the top row, instead of the typical combination of Function keys F1, F2, F3, etc.You'll often find Chromebook-specific keys: page up, page down, refresh, full screen, window switching, brightness control, volume control, mute, and similar functions. This shortcut bar is designed to let you control your device more directly without relying so heavily on the mouse.

In that redesign, it was decided to remove the Caps Lock key and replace it with a search key or application launcher (You'll see it as a magnifying glass or a circle icon.) This key opens the ChromeOS launcher, allows you to search your device and the web, and can be combined with other keys to perform different actions.

If you use a Windows keyboard connected to your Chromebook, things change a little: The Windows key located between Ctrl and Alt becomes the search key or application menu keyIn other words, ChromeOS interprets it as if it were that launcher key typical of Chromebook keyboards, and from there you can reassign it or use it in shortcuts exactly the same way.

The absence of a dedicated Caps Lock key doesn't mean ChromeOS doesn't support Caps Lock. In fact, the system offers Several methods to simulate or recover Caps Lock behavior, both with Chromebook's own keys and with external keyboards, and also lets you remap keys to your liking.

Configure your Chromebook keyboard: Remap keys and customize their behavior

One of the most powerful options that ChromeOS has is... Change the function of certain keys without installing external programsFrom the system settings you can modify what the Ctrl, Alt, search (or launcher) keys and the application menu key do, to adapt them to your preferences, similarly to how you can Customize and reassign shortcuts in Windows 11.

If you want any of these keys to behave like the classic caps lock keyYou can do it in just a few steps. This method works with both the Chromebook's built-in keyboard and many external keyboards recognized by the system.

To remap keys and decide what action each one performs on your Chromebook, follow this path within ChromeOS, always after log in with your account:

1. Click on the time, in the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. In the panel that opens, select the option Configuration.
3. Inside the section Device, enter the section Keyboard.
4. In “Integrated Keyboard”, tap on Reassign keys.
5. You will see a list of keys (Ctrl, Alt, search key, application menu key, etc.) and a drop-down menu for each one.
6. Select what action you want each key to perform. Among the options will appear the one for Caps lockwhich is the one you need to recover the behavior of Caps Lock.

This way, you can get the search key or the applications menu key to work. act exactly like a Caps Lock key: Press it once and continuous capitals are activated, press it again and they are deactivated.

ChromeOS also allows you to configure how the combination behaves Alt + key or Alt + click To emulate the right mouse button using the touchpad or the keyboard itself, you can choose between Alt + click, search key + click, or even disable that behavior entirely if you prefer another method for right-clicking.

In addition, the system offers a specific panel for assign key combinations to six classic actions These functions, which many keyboards have as dedicated keys, include Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down. You can choose which key combination performs each of these functions, which is very useful if you work with long texts or use your Chromebook for intensive office tasks.

Keep in mind that if the combination you assign to any of these actions matches a key combination that already has another function associated with itChromeOS will display a notification indicating that the new key combination replaces the old one. From that notification, you can access "Edit key combination" or view more information about the change.

Recovering Caps Lock with an external keyboard

If you're one of those who can't get used to the physical absence of the Caps Lock key, another very convenient solution is connect an external keyboard to your ChromebookAlmost any keyboard USB Bluetooth designed for Windows or Mac should work without problems.

On these keyboards, the Caps Lock key appears as usual, but ChromeOS may interpret it differently, or you may simply... repurpose other keys to perform that functionFor example, if there's a key you never use (like Insert in some cases), it's a good candidate to be converted into a new Caps Lock key by reassigning it in the system settings.

When you connect an external keyboard for the first time, ChromeOS usually displays a quick setup wizard To specify the keyboard type and verify that the main keys are working correctly, you can then go to Settings > Device > Keyboard to adjust the external keyboard's behavior, just as you would with the built-in keyboard.

The advantage of this approach is that, in addition to physically recovering Caps Lock, you can take advantage of the traditional Windows or Mac distribution if you find it more comfortable to work with. And since ChromeOS supports key remapping, you can combine the best of both worlds: a classic keyboard and system flexibility.

In practice, most keyboards designed for Windows or Mac behave correctly when connected to a Chromebook, and It allows you to remap keys in a similar way to how you would on the built-in keyboard.This way, even if the original Caps Lock key doesn't work as expected, you can achieve that behavior with another key of your choice.

Keyboard shortcuts to activate Caps Lock on Chromebook

Beyond remapping keys or plugging in an external keyboard, ChromeOS offers a very quick way to enable Caps Lock: using a specific key combinationIt's ideal if you don't want to change your keyboard settings but need to type in all caps occasionally.

To activate Caps Lock on a standard Chromebook, you can use these two basic combinationsDepending on your model and how the system is configured:

• Search key + Alt
• Application menu key + Alt (in some models or distributions)

Pressing that combination activates ChromeOS Caps Lock modeA notification usually appears in the bottom right corner of the notification bar indicating that Caps Lock is on, so you know that everything you type will be in uppercase.

When you want to turn off Caps Lock, you can go back to using the Search + Alt combination, or on many models, simply press the key once. Shift keyIn some Chromebooks, especially models like those from Acer, the system is designed so that Shift serves as a "quick shutdown" of that function, which is very practical when you have finished typing in capital letters.

This shortcut-based method has several advantages: you don't need Modify keyboard settings, it works instantly And it's easy to remember once you get used to it. For many users, it ends up being even more convenient than a dedicated key, because they only activate the mode when they really need to. If you also use a mobile device, see how Turn off Caps Lock on iPhone to maintain similar behavior across devices.

If you often work with keyboard shortcuts, you should also familiarize yourself with the ChromeOS general shortcutsbecause they allow you to move around the system, switch windows, manage tabs, and many other tasks without taking your hands off the keyboard.

Other useful keyboard shortcuts in ChromeOS

If the topic of shortcuts has piqued your curiosity, ChromeOS has them. a long list of key combinations for almost everything: from managing browser tabs to system settings, including shortcuts to specific functions.

For example, if you ever want to locate a specific shortcut within a page with lists of combinations, you can use the classic browser command Ctrl + F to search for textIt's especially useful when you're consulting Google's official help or a long shortcut guide and don't want to be reading everything from top to bottom.

Among the most common shortcuts that Chromebook users typically use are those of tabbed and windowed navigationThese include options to reload, close, or pin tabs, multimedia controls, and shortcuts for taking screenshots or recording video. While not all are detailed here, it's advisable to consult the ChromeOS built-in help panel for a complete list; and if you work with other systems, you can also check the keyboard shortcuts in Linux as reference.

Just like in Windows, the habit of using shortcuts ends up becoming a a very comfortable way to work day to dayYou avoid having to go from menu to menu, you perform repetitive actions in seconds, and you also get much more out of the keyboard, including those special Chromebook keys that may seem strange at first.

Keep in mind that Chromebooks include a shortcut help menu that displays all available combinations; if you ever need to find a specific one, you can use that feature. combine it with Ctrl + F to quickly locate it depending on the name of the action you are interested in.

Autocorrect, dictionary, and word suggestions on the Chromebook keyboard

In addition to everything related to Caps Lock and physical keys, ChromeOS incorporates a fairly complete system for Manage the way you write: autocorrect, personal dictionary, and word suggestionsThese options apply to both physical and on-screen keyboards, and help reduce errors when typing quickly.

In languages ​​with the Latin alphabet, the function of Autocorrect is usually enabled by defaultThis is especially useful on the on-screen keyboard, although it can also be used with physical keyboards. If for some reason it's not enabled, you can easily turn it on from the system settings.

To activate autocorrect, after logging in, follow this sequence:

1. Click on the time in the bottom right corner. If you prefer, you can also use the shortcut Alt + Shift + S to directly open the quick menu.
2. Choose Configuration.
3. Within “Device”, enter Keyboard and later Text input settings.
4. Accede to Text input method.
5. Next to the keyboard you have enabled, press the right arrow to see its options.
6. To activate autocorrect: in “Physical keyboard”, activate the option Auto correction; and in “On-screen keyboard”, also activate Auto correction If you want it to correct you when you type by touching the screen.

If you work with multiple keyboard layouts, remember that Autocorrect needs to be activated for each language. separately. Not all keyboards or layouts offer this feature, so the option may not appear in some languages.

Similarly, if what you want is that Don't have your words automatically corrected (for example, because you use a lot of technical terms or proper nouns), you can follow the same path and turn off the Auto-Correct switch on both the physical keyboard and the on-screen keyboard.

ChromeOS also lets you add words to a personal dictionary to prevent them from being marked as errors. This feature is especially useful if you frequently repeat surnames, job terms, acronyms, or specific jargon that the system doesn't recognize by default.

Word suggestions and text prediction

Another interesting feature related to writing is the word prediction or next word suggestionChromeOS can show you suggestions as you type, similar to what many other apps do. apps on your mobile, so you can complete sentences faster.

Currently, this advanced prediction is limited to certain contexts, and one of the most prominent is gmailIn other words, you'll see suggestions when you write emails in the Gmail app or web version, provided you have the corresponding options enabled.

To activate next word suggestions, the steps are very similar to those for autocorrect:

1. Sign in to your Chromebook and click on the time (or use Alt + Shift + S to open the panel).
2. Accede to Configuration.
3. In “Device”, go to Keyboard and later Text input settings.
4. Select the keyboard that you currently have enabled.
5. Activate the option Auto correction, necessary for the suggestions to work.
6. Check the box Enable next word suggestion so that the system can start offering predictions.

When this feature is available, you will see that the system suggests words or fragments of text that fit with what you usually writeSimply accept them to have them completed automatically, which can save a lot of time if you answer many emails a day.

Emoji suggestions: how to turn them on or off

Chromebooks are also capable of suggest emojis automatically when typing certain wordsFor example, when you type "wow" or "haha", the system may offer you an appropriate emoji to accompany the message.

On personal Chromebooks, these emoji suggestions usually come activated by defaultHowever, if your team is managed by a school, company, or other organization, emoji suggestions are usually disabled by default due to internal policies.

When you use the Chromebook in tablet mode with on-screen keyboardEmoji suggestions can appear directly in the virtual keyboard's suggestion bar, ready for you to tap and insert into your text.

If you find them annoying or don't use them, you can adjust these options from the text input settings, just like you do with autocorrect or word prediction, thus managing what kind of help you want while you type.

Customize the RGB keyboard backlighting color

On some Chromebook models, especially those geared towards gaming or advanced users, the keyboard has customizable RGB backlightingChromeOS allows you to change these colors to give your computer a different look or to adapt the keyboard to a specific gaming environment.

To change the keyboard lighting color, the process is quite straightforward:

1. Click on the time, at the bottom right of the screen.
2. Sign in Configuration.
3. Go to section Background and style and click on Configure your wallpaper and style.
4. At the bottom, within the “Keyboard Backlighting” section, choose the custom color that you prefer

By default, the keyboard color usually adjusts automatically based on the wallpaper you have selectedThis ensures a more uniform visual appearance for the entire system. However, if you prefer, you can break this pattern and manually select the keyboard tones.

Troubleshooting keyboard problems on a Chromebook

Sometimes it may seem that a key is not working or that the keyboard has a fault, when in reality the problem is in the configuration or in the system state itselfChromeOS offers several tools and basic steps that you should review before giving up on your keyboard.

If you notice that the volume or brightness keys are not responding, the first thing to check is whether The levels are no longer at their maximum or minimum.The system might simply be at its maximum level, and you won't see any changes when you press it. For the browser's back and forward buttons, check if the corresponding icons appear dimmed in the window: if the "back" button is grayed out, it means there's no previous page to return to.

If you have other problems with your keyboard, there is a series of general steps which usually resolve most situations:

1. Turn your Chromebook completely off and then turn it back on.
2. Try the keys while browsing like guest userIf they work fine in guest mode, the problem might be related to your account. In that case, remove the problematic account from the Chromebook and add it again.
3. make a forced restart of hardware of your Chromebook, following the manufacturer's instructions.
4. If the account that owns the device is causing problems, consider restore factory settings (powerwash), always backing up your important data beforehand.

When, despite everything, the problems persist, it's usually time to contact the Chromebook manufacturersince it could be a physical problem with the keyboard itself or the motherboard.

ChromeOS also includes a diagnostics section for more precise keyboard testing. To access it:

1. Open the app Configuration on your Chromebook.
2. Go to ChromeOS Information and then enter Diagnostics.

During testing, it is important that Don't switch windowsIf you exit the diagnostic screen, a message will appear stating that "Keys are not tested while using another window," and the test will pause until you return. If, after performing these diagnostics, the problems persist, the recommendation is again to contact the manufacturer's technical support.

If you need further assistance related to accessibility or special entry options, you can always contact Disability Support Team from Google, which is prepared to answer more specific questions.

Practical example: activating Caps Lock on an Acer Chromebook

In models like those of Acer Chromebookwhere there is also no dedicated physical key, activating Caps Lock is It's a matter of combining the right keys.The procedure is virtually immediate and does not require changing system settings.

To turn on Caps Lock on an Acer Chromebook, simply press the following keys simultaneously:

1. Alt + search key / launcher

By doing so, you will see a small arrow or indicator at the bottom right of the notification barThis is accompanied by a pop-up window informing you that Caps Lock is active. From that moment on, everything you type will appear in uppercase until you turn it off.

To deactivate it, on most Acer models you just have to press the Shift key once. The system detects that press as the command to turn off the lock and returns to normal lowercase behavior, unless you hold down Shift as usual for single uppercase letters.

If you want to learn more about using the keyboard on these devices, both Acer and Google refer you to the Official help documentation for the Chromebook keyboard the specific section of keyboard shortcuts, where many more useful combinations for everyday life are detailed.

Many Chromebook models from different brands (Dell, Acer, educational devices, etc.) share this same behavior, so the shortcut Alt + search or Alt + launcher is usually a standard way to activate Caps Lock on most of them.

Although at first glance the absence of the classic Caps Lock key on a Chromebook might sound like a compromise, ChromeOS offers several very flexible alternativesRemap keys, use combinations like Search + Alt, connect external keyboards with physical Caps Lock, improve typing with autocorrect, predictions and emojis, and even customize the keyboard's RGB lighting; with all this, it's possible adapt the equipment to your writing style and work without missing the traditional Windows or Mac layout.