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Every Google Chrome keyboard shortcut a power user needs to know

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Google Chrome is one of the most used web browsers, it was released in September 2008 for Microsoft Windows and was later ported to Linux, macOS, iOS and Android.

In this article, we have covered all the Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts that you will need to make your work on the widely popular browser by the search engine giant quicker and more convenient.

This is an extensive list of Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts divided into five parts. If you’re looking for a specific keyboard shortcut, consider looking for it via the Ctrl+F browser shortcut to find on a page. If you’re using a mobile browser, click on the ‘triple-dot’ menu and tap on Find in Page.

Also read: Every Youtube keyboard shortcut you need to know to control playback

Tab and windows keyboard shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts for Google Chrome will be useful when trying to work around with tabs and windows on your browser.

Windows, Linux and Mac

  • Ctrl + n | Cmd + n: To open a new window.
  • Ctrl + Shift + n | Cmd + Shift + n: To Open a new window in Incognito mode.
  • Ctrl + t | Cmd + t: To open a new tab.
  • Ctrl + Shift + t | Cmd + Shift + t: To reopen previously closed tabs in the order they were closed.
  • Ctrl + Tab | Cmd + Option + Right arrow: To jump to the next open tab.
  • Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Cmd + Option + Left arrow: To jump to the previous open tab.
  • Ctrl + 1 to Ctrl + 8 | Cmd + 1 to ⌘ + 8: To jump to a specific tab.
  • Ctrl + 9 | Cmd + 9: To jump to the last tab.
  • Alt + Left arrow | Cmd + [ or ⌘ + Left arrow: To open the previous page in your browsing history for the current tab.
  • Alt + Right arrow | Cmd + ] or ⌘ + Right arrow: To open the next page in your browsing history for the current tab.
  • Ctrl + w or Ctrl + F4 | Cmd + w: To close the current tab.
  • Ctrl + Shift + w or Alt + F4 | Cmd + Shift + w: To close the current window.
  • Alt + Space + n | Cmd + m: To minimize the window.
  • Alt + f + x | Cmd + q: To Quit Google Chrome.
  • Alt + Home: Open the set homepage in the current tab.

Also read: How to block websites in Google Chrome?

Google Chrome tools keyboard shortcuts

The following Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts are useful for accessing features such as the bookmark tool, history page, downloads, find bar, developer tools, browsing data, task manager and the toolbar among a few other aspects.

With the way technology works in today's world, all of one's information or preferences are in constant motion. The information presented on certain platforms slowly make its way around onto all of one's devices, this is known as data syncing.Syncing of data plays a bigger role in one's life than they think. It allows one to use multiple devices on the go with parity amongst them saving one the trouble of having to reconfigure a device from start.With all the information stored online, keeping a tab on it is very important and this article will tell you about how to choose the information synced on Chrome and how to delete it.What information is synced?One finds themselves using Chrome for everything, from searches for food recipes to performing online transactions, this information, along with bookmarks is stored and synced. Chrome increases its functionality with extensions developed by others and even these can be synced across compatible devices.Chrome stores the following data and syncs it across all of one's devices -HistoryTabs and bookmarksPasswordsCredit card infoUser settingsThemesExtensionsThe steps to choosing what information is stored are simple, but first, if one has not already set up the sync system, the steps to do so have been mentioned below mentioned.Also read: Top 5 alternatives to Google Chrome that value your privacySteps to set up sync info in ChromeWe are presuming that an account has been signed into before performing these steps.Step 1 - Click on the 'three dots' option present in the right top corner.Step 2 - Click on the settings option.Step 3 - The above step brings up the people menu where a button to turn sync on can be seen.These steps will have set up one's account to sync all information across available devices. A passphrase different from the user's login password can also be set to encrypt all data.How to choose what information is syncedWhen a user performs the sync set up, all types of information is set to be synced by default. To choose what information one wants to have synced across all their devices, they should follow the steps mentioned below :Step 1 - Click on the 'Manage sync' option which is available after one has selected the settings option.Step 2 - Uncheck the sync everything box and proceed to choose what information to sync.How to delete synced informationDeleting the synced information is as easy as it gets, one can follow the steps mentioned below to do so.Step 1 - Select the 'Data from Chrome sync' option.Step 2 - Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select the 'Reset Sync' option.Also read: How to block a website on Google Chrome?

Windows, Linux and Mac

  • Alt + f or Alt + e | Cmd + ,: To open the Chrome menu | Open the Settings page in a new tab.
  • Ctrl + Shift + b | Cmd + Shift + b: To show or hide the Bookmarks bar.
  • Ctrl + Shift + o | Cmd + Option + b: To open the Bookmarks Manager.
  • Ctrl + h | Cmd + y: To open the History page in a new tab.
  • Ctrl + j | Cmd +Shift + j: To open the Downloads page in a new tab.
  • Ctrl + f or F3 | Cmd + f: To open the Find Bar to search the current page.
  • Ctrl + g | Cmd + g: To jump to the next match to your Find Bar search.
  • Ctrl + Shift+ g | Cmd + Shift + g: To jump to the previous match to your Find Bar search.
  • Ctrl + Shift + j or F12 | Cmd + Option+ i: To open Developer Tools.
  • Ctrl + Shift + Delete | Cmd + Shift + Delete: To open the Clear Browsing Data options.
  • Ctrl + Shift + m | Cmd + Shift + m: Log in as a different user, browse as a Guest, or access payment and password info.
  • Shift + Esc: To open the Chrome Task Manager.
  • Shift + Alt + t: Set the focus on the first item in the Chrome toolbar.
  • F10: To set focus on the rightmost item in the Chrome toolbar.
  • F6: To switch focus to unfocused dialog (if showing) and all toolbars.

Also read: How to install Google Chrome and how to setup Google as a homepage?

Address bar keyboard shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts work via the address bar on Google Chrome.

Windows and Linux

  • Type a search term + Enter: Select the default search engine to search your query.
  • Type your preferred search engine’s name and press Tab: To search using a different search engine.
  • Type a site name + Ctrl + Enter: To add www. and .com to a site name, and open it in the current tab.
  • Type a search term + Alt + Enter: To open a new tab and perform a Google search.
  • Ctrl + l or Alt+ d or F6: To jump to the address bar.
  • Ctrl + k or Ctrl + e: To search from anywhere on the page.
  • Down arrow to highlight + shift + Delete: To remove predictions from your address bar.
  • Ctrl+ F5: To move the cursor to the address bar.

Also read: How to block ads on Google Chrome?

Mac

  • Type a search term + Enter: Select the default search engine to search your query.
  • Type your preferred search engine’s name and press Tab: To search using a different search engine.
  • Type a site name + Control + Enter: To add www. and .com to a site name, and open it in the current tab.
  • Type a site name + Control + Shift + Enter: To add www. and .com to a site name, and open it in a new tab.
  • Type a web address + Cmd + Enter: To open the website in a new background tab.
  • Cmd + l: Move the cursor to the address bar.
  • Down arrow to highlight + Shift + fn + Delete: To remove predictions from your address bar.
  • Ctrl + F5: To move the cursor to the address bar.

Also read: How to update Google Chrome?

Webpage keyboard shortcuts

The following Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts will allow you to work your way around the currently opened website in a tab or a window.

Google is testing 'Explore' interface on Chrome browser
Photo by Benjamin Dada

Windows and Linux

  • Ctrl + p: To open options to print the current page.
  • Ctrl + s: To open options to save the current page.
  • F5 or Ctrl + r: To reload the current page.
  • Shift + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + r: To reload the current page, ignoring cached content.
  • Esc: To stop the page loading.
  • Tab: To browse clickable items moving forward.
  • Shift + Tab: To browse clickable items moving backward.
  • Ctrl + o + Select a file: To open a file from your computer in Chrome.
  • Ctrl + u: To Display non-editable HTML source code for the current page.
  • Ctrl + d: Save the webpage on your current tab as a bookmark.
  • Ctrl + Shift + d: Create a folder and save all the open tabs on Chrome as bookmarks in a folder.
  • F11: Turn full-screen mode on or off.
  • Ctrl and +: To make everything on the page bigger.
  • Ctrl and -: To make everything on the page smaller.
  • Ctrl + 0: To return everything on the page to the default size.
  • Space or PgDn: To scroll down a webpage, a screen at a time.
  • Shift + Space or PgUp: Scroll up on a website, one page at a time.
  • Home: Jump to the top of the webpage.
  • End: Jump to the bottom of the webpage.
  • Shift + Scroll your mouse wheel: To Scroll horizontally on the page.
  • Ctrl + Left arrow: To move your cursor to the beginning of the previous word in a text field.
  • Ctrl + Right arrow: To move your cursor to the next word.
  • Ctrl + Backspace: To delete the previous word in a text field.
  • Alt + Home: To open the Home page in the current tab.

Also read: How to delete cookies on Google Chrome?

Mac

  • Cmd + p: To open options to print the current page.
  • Cmd + s: To open options to save the current page.
  • Cmd + Option + p: To open the Page Setup dialog.
  • Cmd + Shift + r: To reload your current page, ignoring cached content.
  • Esc: To stop the page loading.
  • Tab: To browse clickable items moving forward.
  • Shift + Tab: To browse clickable items moving backwards.
  • Cmd + o + Select a file: To open a file from your computer in Google Chrome.
  • Cmd + Option + u: To display non-editable HTML source code for the current page.
  • Cmd + Option + j: To open the JavaScript Console.
  • Cmd + d: To save your current webpage as a bookmark.
  • Cmd + Shift + d: To save all open tabs as bookmarks in a new folder.
  • Cmd + Ctrl + f: To turn full-screen mode on or off.
  • Cmd and +: To make everything on the page bigger.
  • Cmd and -: To make everything on the page smaller.
  • Cmd + 0: To return everything on the page to the default size.
  • Space: To scroll down a webpage, a screen at a time.
  • Shift + Space: To scroll up a webpage, a screen at a time.
  • Cmd + Option + f: To search the web.
  • Option + Left arrow: To move your cursor to the beginning of the previous word in a text field.
  • Option + Right arrow: To move your cursor to the back of the next word in a text field.
  • Option + Delete: To delete the previous word in a text field.
  • Cmd + Shift + h: To open your home page in the current tab.

Also read: How to change homepage on Google Chrome?

Google Chrome Mouse shortcuts

The following Google Chrome shortcuts will require a mouse too.

Windows and Linux

  • Drag a link to a tab: To open a link in a current tab (mouse only).
  • Ctrl + Click a link: Open the selected link in a new background tab. This will keep you on the current tab as the link opens in a new tab.
  • Ctrl + Shift + Click a link: Open the link in a new tab.
  • Drag a link to the tab strip: To open a link, and jump to it (mouse only).
  • Shift + Click a link: To open the link in a new window.
  • Click and hold to drag a tab out and release: To open a tab in a new window (mouse only).
  • Drag the tab into an existing window: To move a tab to a current window (mouse only).
  • Press Esc while dragging: To return a tab that was moved before to its original position — upon launch.
  • Drag the URL to the Bookmarks Bar: To save the current webpage as a bookmark.
  • Shift + Scroll your mouse wheel: To scroll horizontally on the page.
  • Alt + Click a link: To download the target of a link.
  • Right-click Back arrow (<-) or click and hold Back arrow (<-): Display your browsing history by Back arrow button.
  • Right-click Next arrow (<-) or click and hold Next arrow(<-): Display your browsing history by Next arrow button.
  • Double-click on a blank area beside the tab to the extreme right: To switch between maximized and windowed modes.
  • Ctrl + Scroll up on the mouse wheel: To make everything on the page bigger.
  • Ctrl + Scroll down on the mouse wheel To make everything on the page smaller.

Also read: How to disable pop-up blockers in Google Chrome? PC, Android and iOS

Mac

  • Drag a link to a tab: To open a link in a current tab (mouse only).
  • Cmd + Click a link: To open a link in a new background tab.
  • Cmd + Shift + Click a link: Open the link in a new tab.
  • Drag a link to the tab strip: To open a link, and jump to it (mouse only).
  • Shift + Click a link: To open the link in a new window.
  • Click and hold to drag a tab out and release: To open a tab in a new window (mouse only).
  • Drag the tab into an existing window: To move a tab to a current window (mouse only).
  • Press Esc while dragging: To return a tab that was moved before to its original position — upon launch.
  • Drag the URL to the Bookmarks Bar: To save the current webpage as a bookmark.
  • Right-click Back arrow (<-) or click and hold Back arrow (<-): Display your browsing history by Back arrow button.
  • Right-click Next arrow (<-) or click and hold Next arrow(<-): Display your browsing history by Next arrow button.
  • Double-click on a blank area beside the tab to the extreme right: To switch between maximized and windowed modes.

Also read: How to track downloads in Google Chrome on Android and Windows?

Akash Singh

Akash Singh

Akash is a law graduate who likes to go for bike rides on the weekends soul-searching for answers to his many existential questions. You can contact him here: singhakash95@pm.me

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