Chromebook Central
Meet Chrome device owners and enthusiasts who love to answer questions and share tips at Chromebook Central.
Chrome OS Wiki
Read up on the latest Dev and Beta channel releases or discover tricks from a community of advanced Chrome device users.
Using a Chrome device
It’s easy to get started with a Chrome device, whether you are brand new to computers or a power user. Here are a few tips to get started.
Upload photos and files
With a Chrome device, your files are just one click away from the Web. For fast uploads from your Chrome device:
Insert your USB drive or memory card into the appropriate slot, and your files will automatically open in a new tab.
To upload photos, select your photos and click “Share.”
Learn more about downloading and managing files on your Chrome device.
Video chat or voice call
(Chromebook only) From the first time you log in, your Chromebook is ready for video chat and voice calls. Features include:
Google Talk is pre-installed on your Chromebook by default for use with the
Gmail chat system. You can instant message, chat face to face or even make free
domestic phone calls.
A built-in webcam and microphone works without any downloads or plugins.
Starting a free video chat is as easy as opening a chat box in Gmail and
clicking the Hangout icon.
Learn more about using Google Talk or Google+ Hangouts to keep in touch with friends and family.
Stay online with Wi-Fi or 3G
Chrome devices are designed to keep you connected anytime and anywhere. Whether you’re on Wi-Fi or using 3G (Chromebook only), you can:
Quickly
connect to a Wi-Fi network by clicking on the Wi-Fi icon
(Chromebook only) “Enable
Mobile Data” on a 3G-equipped Chromebook to use your free allotment of
mobile broadband
(Chromebook only) Select a pay-as-you-go plan from a Chromebook wireless provider for even more mobile data, or insert any SIM card to connect worldwide
Customize your Chrome device
Chrome devices provide you with your own personal web experience every time you log in. Ensure that experience feels like your own by customizing your Chrome device using some of the following options:
Themes
Provide a whole new look to the way you experience the web by installing one of
thousands of themes by professional artists or by creating your own custom
theme.
Default
search engine
Specify which search engine to use to search the web when you type in the
Omnibox.
Change
profile picture
Take a new profile picture or select from artistic options by clicking on the
wrench menu and selecting the “Personal Stuff” tab on the “Settings” page.
Keyboard
shortcuts
Press Ctrl + Alt + ? on your Chrome device to view all of the keyboard
shortcuts that help you get around the web even faster.
Get the most out of Chrome
Everything you do on a Chrome device, you do in the familiar Chrome browser, a faster, simpler, more secure platform bringing you everything out there on the web. Chrome features include:
Omnibox – Enter a URL, bookmark a page, or search the web, a specific site, or the company intranet simply by typing in the “Omnibox” at the top of your browser.
Instant – View search results and web pages even before you finish typing and without having to press enter, just by enabling Instant by clicking on “Options” in the Chrome wrench menu.
Translate – Instantly translate an entire webpage by clicking “Translate” in the banner that appears when you visit a page in another language.
Extensions – Add extra features and functionality to your Chromebook by finding and installing extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
Sync – Customize what you sync between your Chrome device and other computers running the Chrome browser, from bookmarks and themes to extensions, apps, and preferences.
Share with a friend
When you or a friend log into a Chrome device, you each have your own unique
Chrome experience.
Guest Browsing is a mode that allows users to browse the web incognito, without signing in.
Set up Google Cloud Print
Use Google Cloud Print to print from your Chrome device to any cloud-enabled printer, whether it’s sitting on your desk or in another continent. Google Cloud Print lets you:
Print to a cloud-ready printer or a conventional printer plugged into a Windows or Mac computer running Google Chrome.
Securely share your printer with anyone you choose, as easily as you might share a Google Doc.
Print any file from a Chrome device simply by pressing ctrl + P (note: you’ll first need to set up your printer and associate it with your account)
Learn more about Google Cloud Print.
