How to Use Custom Mouse and Keyboard Shortcuts on Chromebook
Google allows you to customize your mouse buttons and keyboard shortcuts on Chromebooks. If you frequently takescreenshots, you might have set a mouse button as a trigging shortcut. That’s becauseChromebookslack default keyboard shortcuts for media controls like play, pause, and skip tracks. Luckily, that’s changed. You can add keyboard shortcuts for a variety of actions, including media playback controls. Here’s how you can customize mouse buttons and keyboard shortcuts on Chromebook.
Requires ChromeOS 123 Version or Above
To begin customizing your Chromebook’s keyboard shortcuts or mouse buttons, ensure your device runs ChromeOS 123 version or later. If you’re on an older ChromeOS version, you’re able to still enable the feature via Chrome Flags. Here’s how:
Type the following URL into your Chrome browser’s address bar:
On the Chrome Flags window, type the following string in the search bar to enable keyboard shortcut customization. Toggle the flag from default to enabled.
For Mouse button customization, type this string in the search bar and toggle the flag from default to enabled.
After that, clickRestartat the bottom to apply changes. These flags enable the features even on older versions of ChromeOS.
Customize Keyboard Shortcuts on Chromebook
If you want to use keyboard shortcuts for specific actions, you can do that to. Here’s how you can customize keyboard shortcuts:
1.On your Chromebook, go toSettings > Device > Keyboard and inputand click onView keyboard shortcuts.
2.It opens a window with all the keyboard shortcuts. Alternatively, you can also pressSearch Key + Ctrl + Sto open the same window.
3.To edit a shortcut, click the pencil icon next to it, then clickAdd shortcut. Press your a key combination and clickDoneto save.
4.To delete any shortcut, click on theDelete iconnext to the shortcut. You also have theRestore defaultsoption if you want to go back to the default settings for any action.
To reset all shortcuts, click theReset all shortcutsbutton on the bottom left of the Key shortcuts window. There are a few things to remember when customizing the keyboard shortcuts:
Customize Mouse Buttons on Chromebook
Here’s how to customize the mouse buttons:
1.Connect your mouse (wired or wireless) to the Chromebook.2. Open the Settings app, then go toDevice>Mouse.3. SelectCustomize mouse buttons.4. On the customization page, click on the mouse button you want to customize.5.That button option will appear on the screen, click on the drop-down beside it to assign a function.
There are various functions to choose from like the screenshot capture, media play/pause, volume control, overview page, emoji picker, and more. You can also assign a keyboard shortcut if the desired function is not listed.
Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
