Have you always worked with a Windows PC, but recently bought a Chromebook? Then you will probably notice that a Chromebook works slightly differently than a traditional laptop. Below are five golden tips for anyone who wants to get more out of Chrome.
Tip 1: Restrictions
A big advantage of a Chromebook is that everyone can work on the device and always has their personal documents at hand. The device largely runs in the cloud, so you have access to the files that are in your Google Drive on every Chromebook where you log in. But what if you don’t want others to use your Chromebook at all?
Fortunately, it is also possible to indicate who can or cannot use your Google laptop. Make sure you are logged in as the owner (the first account created) and click the status bar at the bottom right of the black bar. In the menu that appears, click Settings.
At the bottom of the Settings menu you will find the heading Users. By clicking Manage other users … By clicking you can specify which restrictions you want to apply. Finch Limit login to the following users to indicate who can log in to your laptop. Other users will now no longer be able to use your Chromebook. If desired, you can also disable the option to Guest sessions to shut down the system completely.
Tip 2: Clean up with Powerwash
Are you passing your Chromebook on to someone else, and do you want to make sure that all your personal data is erased from the device? Then you can use the built-in Powerwash function. In fact, this is the same as when you reset a smartphone to factory settings or reinstall Windows on a PC. So, the Chromebook will be thoroughly cleaned and reset to factory settings.
You can find the Powerwash option in the Settings menu. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click Show advanced settings… and again scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. Click the button under the heading Powerwash Powerwash and then on Restart. The Chromebook will then be reset to factory settings and rebooted.
Tip 3: Create keyboard shortcuts
Thanks to a handy extension called Shortcut Manager, it is easy to create your own key combinations within Chrome OS. With the free software you can perform frequently used actions faster by simply creating a key combination for this.
To install the extension, open the Chrome OS Store on your Chromebook. Type in the search box Shortcut Manager and hit enter. Select the tab Extensions and find Shortcut Manager in the list. Click on the blue one + Freebutton, confirm the installation with Add and the extension will be added to your browser. You will now see the Shortcut Manager icon to the right of the address bar. To create personal shortcuts, click on this icon and then select the link See all settings / Add new shortcuts. Child can do the laundry!
Tip 4: View locally stored files
One of the biggest advantages of a Chromebook is that the system runs entirely in the cloud. After all, you can access your files everywhere. However, it is also possible to download documents, videos and music on the flash memory of the Chromebook. But where can you find these files?
Chrome OS features just like Windows and OS X about a kind of Explorer where you can browse all stored files. However, you need to know where to find it. Click on the app icon on the left of the black bar and search for the app here Traffic jams. A pop-up window will now appear where you can browse between files stored in Google Drive. Click on in the left bar Downloads, you will get an overview of all the files that you have physically downloaded to your device. It also immediately gives you the opportunity to clean your Chromebook properly, for example if you receive a message that the (limited) memory is getting full.
Tip 5: Restore Chromebook
Just like Windows, a Chromebook can also crash or hang completely. While it won’t happen any time soon, it is safe to assume that there are recovery options built in. Similar to the recovery drive that Windows lets you create. You will also be able to make some sort of recovery disk with your Chromebook, containing a version of Chrome OS that you can fall back on.
To do this directly from your Chromebook, type in the address bar: chrome: // imageburner and hit enter. You will then be asked to insert an SD card or USB stick with at least 4GB of memory. Note: All files on the storage medium will be erased. Confirm the action with OK. Chrome OS will then download a recovery image, which will take a few minutes.
If you actually need to recover the system in an emergency, insert this recovery drive into your Chromebook and hit the Esc and Refresh keys simultaneously, while also pressing the Powerbutton. This will open the Restore screen and allow you to restore your system to the restore point.
.