There might not be any shortcuts to success, but there are shortcuts to Chrome. The Chrome keyboard shortcuts make it easier for anyone who likes living life on the fast lane. It’s efficient, quick and most importantly, handy while doing assignments. If you are not familiar with Chrome keyboard shortcuts, this article will provide in-depth knowledge about all that you need to know.
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Google Chrome: A Preview
When Google launched Chrome in 2008, it took the world by storm. The cross-platform web browser changed our browsing patterns, for the better. Browsing became faster, safer and more perceptive. While Chrome was initially launched for Windows, its widespread popularity soon led to adaptations for the iOS, Linux, macOS and Android.
The free web browser is easy to install, can support up to 100 tabs without slowing down, save passwords while also protecting you from dangerous sites.
Knowing keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts come in especially handy when playing games. Although laptops and smartphones rule our daily lives, there is more to it than typing texts or browsing. But, whatever the need, working on a laptop or desktop is a different ball game altogether. While your mobile phone is much handier, the larger gadgets require more scrolling and active indulgence. And voila! Welcome keyboard shortcuts.
So, without further ado, here are some of the most beneficial Chrome keyboard shortcuts.
1. Incognito Mode
Let’s admit it! Going incognito comes in handy some time or the other. Whatever your reasons, it becomes annoying to head over to the right-hand corner and then select the Incognito mode from the drop-down.
There are simple Chrome keyboard shortcuts for Mac and Windows separately.
To switch on the private Incognito on Windows, just press Ctrl + Shift + N. While on Mac, ⌘ + Shift + N.
2. Switching between Multiple Tabs
So, you are amongst those with a million tabs open! When multiple tabs are open, it becomes miniature and hence difficult to pinpoint with a mouse or trackpad. It is when this brilliant shortcut comes to play.
Now, there are two ways around it. You can either press CTRL + SHIFT + TAB to alternate between tabs or you can press CTRL+N. Here, N denotes a number from 1-8, which means you can press CTRL+6 to navigate directly to tab number 6. Unfortunately, this command works up to eight tabs for now. For Windows, you can also use Ctrl + PgDn to move forward to the open tab or Ctrl + PgUp to go back to the previous tab.
For Mac, press CTRL + Tab to move forward through the tabs and CTRL + Shift + Tab to move backwards. Similarly for Mac, you can use ⌘ + Option + Right arrow for the next tab and ⌘ + Option + Left arrow to refer back to the previous tab.
3. Reopening a closed tab
Just how many times did you accidentally close down Chrome? Or the times you lost track of your tabs because your laptop’s battery got drained? It’s especially during times like these that Chrome keyboard shortcuts come in handy.
To open a closed tab, just press Ctrl + Shift + T for Windows. Mac users can try ⌘ + Shift + T to get the same result.
However, if you were working on Incognito mode, these shortcuts will not work. It’s better to be extra cautious when working on Incognito as it does not keep track of your tabs.
4. Minimizing, Maximizing Current Window and Closing Chrome
Most of us struggle with minimizing and maximizing the window, especially during presentations. Switching between your current window and the presentation with just a mouse takes edges. Not to forget it makes the audience restless! Minimize your window with Alt + Space then n and maximize it with Alt + Space then x.
To quit Google Chrome, press Alt + f then x.
For Mac press ⌘ + m to minimize the window and ⌘ + h to hide Google Chrome. For quitting Google Chrome, simply press ⌘ + q.
5. Opening the Bookmarks Manager and Hiding the Bookmarks Bar
Bookmarking one’s most-visited pages is a common practice to save time. The easiest way to access your Bookmarks Manager is with Chrome keyboard shortcuts. For Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + o to open the Bookmarks Manager. To hide or reveal the Bookmarks bar, press Ctrl + Shift + b.
Mac users need to press ⌘ + Option + b to open the Bookmarks Manager and ⌘ + Shift + b to show or hide the bar.
6. Changing Users and Browsing as Guests
Now, this one is a little different from your average Chrome keyboard shortcuts. It is rather an important Google Chrome feature shortcut for the admins. If you are sharing your laptop or desktop with your friends or you’re an admin of the office, the Chrome log-in comes in rather useful. Press Ctrl + Shift + m to log in a different user or to browse as a guest.
For Mac, press ⌘ + Shift + m. This also grants access to payment and password information.
7. Clearing browsing data
It is crucial to maintain your browser hygiene. Clearing the Chrome data helps prevent unnecessary cluttering while saving space. The browser tends to hold many millions of information from your searches which may cause a problem later on. It is always advisable to clear out the cache and cookies on a regular basis. Though it may lead to a loss in information, especially logins, payment processes, and passwords, it’s still an effective precautionary measure.
The Chrome keyboard shortcuts for clearing browsing data are Ctrl + Shift + Delete and ⌘ + Shift + Delete. The first one works for Windows while the latter is for Mac.
8. Accessing Chrome Developer Tools
Did you know that Chrome keyboard shortcuts can also help you access Chrome’s very own web development tools? The Chrome DevTools is an assemblage of web developer tools that are directly built into the Chrome browser. The DevTools can help you troubleshoot and diagnose problems and edit pages, which ultimately aids in building better websites, without glitches.
DevTools can also enhance your productivity by enabling you to view and change the DOM, CSS, optimize website speed, inspect network activity and much more.
The keyboard shortcut for opening developer tools on Windows is Ctrl + Shift + j or F12. For Mac, it is ⌘ + Option + i.
9. Refreshing and reloading the current page
Ever wondered why reloading a page did not work? While F5 or Ctrl + r help reload the current page it just might not be enough! The media links may come broken or, the page takes forever to reload. At times like this, Shift + F5 or Ctrl + Shift + r do the trick. It helps to reload the current page while ignoring the cached content, thereby doing the job. For Mac press ⌘ + Shift + r to reload the current page without cached content.
Clearing the cache memory has its benefits. It ensures that you see the latest version of the visited website. How does it do that?
Understand Internet Cache
Internet cache, also known as browser cache records the information of and from web pages and sites that you have visited or downloaded during your net browsing. When you revisit the same page for the following time, the browser displays the page locally from the cache without downloading it all over again. This speeds up the display time.
However, this has its cons. Anyone with access to your personal computer can view your confidential data by opening the cache folder. Now, consider this: you have designed a website and want to check how it is doing. Unless the cache is cleared, it will not show you the latest updates and changes you made to the site.
10. Display non-editable HTML source code for the visited page
HTML is one of the basic and most used computer languages for documents designed for the web. One of the most useful Chrome keyboard shortcuts is to display the HTML source code of the current page. Although this code will be non-editable, it often becomes an insightful source of inspiration. It not only helps you analyse your competitor’s website coding but also helps gather insight on the latest coding trends. But remember, your competitor too will be equipped with the same tools.
For Windows, press Ctrl + u to display the non-editable HTML source code. For Mac press ⌘ + Option + u.
11. Open the JavaScript Control
Another addition to your productivity lesson, the JavaScript Console enables access to the browser debugging console. It will help you write and test your precious code. The Console helps you to interact with a webpage by using JavaScript expressions within the page’s context.
To open the JavaScript Control on Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + j. To open it on Mac, press ⌘ + Option + j.
Address Bar Shortcuts
An assignment here, one there and you are already exasperated. Address bar shortcuts come in quite handy around such times, compared to well, bars. They save time which can be better utilised.
What are some of the most used Chrome keyboard shortcuts for address bar elements? Here is a comprehensive list for yours truly.
1. Easy open of websites
Planning to search for multiple definitions before putting them down in the project copy? Or put on your favourite playlist to keep you going for the deadline? Just type in the name of the website in the address bar+ Ctrl + Enter, for both Windows and Mac.
To open a site or search term in a new tab of the current window, just type the search term+ Alt + Enter. For Mac, type the site name+ Control + Shift + Enter.
2. Search from any part of the page
So, you are on the last leg of the page and bamboozled by a term! With Chrome keyboard shortcuts you can search from any part of the current page. Just press Ctrl + k or Ctrl + e from your Windows and it will take you to the search bar. Mac, however, doesn’t have a shortcut for this, yet.
3. Removing Predictions from Address Bar
Did you know you could remove predictions from your address bar, that too with Chrome keyboard shortcuts? For Windows just press the Down arrow to highlight + Shift + Delete. Mac users can erase predictions with the Down arrow to highlight + Shift + fn + Delete or Forward Delete or fn-Delete on a laptop.
Useful webpage shortcuts to save time
Following are some of the easiest shortcuts which can enhance productivity.
1. Entering and exiting Full-Screen Mode
Often we enter into a full-screen mode and don’t know how to exit it. The opposite holds too. Just press F11 to enter or exit a full-screen mode. For Mac, it’s ⌘ + Ctrl + f.
2. Zooming in and out
If a font or media is not visible, just press Ctrl and + to zoom in and Ctrl and – to zoom out. To return to the default size, just press Ctrl + 0 for Windows.
Mac users need to press ⌘ and + for zooming in and, ⌘ and – for zooming out. To return to the default size, just press ⌘ + 0.
3. Saving new bookmarks
If you want to save the currently open tabs as your bookmarks, press Ctrl + Shift + d on Windows. It will open a window called “Bookmark All Tabs”, where you can make your folder and save the opened tabs as bookmarks.
Mac users can press ⌘ + Shift + d to save all the open tabs as bookmarks.
Since you are already at the end of the article, you know of all the shortcuts one needs to know for enhancing productivity. Buckle up and get started with Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts.
