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In this article, we’ll show you the best Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts that you can use every time you browse to get more done in 2023. Shortcuts on the keyboard are a great way to speed up your work and get things done more quickly. If you use a browser like Chrome, this is even more important, since shortcuts are a big part of how Chrome is meant to be used.
There are a lot of useful shortcuts in Google Chrome that let you open bookmarks, downloads, new tabs, etc. Besides that, there is a cool hack that lets you make your own shortcuts for a number of Chrome functions. A lot of people are aware that there are keyboard shortcuts, but they never use them. Here are the shortcuts you need to use in Chrome to browse the Internet more quickly.
Why Use Keyboard Shortcuts in Google Chrome?
Using keyboard shortcuts in Google Chrome can improve your viewing experience and make it easier to get around the web. Here’s why it’s helpful to use keyboard tools in Google Chrome:
- Multitasking: Shortcuts on the keyboard let you do things like open, close, and switch tabs without getting your hands off the keyboard. This makes it easier to do more than one thing at once.
- Accessibility: Shortcuts on the keyboard make browsing easier for people with limited movement who may find it hard to use a mouse or trackpad.
- Consistency: Using keyboard shortcuts gives you a constant way to use Chrome, no matter what website you’re on. This helps your muscles remember what to do and speeds up the way you move.
Best Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts
You may navigate the history in Chrome by using the shortcuts on your keyboard. You may enter the History page by pressing Ctrl + H (or Command + Y on macOS), and then use the arrow keys and Enter to select a specific page from your browser history and visit that page.
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch to the next tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Switch to the previous tab |
| Ctrl + 1 to 8 | Switch to a specific tab (1 to 8) |
| Ctrl + 9 | Switch to the last tab |
| Alt + Left Arrow | Go back one page |
| Alt + Right Arrow | Go forward one page |
| Ctrl + R | Reload the current page |
| Ctrl + F5 | Hard reload the current page (bypass cache) |
Address Bar and Search
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + L or F6 | Highlight the address bar |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Delete the previous word in the address bar |
| Ctrl + K or Ctrl + E | Move the cursor to the address bar |
| Tab | Move forward through the elements on a webpage (when the address bar is not in focus) |
| Shift + Tab | Move backward through the elements on a webpage (when the address bar is not in focus) |
| Ctrl + P | Print the current page |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Open a new Incognito window |
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Spacebar | Scroll down the webpage in full-screen increments |
| Shift + Spacebar | Scroll up the webpage in full-screen increments |
| Ctrl + (+) or Ctrl + (-) | Zoom in or out on a webpage |
| Ctrl + 0 | Reset zoom level to default (100%) |
| F5 or Ctrl + R | Reload the current page |
| Ctrl + F5 | Hard reload the current page (bypass cache) |
| Esc | Stop page loading |
| Alt + Home | Open the homepage |
| F11 | Enter or exit full-screen mode |
Tab Management
| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Open a new Incognito window |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab |
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Switch to the previous tab |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch to the next tab |
| Ctrl + 1 to 8 | Switch to a specific tab (1 to 8) |
| Ctrl + 9 | Switch to the last tab |
Best Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts for Different Platform
By default, Chrome does not provide comprehensive customization options for keyboard shortcuts; however, you are able to adjust specific shortcuts by using browser extensions or by defining custom shortcuts in the keyboard settings of your operating system. Alternatively, you can use Chrome’s built-in customization options.
Mac:
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Command + T | Open a new tab |
| Command + W | Close the current tab |
| Command + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab |
| Command + Option + ← | Switch to the previous tab |
| Command + Option + → | Switch to the next tab |
| Command + Shift + N | Open a new incognito window |
| Command + L | Highlight the URL in the address bar |
| Command + D | Bookmark the current page |
| Command + F | Open the Find bar |
| Command + Y | Open the browsing history |
| Command + Shift + B | Toggle the bookmarks bar |
| Command + Shift + J | View downloads |
| Command + R | Reload the current page |
| Command + Shift + R | Reload the current page (hard reload) |
| Command + (+ or -) | Zoom in or out |
| Command + 0 | Reset zoom to default |
| Command + Option + ↑ | Scroll to the top of the page |
| Command + Option + ↓ | Scroll to the bottom of the page |
Windows and Linux:
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch to the next tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Switch to the previous tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Open a new incognito window |
| Ctrl + L | Highlight the URL in the address bar |
| Ctrl + D | Bookmark the current page |
| Ctrl + F | Open the Find bar |
| Ctrl + H | Open the browsing history |
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Toggle the bookmarks bar |
| Ctrl + J | View downloads |
| Ctrl + R | Reload the current page |
| Ctrl + Shift + R | Reload the current page (hard reload) |
| Ctrl + (+ or -) | Zoom in or out |
| Ctrl + 0 | Reset zoom to default |
| Ctrl + Shift + Delete | Open the Clear browsing data menu |
How to Access Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts?
To access and utilize keyboard shortcuts in Google Chrome, follow these steps:
- Open Chrome: Launch the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
- Open Menu: Click on the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the browser window. This is the menu button.
- Navigate to “Help”: From the dropdown menu, hover over “Help.”
- Access “Keyboard Shortcuts”: In the submenu that appears when you hover over “Help,” click on “Keyboard shortcuts.”
- Keyboard Shortcuts Page: A new tab will open with a list of various keyboard shortcuts available in Google Chrome.
- Explore Shortcuts: Browse through the list of keyboard shortcuts to see the different actions you can perform using the keyboard.
- Learn Shortcuts: Take note of the shortcuts that are relevant to your browsing habits or that you want to start using.
- Close the Tab: After you’ve reviewed the shortcuts, you can close the “Keyboard shortcuts” tab or switch back to your previous tab.
Questions and Answers
A1: Keyboard shortcuts in Google Chrome are sets of keys that let you do different things in the browser without using the mouse. They make it easy to do things like switch between tabs, open links, and manage notes.
A2: To use keyboard commands in Chrome, press the given keys at the same time. For example, press Ctrl + T (or Command + T on macOS) to start a new tab. When the browser window is open, these tools will work.
A3: Chrome keyboard shortcuts make viewing more efficient because they let you do things faster, switch between tabs easily, and use different features without stopping what you’re doing.