Time-Saving Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts
Many of us spend numerous hours working in a browser window while sitting in front of a computer—and for two-thirds of people, that browser will be Google Chrome. This makes Chrome keyboard shortcuts extremely valuable, as they allow users to navigate the web and manage the browser efficiently without moving their hands from the keyboard.
There are numerous shortcuts available, and you can check the full list on the Google support portal to see all of them. Here, we’re going to highlight some of our favorites, focusing on the ones that are most useful on a regular basis. In most cases, the Windows and macOS keyboard shortcuts are the same, with the Cmd key (macOS) substituting the Ctrl key (Windows).
1. Basic Navigation
Opening and Closing Tabs
- Open a new tab: Ctrl + T (Cmd + T on macOS)
- Close the current tab: Ctrl + W (Cmd + W on macOS)
- Reopen the last closed tab: Ctrl + Shift + T (Cmd + Shift + T on macOS)
Switching Between Tabs
- Switch to the next tab: Ctrl + Tab (Cmd + Option + Right arrow on macOS)
- Switch to the previous tab: Ctrl + Shift + Tab (Cmd + Option + Left arrow on macOS)
- Jump to a specific tab: Ctrl + 1 through Ctrl + 8 (Cmd + 1 through Cmd + 8 on macOS)
2. Browser Navigation
- Go to the previous page in your browsing history: Alt + Left arrow (Cmd + Left arrow on macOS)
- Go to the next page in your browsing history: Alt + Right arrow (Cmd + Right arrow on macOS)
- Open the homepage: Alt + Home (Cmd + Shift + H on macOS)
3. Page Management
- Reload the current page: F5 or Ctrl + R (Cmd + R on macOS)
- Open the Find Bar: Ctrl + F (Cmd + F on macOS)
- Print the current page: Ctrl + P (Cmd + P on macOS)
- Save the current page: Ctrl + S (Cmd + S on macOS)
4. Working with Bookmarks
- Open the Bookmark Manager: Ctrl + Shift + O (Cmd + Option + B on macOS)
- Bookmark the current page: Ctrl + D (Cmd + D on macOS)
- Open the Bookmark Bar: Ctrl + Shift + B (Cmd + Shift + B on macOS)
5. Developer Tools
- Open Developer Tools: Ctrl + Shift + I (Cmd + Option + I on macOS)
- Open the JavaScript Console: Ctrl + Shift + J (Cmd + Option + J on macOS)
- Open the Search bar in Developer Tools: Ctrl + Shift + F (Cmd + Option + F on macOS)
6. Miscellaneous
- Open a new incognito window: Ctrl + Shift + N (Cmd + Shift + N on macOS)
- Open the Chrome menu: Alt + F or Alt + E (Cmd + , on macOS)
- Open the Downloads page: Ctrl + J (Cmd + Shift + J on macOS)
These are just a selection of the many keyboard shortcuts available in Google Chrome. Mastering these can significantly enhance your browsing efficiency, allowing you to navigate the web more swiftly and with less effort. For the full list of shortcuts, be sure to visit the support.google.com/chrome/?hl=en.