Many people dismiss Chromebooks as a browser in a box. This myth originates from the early days of ChromeOS, when the platform was a simpler, cloud-reliant system.
I was also a skeptic and considered ChromeOS not suitable for professional tasks. However, a week with a Chromebook changed my perspective.
The operating system is powerful for productivity. ChromeOS has evolved into a full-featured platform that handles demanding tasks.
This article is the guide I wish I’d had. I’m going to pull back the curtain on six features that transform a Chromebook from a simple web client into a productivity powerhouse.
Organize your work with virtual desks in ChromeOS
Virtual Desks are a key productivity feature in ChromeOS. They create distinct spaces for different work types, a concept I refer to as cognitive compartmentalization.
Press the Overview key (it looks like a rectangle with two vertical lines) on the top row of your keyboard.
At the top of the screen, you’ll see your current desk. Click the + New Desk button to create another one. You can create up to eight.
Click the default name and assign a meaningful name to each one.
Here are the essential shortcuts for quickly navigating between virtual desks on ChromeOS.
- Switch to the next desk to the left with Search + [
- Switch to the next desk to the right with Search + ]
- Switch to a specific desk by holding Search, then pressing Shift, then the desk’s number (for example, Shift + Search + 1)
Now, let’s combine this with Overview Mode. Enter Overview and you’ll see all your open windows.
From here, you can drag a window from your current desk and drop it onto another one.
Imagine you’re writing a report based on a PDF. On your research desk, snap the PDF to the left third of the screen and your Google Doc to the right two-thirds.
Now, swipe up into Overview Mode. You’ll see this paired set of windows grouped. You can now drag this entire research-and-write unit over to your Deep Work desk.
You’ve just created a perfect, portable, and focused workspace in about five seconds.
Search, calculate, and convert with the ChromeOS Launcher
The Everything Button, marked by a circle or magnifying glass icon, is so much more than an app launcher.
I rarely open the calculator app or do a basic Google search in a new tab anymore. I do it all from the Launcher.
You can run instant calculations by typing formulas like 58*3.14 or (195/4)*3 directly into the bar, with results appearing immediately.
The same search field also acts as a universal finder, pulling results from your installed apps, local files, the web, and more.
Beyond Search and math, the Launcher handles quick conversions and definitions on the spot. Type “20 GBP to USD” or “define serendipity” and you get your answer instantly.
The core advantage is the removal of micro-frictions. By skipping the need to open separate apps or tabs for tiny tasks, you save precious seconds and maintain focus on your main work.
Keyboard shortcuts matter more than you think
The goal isn’t to memorize an endless list of shortcuts, but to master a handful you’ll use constantly, keeping your hands on the keyboard and your focus uninterrupted.
Instead of trying to learn everything, it helps to group them into categories.
For system controls, I use shortcuts like Search + L to lock the screen, Shift + Alt + M to open the Files app, and Search + Esc to launch the ChromeOS Task Manager.
For window management, Alt + [ and Alt + ] let you snap windows to either side, while Ctrl + W closes the current tab and Ctrl + Shift + T instantly reopens the one you closed by mistake.
Finally, text editing shortcuts like Ctrl + Backspace delete entire words instead of single characters, and Ctrl + Shift + V pastes text without formatting, ensuring copied content doesn’t disrupt your document’s style.
The most important shortcut is the one that teaches you all the others. Press Ctrl + Alt + / anytime, and a full, searchable overlay of every keyboard shortcut in ChromeOS will appear.
Trackpad gestures that every Chromebook user should master
A good trackpad is faster than a mouse for most navigation tasks, and Chromebooks have some of the best in the business.
These are the gestures I use:
- Swipe three fingers left or right to switch between open browser tabs.
- Swipe three fingers up to enter Overview Mode and see all your windows.
- Swipe four fingers left or right to glide between your Virtual Desks.
- Swipe two fingers left or right to move back or forward in your browser history.
With practice, these actions become automatic. For example, you swipe up with three fingers to see all windows, then swipe with four fingers to switch desks.
After responding to a message, you reverse the gestures to return to your document. This process becomes a fluid and efficient workflow.
This sounds like Science Fiction, but if you’d like, toggle Face Control in your Chromebook’s accessibility settings.
This feature allows you to control the cursor with head movements and perform actions, such as clicks, with facial expressions.
Use Tote for grab-and-go file access on ChromeOS
Tote is a small, dedicated space on your Shelf that acts as a temporary holding area for your most recent downloads and screenshots.
It’s not a replacement for the Files app. Rather, it serves as a buffer. I use it as a placeholder for screen capture.
When I grab a chart or image from a report or web page, a preview of the screenshot appears in the Tote area. I drag that preview image from Tote and drop it into the Slack message I’m composing for my team.
The entire process takes less than five seconds and requires zero navigation through file folders. It’s a simple but brilliantly designed feature that streamlines a very common task.
Linux support makes ChromeOS a serious workstation
ChromeOS includes a built-in Linux environment (codenamed Crostini) that lets you install and run full-fledged desktop applications. Think of it as a sandboxed computer-within-a-computer.
It runs a version of Linux called Debian, doesn’t interfere with the rest of your system, and gives you access to a library of powerful software.
It’s an optional layer of power that doesn’t complicate the core experience unless you choose to activate it.
Let’s use an example and install GIMP, a popular and free alternative to Adobe Photoshop.
- Go to Settings > About ChromeOS > Linux Development Environment and click Set up.
- Follow the setup process.
- A new app called Terminal will appear in your launcher.
- Open Terminal and type (or copy and paste) sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install gimp -y into the Terminal and press Enter.
This command first updates the list of available software and then installs GIMP. After it’s finished, you’ll find the GIMP icon in your regular app launcher. Click it, and a full, desktop-class photo editor will open on your Chromebook.
Chromebooks are built for real work
ChromeOS is a mature and deeply integrated operating system whose greatest strength lies in the thoughtful synergy between its features. Its famous simplicity is the foundation, not the ceiling.
We’ve transformed your Chromebook from a simple window to the web into a multi-desk command center. Don’t try to master all of this at once. Pick one trick that resonates with you.
Try it for a week. I promise that by the end of that week, you’ll see Chromebooks in a whole new light. You might even start thinking about upgrading to one of the best Chromebooks available today.
