Seven (7) Things You Didn’t Know About Your Chromebook – If you own a Chromebook, you’re probably already aware of what it’s capable of. You may already be using Android apps, or Chome OS features such as Google’s new Phone Hub.
Your Chromebook, on the other hand, has far more capabilities than you may realize. Here are seven things you might not know you can do with your Chromebook.
To unlock your Chromebook, use your phone
Android and Chromebooks are becoming inseparable, and one way this is happening is through logins. If you’re tired of having to enter your password or a pin every time you want to use your Chromebook, you can now do so using only your phone. The feature’s name is Smart Lock.
Smart Lock on a Chromebook works in the opposite direction of Windows 10’s Dynamic Lock feature. When your Android phone is close to your Chromebook, it will unlock it without requiring a password.
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To use Smart Lock, you must be signed in with the same Google Account on both your phone and your Chromebook. You must also ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on both devices. Finally, ensure that your Android phone’s Screen Lock has a password, PIN, or pattern.
Once those requirements are met, you can easily log in to your Chromebook using your phone. In the Chromebook’s system settings, change the time. Then click on Settings. Select your Android phone from the list of Connected Devices, then Smart Lock > Unlock the Device and sign in to your Google Account. You may be prompted to enter your password.
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When your unlocked Android phone is nearby, your Device will unlock, and you will be signed in. Passwords no longer have to be typed!
Use the Chromebook launcher as a calculator.
Do you need to do any quick math? Normally, you’d use the Chromebook’s calculator app, but did you know you can do some quick calculations using just the launcher? To use the launcher, press the everything button on your keyboard (the one that looks like a circle and is located where Caps Lock would be), then enter your math problem. You should see a response in the Chrome browser. It’s an excellent way to get quick Google answers without downloading or using an app.
To run Windows, use the Chrome Remote Desktop App.
Do you want to use your Chromebook to install Windows 10? Perhaps you want to use an Android app or a website that your Chromebook does not support. The Chrome Remote Desktop App is a useful tool for remotely installing Windows on your Chromebook. It’s free and fantastic because there’s no need for a subscription or paid software.
We do have a note, however. You can use the Chrome Remote Desktop app to stream a Windows 10 PC to a Chromebook over the internet. It’s worth noting that you’re not running Windows 10 natively in this configuration. You’re simply streaming an existing Windows 10 installation to a Chromebook over the internet. You’ll need a strong internet connection for this to work properly and with less lag (preferably a 5 GHz connection for low latency).
To begin using Chrome Remote Desktop, launch Chrome on your Windows 10 PC and navigate to the Remote Desktop app. Click the Remote Access > Set up remote access link on the screen. Chrome will begin to download an app that you must accept and install. Make sure to click Yes on the Open download prompt, and then wait for Windows to install the required files for the experience (you may need to click Yes on the Windows 10 User Account Control prompt).
Then, name your computer and follow the on-screen instructions. Before pressing the Start button, make sure you have a memorable PIN. This will make your Windows 10 PC internet-accessible.
Return to your Chromebook at this time. Return to the Chrome Remote Desktop site on your Chromebook, then click Access My Computer and choose the Device from the list, as shown above. After entering the PIN, allow your Chromebook to connect. You now have full-screen access to your Windows 10 PC on your Chromebook.
Guest Mode enables visitors to use your Chromebook as if it were their own.
Do you want to share your Chromebook with a member of your family? Maybe a friend would like to borrow your Chromebook? You do not need to share your password or personal information with them in order to grant them access to your Device. Log out of your own account, then from the lock screen, select Browse as a Guest. This will create a guest room that anyone can use. They won’t be able to access your files or apps, and any traces they leave, as well as any files downloaded, will be erased. You can exit the Guest mode at any time by clicking the time and then selecting Exit guest.
Return your Caps Lock key.
Is the Caps Lock key on your Chromebook missing? The Caps Lock key has been replaced by the “everything button” (the key with a circle on it), which launches the Chromebook Launcher, one of the major differences between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop. In any case, if you have a newer Chromebook with a built-in Assistant Key, you can remap it in the system settings to Caps Lock. Just keep in mind that doing so will result in the loss of the Assistant feature.
Select Device from the settings menu. From the drop-down menu, choose Keyboard. Caps Lock, then Settings, from the Assistant menu. You should now be able to use the Caps Lock key!
If this doesn’t work for you or your Chromebook lacks the Assistant button, you can toggle Caps Lock on and off manually by pressing the Alt key and then everything key.
Websites can be converted into Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
If you visit a website frequently on your Chromebook, or if you use a service that does not have an Android app, you can convert the website into a Progressive Web App (PWA.) Progressive Web Apps are more akin to a standalone system application than a website, with traditional window and menu controls at the top.
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Go to the website, then click the three downward-facing arrows next to your profile icon at the top of your screen to convert it into a Progressive Web App. Then, to install, look for the [Website Name] button. This should launch the website in a new window, separate from the rest of Chrome.
If you can’t find these controls for your preferred website, go to Chrome Settings > More Tools > Create Shortcut. Please give it a name and check the Open as Window box before clicking Create. The website will then appear in the launcher or on your Home Screen of your Chromebook, free of the clutter that comes with a regular Chrome Window.
Chrome allows you to monitor the resources on your system:
https://www.sysinternals.com/
Is your Chromebook sluggish? Do you want to double-check some system data? Normally, you’d use a third-party Chrome App like Cog System Information, but you can check all system information manually from within Chrome. Open Chrome on your Chromebook and navigate to chrome:/sys-internals/. This will show the amount of memory in use, as well as a graph of your system’s internals, the number of cores, and CPU utilization on your Chromebook.
It’s similar to the Task Manager in Windows 10, so give it a shot. It’s also fantastic when combined with Chrome’s built-in task manager. Click the three downward-facing dots next to your profile icon, then More Tools, and then Task Manager to see all of your Chromebook’s activities and how the system is handling them.