Use your Chromebook touchpad

You can use your Chromebook's touchpad to right-click, switch between tabs and more. Here's how it works:

Move the pointer Move your finger across the touchpad.
Click Press or tap the lower half of the touchpad.
Right-click Press or tap the touchpad with two fingers. You can also press Alt, then click with one finger.
Scroll Place two fingers on the touchpad and move them up and down to scroll vertically, or left and right to scroll horizontally.
Move between pages To go back to a page you were just on, swipe left with two fingers. To go forward to a page you were just on, swipe right with two fingers.
See all open windows

To see all open windows, swipe up with three fingers. To close it, swipe down with three fingers.

Close a tab Point to the tab, then tap or click the touchpad with three fingers.
Open a link in a new tab Point to the link, then tap or click the touchpad with three fingers.
Switch between tabs If you have multiple browser tabs open, swipe left or right with three fingers.
Open or close overview To open overview, swipe up with three fingers. To close it, swipe down with three fingers.
Switch between virtual desks If you have multiple desks open, swipe left or right with four fingers.
Drag and drop Using one finger, click and hold the item you want to move. Drag the item to its new spot, then release your finger.

Change how your touchpad works

You can tap your touchpad to click, or change the direction you scroll. Here's how:

  1. At the bottom right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings Settings.
  3. In the "Device" section, select Touchpad (or Touchpad and mouse).
  4. Change how your touchpad works:
    • Turn Tap to click on or off.
    • Turn on Tap and drag to move items.
    • Turn Touchpad acceleration on or off.
    • Swap your primary mouse button, if you use a mouse.
    • Adjust how quickly your pointer moves: Move the sliders next to "Touchpad speed" or "Mouse speed."
    • Choose type of scrolling: Turn off Reverse (swipe up to move the page up). Turn on Reverse (swipe up to move the page down).

Turn scroll acceleration on or off

  1. At the bottom right, select the time.
  2. Select Settings Settings.
  3. In the "Device" section, select Mouse.
  4. Under “Mouse scrolling,” turn Controlled scrolling on or off.

Tip: You can control the scroll speed when controlled scrolling is on.

Fix touchpad problems

If your touchpad stops working, try these steps:

  • Make sure there is no dust or dirt on the touchpad.
  • Press the Esc key several times.
  • Drumroll your fingers on the touchpad for ten seconds.
  • Turn your Chromebook off, then back on again.
  • Perform a hard reset.
  • If you have more than one account on your Chromebook, delete the account that has problems with the touchpad, then re-add the account.

If none of these steps work, contact your Chromebook manufacturer.

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?
Search
Clear search
Close search
Google apps
Main menu