How to Enable Caps Lock on a Chromebook: 3 Methods

Chromebooks don’t have a dedicated Caps Lock key, and that catches a lot of people off guard. Google replaced it with the Search key (also called the Launcher key on newer models), but you can still type in all caps with a shortcut or a quick settings change.

#How Do You Turn On Caps Lock With a Keyboard Shortcut?

The fastest way to get Caps Lock working is the built-in keyboard shortcut. Press Alt + Search at the same time, and Caps Lock turns on. On newer Chromebooks released after 2021, Google renamed the Search key to the Launcher key, but the shortcut still works identically on both.

You’ll know it’s active when a small arrow icon shows up in the bottom-right status tray.

To turn it off, press Alt + Search again or tap Shift once. Both work instantly. We tested this on a Lenovo Chromebook Duet running Chrome OS 124.

If the shortcut doesn’t respond at all, your keyboard settings may have been changed by another user or a Chrome OS update. Check Settings > Device > Keyboard to make sure the Search key hasn’t been remapped. A Chromebook keyboard not working issue could also be the cause.

#How to Remap the Search Key to Caps Lock Permanently

If you type in all caps regularly, remapping the Search key saves time. This turns the Search key into a permanent Caps Lock key, just like on a Windows or Mac keyboard.

Step 1. Click your profile photo in the bottom-right corner and select the gear icon to open Settings.

Step 2. Go to Device > Keyboard in the left sidebar.

Step 3. Find the Search row (or Launcher on newer devices) and click the dropdown menu next to it.

Step 4. Select Caps Lock from the dropdown list.

That’s it. Your Search key now works as Caps Lock. Pressing it once toggles caps on, pressing it again toggles caps off. According to Google’s Chrome OS keyboard settings documentation, you can remap five different keys from this same menu, including Ctrl, Alt, Escape, and Backspace.

One thing to keep in mind: remapping the Search key means you lose the quick-launch feature. You won’t be able to press it to open the app drawer or run searches from the keyboard anymore. If you rely on that function, stick with the Alt + Search shortcut instead.

#What About Using an External Keyboard?

Any external USB or Bluetooth keyboard gives you a physical Caps Lock key. No settings changes needed.

We tested a Logitech K380 Bluetooth keyboard with a Samsung Chromebook 4, and the Caps Lock key worked immediately after pairing. No extra drivers or configuration needed. If you’re looking for a keyboard with backlighting, check out the best Chromebooks with backlit keyboards for pairing ideas.

According to Google’s Chromebook accessories support page, Chrome OS supports most USB and Bluetooth keyboards out of the box. The one exception is some gaming keyboards with custom macro software, which Chrome OS can’t run.

If your external keyboard’s Caps Lock doesn’t work, try unplugging it and reconnecting. For Bluetooth models, remove the device from Settings > Bluetooth and pair it again. If other keys also fail, you might be dealing with a broader tab key not working style issue that affects the whole input layer.

#Other Ways to Type in All Caps on a Chromebook

Not everyone wants to remap keys or memorize shortcuts. Here are two alternatives.

Hold Shift while typing. This works for short bursts of uppercase text. Hold down the left or right Shift key and type your letters. It’s practical for a word or two, but typing a full sentence this way gets tiring fast.

Use the on-screen keyboard. If your Chromebook has a touchscreen, you can enable the on-screen keyboard. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and text input and toggle on On-screen keyboard. The on-screen keyboard has a Caps Lock toggle built in. Tap the up-arrow key twice to lock it.

The on-screen keyboard is also helpful when your physical keyboard stops responding entirely. If your Chromebook is frozen, though, the on-screen keyboard won’t help either since the system itself isn’t responding.

#Useful Chrome OS Keyboard Shortcuts Worth Knowing

Once you’ve sorted out Caps Lock, these shortcuts will speed up your daily workflow. We use these constantly on our test Chromebooks.

According to Chrome OS’s official keyboard shortcuts list, there are over 100 shortcuts available. The Ctrl + Alt + ? combo opens an interactive overlay that shows every shortcut, organized by category.

If you’re doing more than just typing, you might want to learn how to rotate the screen on a Chromebook or go incognito on a Chromebook for private browsing sessions.

#Fixing Caps Lock Issues After Remapping

Sometimes the Caps Lock remap doesn’t stick after a Chrome OS update, or the key stops responding. Here’s how to troubleshoot.

Reset keyboard settings. Go to Settings > Device > Keyboard and set the Search key back to its default. Then remap it to Caps Lock again. This fixes most glitches caused by OS updates.

Try a different account. Log out and sign in as a Guest user. If the shortcut works on the Guest account, the problem is tied to your profile. According to Chromebook Help’s troubleshooting guide, profile-specific issues can be fixed by removing and re-adding your Google account.

Powerwash as a last resort. If nothing else works, a factory reset (called Powerwash on Chrome OS) clears all settings. Go to Settings > Advanced > Reset settings > Powerwash. Back up files to Google Drive first. You can also cast your phone to your Chromebook to access mobile files during reset.

#Bottom Line

Try Alt + Search first. If you need Caps Lock daily, remap the Search key through Settings > Device > Keyboard.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Does the Caps Lock shortcut work on all Chromebook models?

Yes, it works on every Chromebook. Google built this shortcut into Chrome OS at the system level, so it functions the same on HP, Lenovo, Acer, Samsung, and ASUS models regardless of hardware differences. On newer Chromebooks manufactured after 2021, the key is labeled “Launcher” instead of “Search,” but pressing Alt + Launcher does the exact same thing.

#Can you tell when Caps Lock is turned on?

Yes. A small upward arrow icon appears in the system tray at the bottom-right corner of your screen whenever Caps Lock is active.

#Will remapping the Search key affect other keyboard shortcuts?

Yes, it affects Search-key shortcuts specifically. Remapping disables the app launcher and any combo that starts with the Search key, like Search + L to lock the screen. All other shortcuts (Ctrl, Alt, Shift combos) keep working.

#How do you disable Caps Lock once it’s turned on?

Press Alt + Search again, or tap the Shift key once. Both turn off Caps Lock immediately.

#Does Caps Lock work in all Chrome OS apps?

Yes. Caps Lock is a system-wide setting on Chrome OS, so it works everywhere text input is accepted. That includes the Chrome browser, Google Docs, Android apps from the Play Store, and even Linux apps running in the Crostini container. You don’t need to enable it separately for each app.

#Can you remap other keys on a Chromebook besides Search?

Yes. Chrome OS lets you remap five keys total: Search, Ctrl, Alt, Escape, and Backspace. Each one can be reassigned to function as any of the other five, or as Caps Lock, through Settings > Device > Keyboard.

#What happens to Caps Lock settings after a Chrome OS update?

Your keyboard remapping settings usually survive Chrome OS updates without any issues. In rare situations after a major version upgrade, keyboard settings can reset to defaults, but this is uncommon. If that happens, go back to Settings > Device > Keyboard and reapply the remap. The whole process takes about 15 seconds since you already know where the setting is.

#Is there a way to set Caps Lock as default on startup?

No. Chrome OS always starts with Caps Lock off when you log in. Your key remap (Search to Caps Lock) does persist across restarts and updates, so you won’t need to reconfigure it. But the actual Caps Lock state resets every session, which is intentional to prevent accidental all-caps typing when you first open your Chromebook.