5 Cool Chromebook Tips and Tricks You Didn’t Know
Chromebooks aren’t a new phenomenon. However, the platform has grown massively since it was first launched. It is important to note that the Chromebooks are marketed as a viable replacement to MacBooks and PCs, and in many cases, they do the job just fine. This is because of the fact that Chromebooks run on the cloud and every operation is buttery smooth. Google is making some changes to the platform, however, with the introduction of Android applications to the system. This will go a long way in ensuring that the user experience is furthered on the Chromebook.
Since most services don’t yet have an app on the Chromebook, users sometimes have to rely on web apps. We’re going to discuss a handful of tips and tricks of the Chromebook that you might not have known about previously. This will give you a better understanding of your Chromebook and help you get the most out of it.
How to Use Skype on a Chromebook
While Chromebooks come with Hangouts by default, not every contact you have might use Hangouts. This is when apps like Skype come in handy. However, there’s no dedicated Skype app for the Chromebook. But thankfully, there’s a workaround for this as well. You will simply need to head over to the browser and type in web.skype.com to get started. You will be asked to enter your credentials, and you can proceed from there.
Sadly, due to the lack of proper plugins, Skype cannot function normally on the Chrome browser. You will require Windows plugins, which naturally won’t be compatible with the Chromebook. So as it stands, you will only be able to use text messages on Skype, with no support for voice or video calls. This is a big caveat, which might make it more likely for customers to switch back to Hangouts. However, it’s good to know that you can get some form of Skype to function on the Chromebook, which was otherwise not possible previously. Also, not everybody who uses Skype wants to make video or voice calls. Be sure to try this out.
How to Get Free Google Drive Cloud Space Up To 100GB on Chromebook
Google gives you a lot of benefits for simply purchasing a Chromebook. However, you won’t automatically receive rewards for buying a Chromebook, and you have to claim your rewards from a dedicated Google page. To get started, head over to chromebook.com/goodies and check what goodies you have in store for you. You will be greeted to a few goodies, including free music and movies. Scroll down to Google Drive, and you will find that there’s 100GB of Google Drive storage space waiting for you. Click on “Redeem offer” to get the storage. Post this, you will receive a prompt asking your permission to check the Chromebook for compatibility with this new offer. Click yes, and you will see a “Victory” message, suggesting that you have successfully redeemed the 100GB Google Drive storage space.
Bear in mind that it might take a while for Google Drive to reflect these changes on its devices, so be sure to remain patient if you don’t see it right away. The 100GB of free storage space can be a godsend for Chrome OS devices considering the fact that it doesn’t come with a lot of internal storage to begin with. So if you recently got a Chromebook and have been disappointed with the internal storage on the device, be sure to redeem your free storage.
How to Take a Screenshot on Chromebook
While the Chromebook mostly relies on the cloud to perform certain tasks, you can perform certain tasks like taking a screenshot with relative ease. To take a screenshot, you basically have to tap the button with multiple windows on them, mostly located on the top section of the keyboard. You will have to hold this key along with CTRL to take a screenshot of your screen.
Similarly, you can tap the same button + CTRL and Shift to take a partial screenshot of your window. These keyboard shortcuts can be very helpful for customers new to the Chrome OS platform.
How To Use Dropbox On Chromebook
You can integrate your Dropbox storage with the default file system on Chrome OS. This can be achieved by downloading an app from the Chrome Web Store called “File System for Dropbox”. This isn’t officially endorsed by Dropbox, however, although it works seamlessly. After you’ve given it the necessary permissions, open the app and click on “Mount”“. You will now have to enter your Dropbox credentials to get started. The app will ask for your permissions, once you’ve granted them all, you will find your Dropbox storage on the left hand side of the file manager.
How To Setup Remote Desktop On Chromebook
Setting up the Chrome Remote Desktop is pretty easy on the Chromebook. This feature allows you to connect any PC or Mac to your Chromebook and use it seamlessly. All you require is a Chrome browser on all the machines involved. It is also mandatory for all browsers running the same Google account for this feature to work. Once you have kept these prerequisites in mind, it’s a pretty easy process really.
Firstly, you will need to head over to chrome.google.com/webstore on the PC or Mac you want to remotely access. Here, search for Chrome Remote Desktop and add the extension to the browser. It will give you a prompt telling you about the permissions it needs, be sure to click “Add”. You will now see the Remote Desktop app on your Chrome home screen. Click on it and you will see a prompt asking you to authorize the process, click “Continue”. Post this, you will be taken to another page showing the permissions it requires, click “Allow access” here.
Now, you simply have to tap “Get started” under the My Computers section, which will redirect you to a page helping you set up a unique PIN for the Remote Desktop. Accessing the Remote Desktop from your Chromebook is very easy after this. You will simply have to launch Remote Desktop from the app list on the Chromebook, select “Continue” and “Allow access” like you did in the steps above. You will now be asked to enter the PIN you generated earlier to access your PC or Mac remotely. After these steps, you will be able to connect to your PC or Mac like you were using it in front of you. This feature is beneficial if you are traveling away from home and want to control certain aspects of your Mac or PC.