Your Chromebook (may) not be broken! Here are some simple things you can try before you call for help!
Is the caps lock stuck on?
There is no caps-lock button on a Chromebook, but you can still enable this unwise feature by pressing alt + search (magnifying glass key). Its’ easy to forget how to turn it back off! Just press alt + search to toggle caps lock off.
Chromebook screen not working?
Make sure students haven’t dimmed the screen using the screen brightness keys. Press the increase brightness key a few times to check.
Is the screen rotated sideways or upside down? 
If you have Chromebooks that fold into a tablet, they should automatically rotate between portrait and landscape mode, just like your phone.
Rotating the screen manually will disable the auto-rotate feature. If stududents figure this out, it can make life a bit interesting for the next person to use that Chromebook!
There is a simple fix to rotate your Chromebook sreen. Just press Ctrl + Shift + refresh to rotate your screen back to normal!
Do you have a yellow or pink box “dancing” around your Chromebook screen?
Chrome Vox or Select-to-speak is enabled. Click the time, select accessibility, and disable any features that are enabled.
Every teacher should be familiar with the accessibility features built into the Chromebook. Read this post for a full overview!
Are the colors on your Chromebook screen all weird?
High contrast mode is enabled. This is another accessibility feature that you can easily turn off.
Note: If your students share Chromebooks throughout the day I recommend that you disable accessibility features on log out to avoid annoying students who don’t need them. This is a setting that can be enabled through the Google Admin console. Instructions are available here.
What if your Chromebook’s touch screen stops working?
Sometimes my Chromebook touch screen gets cranky. Usually restarting my Chromebook fixes whatever funkiness was happening.
If you have a convertible device, closing the Chromebook, or flipping it to tablet mode and back will reset the touchscreen.
Is your Chromebook keyboard not working?
This can occasionally happen on convertible Chromebooks than can convert into a tablet. Usually, you can fix it by flipping the device back to tablet mode, waiting for a second, and flipping it back to laptop mode. If not, try a quick restart.
Can’t find your Chromebook tabs?
Easy fix! Press the full-screen button at the top of the screen to enter/leave full-screen mode.
What to do if the shelf (black bar) is missing from your Chromebook:
It may be hidden. Put your mouse at the bottom of the screen and wait a few seconds for the shelf to appear. Right-click on the shelf and select “always show” if you don’t want it to disappear again.
Shelf moved to the left, right of the screen – a favorite for students! Right-click on the shelf and select “position” to move it back to your desired location.
Do you have a Chromebook problem not listed above? Leave me a comment and I will do my best to help you fix your Chromebook!
Do you have Chromebooks in your Classroom?
Download a free chapter of my book, The Chromebook Classroom!
Essential Resources
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Essential Resources
9 comments. Leave new
I have a chromebook that no longer allows students or myself to sign in. It kind of works In Guest mode but the students can’t access everything I need them to in guest mode. Any help you be incredible!
Do you get an error message when you try to sign in?
It sounds like some settings need to be adjusted in the admin console. It is possible to restrict sign in to a domain or specific group of users. That’s what I would look at first.
Our IT administrator says that some of our CB can’t be used as the battery has swollen because of over charge. It’s difficult for me to identify the swell but he is quite sure. What’s your advice in this situation? Hope so we protect the other devices.
Thank you
Yikes! That’s a big concern!
This is definitely a manufacturer defect. The devices should be reported and returned to the manufacturer for repair or replacement.
Modern batteries (i.e. all Chromebooks) have safeguards in place to prevent overcharging. There are instances when these safeguards fail, like in your situation, and the manufacturer will issue replacement devices.
We’ve had MANY with the same problem. It is a manufacturer defect, contact them for sure!
I have quite a few Chromebooks that seem to charge but when I press the power button all I get is a flash of the power light. They will not power on. Any ideas?
Most likely there is an issue with the battery and you will need to contact the manufacturer for repair or replacement.
There is a “deep sleep” setting that is designed for long term storage. This setting will disable the power button. The Chromebook must be plugged in before it will power on.
I don’t think this is your issue, but you can give it a try: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/9139543?hl=en
My district recently bought about 500 chromebooks this year and in we have already noticed about 75 that are having major problems with the keys not working, as in regardless of how many times you tap the letter, nothing will appear. Is this normal for such a larger quantity to not be responsive to certain letters. (Mostly only a handful of letters will not work, but they are sporadic around the keyboard). Any advice or tips on getting this fixed?
It is very unusually for so many devices to have the same issue. This is most certainly a manufacturer defect.
I would contact the company ASAP and explain the issue. Hopefully, they will do the right thing and repair or replace them.
9 comments. Leave new
I have a chromebook that no longer allows students or myself to sign in. It kind of works In Guest mode but the students can’t access everything I need them to in guest mode. Any help you be incredible!
Do you get an error message when you try to sign in?
It sounds like some settings need to be adjusted in the admin console. It is possible to restrict sign in to a domain or specific group of users. That’s what I would look at first.
Our IT administrator says that some of our CB can’t be used as the battery has swollen because of over charge. It’s difficult for me to identify the swell but he is quite sure. What’s your advice in this situation? Hope so we protect the other devices.
Thank you
Yikes! That’s a big concern!
This is definitely a manufacturer defect. The devices should be reported and returned to the manufacturer for repair or replacement.
Modern batteries (i.e. all Chromebooks) have safeguards in place to prevent overcharging. There are instances when these safeguards fail, like in your situation, and the manufacturer will issue replacement devices.
We’ve had MANY with the same problem. It is a manufacturer defect, contact them for sure!
I have quite a few Chromebooks that seem to charge but when I press the power button all I get is a flash of the power light. They will not power on. Any ideas?
Most likely there is an issue with the battery and you will need to contact the manufacturer for repair or replacement.
There is a “deep sleep” setting that is designed for long term storage. This setting will disable the power button. The Chromebook must be plugged in before it will power on.
I don’t think this is your issue, but you can give it a try: https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/9139543?hl=en
My district recently bought about 500 chromebooks this year and in we have already noticed about 75 that are having major problems with the keys not working, as in regardless of how many times you tap the letter, nothing will appear. Is this normal for such a larger quantity to not be responsive to certain letters. (Mostly only a handful of letters will not work, but they are sporadic around the keyboard). Any advice or tips on getting this fixed?
It is very unusually for so many devices to have the same issue. This is most certainly a manufacturer defect.
I would contact the company ASAP and explain the issue. Hopefully, they will do the right thing and repair or replace them.