7 Step Guide to Set Up a New Chromebook
Apart from a new car and possibly a new house, there’s nothing more exciting than getting a new computer. A brave new world of possibility opens up when you plug that new laptop in for the first time. And in the case of a new Acer Chromebook, in just a few minutes after unboxing, you can be surfing the internet, multitasking and enjoying the new Chromebook experience in all its glory.
If you’re planning on getting a new Chromebook, good choice, and if you’ve already purchased a new Chromebook, and you’re figuring out your new Chromebook setup, congrats, you’re in the right place. Today we’re going to help you set up your new Chromebook like the boss of all bosses. We’ll cover all the vital steps, from downloading the best apps for Chromebook, to updating, customizing, and even how to secure your Chromebook. There’s lots to do, so let’s get started!
1. Complete Setup & Updates
Before you get down to work on your new Chromebook, there’s some basic housekeeping tasks that need to be attended to. While your new device is, well, new, technology moves quickly, and it won’t be long until you’ll want to update your Chromebook.
For the fastest, smoothest, and most responsive all-round Chromebook experience, completing your setup and syncing to your other devices is a must. By taking this step, all of your preferences, settings, and even bookmarks will be applied across your Google devices. So, make sure you’ve got a Google account and your password handy, then connect to Wi-Fi and sign in with your Google account. To sync your device:
Click the Settings icon > select You and Google > click Sync and Google Services.
Sorting your updates is similarly important, this will ensure ongoing device optimization by keeping your drivers and firmware up to date. Follow these steps to ensure the smooth runnings of your Chromebook for years to come:
Click the Settings icon > select About ChromeOS > click Check for updates.
2. Customize Your Chromebook
While your trusty new Chromebook may resemble many others in form, you’re an individual, and so is your Chromebook! Forget grey, boring, one-size-fits-all computing, make your new device truly yours. No matter how you choose to use your Chromebook, your wallpaper and your go to apps are all unique: customization is king! So, first of all you might want to set the scene and customize your wallpaper and theme. Simply go to Settings > click Personalization.
Don’t waste time looking for things you need, pin them to the shelf. For quick access to your favorite apps, simply choose the app you want to select and right-click > Pin.
Once you’ve sorted the look and the layout of your new Chromebook, it's time to add the personal touch to your device, and adjust touchpad settings:
Click the Settings icon > select Device > click Touchpad.
3. Install essential apps
The beauty of Chromebooks lies in their simplicity and practicality. With all of the great Google services at your command, make the most of productivity apps, including Google Docs for cloud based word processing and document editing. Let’s not forget Google Keep, your note-taking app for text, voice, and image notes, as well as checklists and reminders.
Keep your Chromebook well-organized for increased efficiency: file management is a breeze with Files by Google, while Snapdrop covers all your fast transfer needs. Moving on to media, VLC Media Player, Spotify, and YouTube Music are the bare essentials, and if you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of cloud gaming, then GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming are your ride or die companions in the gaming universe.
4. Improve performance & battery life
Keeping your Chromebook performing at its best is in your best interests! Treat it right, and it will treat you right, delivering years of trouble free, no-frills computing. First, you’ll want to limit open tabs to reduce RAM usage while browsing the internet. Next, let’s deal with unused extensions which can really slow your steed down:
Launch Chrome > Click Extensions (under More tools) > Select Extension > Click Remove > Confirm Removal.
To conserve battery power, remember to lower screen brightness and disable Bluetooth when not in use. You should also adjust sleep and power settings to suit your requirements: Click the Settings icon > Select Device > Click Power.
5. Secure your Chromebook
By taking a few simple steps, you can safeguard your Chromebook against the ever-evolving threats out there in the wild west that is the world wide web. For general privacy, remember to set up a PIN or password: Click Settings icon > select Security & Privacy > click Lock screen.
For an extra layer of protection, enable two-factor authentication for your Google account. Finally, just in case you manage to lose your Chromebook, remember to fit it with a GPS tracker. You can also remote sign out of your Google account, as well. Here’s a helpful guide to finding your lost device.
6. Set up offline access
Another fine feature of the Google suite of apps in your new Chromebook is the possibility of offline access. There are several approaches to ensuring access wherever you go, regardless of internet connections. For rock-solid, fail-free file access, simply download your most-important files for offline use.
Enabling various Google apps can also improve your offline Chromebook experience. To enable Google Drive offline: Click Drive > Select Settings > Enable Offline.
Similarly, if you wish to enable Gmail offline: Open Gmail > Click Settings > Select Offline > Enable offline mail.
7. Explore Chromebook Features
As with any new tech that you might invest in, taking time to investigate the features of Chromebook can be a rewarding experience. In need of a helping hand? Then try Google Assistant (simply press the Search key and ask a question).
For multitasking, give Virtual Desks a go: Search + [ or ]. Finally, when it comes to file transfer forget email, messenger apps, and file transfer apps! For quick file transfers to people nearby, just enable Nearby Share, and your files will be transported in the blink of an eye.
Chrome standard
We hope that you’ve enjoyed our foray into the fun and efficient world of setting up your new Chromebook. As you can see -while Chromebooks offer great straight-out-of-the-box usability, with a bit of planning and preparation, you can set up a winning machine. So, before you get down to work on your new device, follow the seven steps covered in this article, and set yourself up for years of trouble-free Chromebook computing.
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Edmund is an English copywriter based in New Taipei City, Taiwan. He is a widely published writer and translator with two decades of experience in the field of bridging linguistic and cultural gaps between Chinese and English.
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