How to Customize and Personalize Your Chromebook

Jeni_Odley · March 28

Chromebooks are sleek and streamlined devices that use ChromeOS for web browsing and light computer work. Users are encouraged to save files to the cloud to preserve storage space, but that doesn’t mean your Chromebook can’t reflect your unique style. Alongside learning some nifty Chromebook keyboard shortcuts, there are some tweaks you can use to inject as much personality into your Chromebook as possible.

Here are 10 ways to personalize your Chromebook and make it truly your own.

1. Set a custom wallpaper and screensaver

Setting up a custom Chromebook wallpaper and screensaver are great ways to personalize your device. Be sure to check whether or not you have administrator rights, as this may prevent you from making changes to a device.

To choose a custom wallpaper, right-click the desktop, then select Set Wallpaper and Style > Wallpaper. Choose an image for your wallpaper and set it to change daily, if required. Click My Images to use an image downloaded onto the Chromebook or Google Photos to choose a photo saved in your photo album.

To choose a screensaver, right-click the desktop and select Set Wallpaper and Style > Screen Saver, then switch on the toggle to activate the screensaver. You can choose from standard images under ‘Screensaver animation’ or your photos under Google Photos or Art Gallery.

2. Customize the new tab page

Chromebook users can customize new browser tabs by choosing an image or color. To do this, sign into your Google Account first and ensure that Chrome is your default search engine, then open a new tab. Click Customize Chrome at the bottom right-hand side of the page, or select Side Panel > Customize Chrome at the top right. Then hit Appearance > Change Theme to choose a theme from the gallery or upload an image.

Chrome will automatically choose a background color based on your selected image. You can choose your own background color by opening a new tab and clicking Customize Chrome > Appearance.

3. Organize apps in the Launcher

Sorting apps by name or color can streamline navigation and make them easier to find. To do this, select the Launcher at the corner of the screen, right-click, and select Sort by > Name or Color.

4. Create folders for related apps

Creating personalized folders is a handy way to group together related apps, resulting in a cleaner Launcher and a more efficient user experience. You can put apps into a folder by dragging one app on top of another and then clicking the folder to rename it.

5. Personalize the shelf

The row of apps at the bottom or side of the screen is called a shelf. You can customize the shelf in various ways.

To reposition the shelf, right-click it, hit Shelf Position, and choose Left, Bottom, or Right.
To hide the shelf, right-click it, and select Autohide Shelf. When the shelf is hidden, simply move the cursor to that side of the screen to locate apps and bookmarks. To stop hiding the shelf, right-click where it was, and select Always Show Shelf.
To pin a file to the shelf, select the Launcher at the bottom left, then click Files and select the folder that contains the file to be pinned. Right-click the file > Select Pin.

6. Pin website shortcuts

Chromebook users can pin frequently visited websites to the shelf, removing the need to type in the URL each time.

To pin a web page to the shelf, open the page in Chrome, select the three dots > More > Cast, Save and Share > Create Shortcut > edit the description if required > Create.

7. Adjust the cursor size and color

Adjusting the size and color of the browser cursor makes it more visible against the device background. To change the size of your Chromebook cursor, go to Settings > Accessibility > Manage Accessibility Features > Mouse and Touchpad > Show Large Mouse Cursor.

Changing the cursor color can be achieved by hitting Settings > Accessibility > Manage Accessibility Features > Mouse and Touchpad > Cursor Color.

8. Toggle between dark and light themes

Chromebook users can switch between dark and light themes depending on ambient light for maximum comfort and aesthetics. Select Customize Chrome at the bottom of a new browser tab > Appearance > then choose either a light or dark theme.

9. Remap keyboard keys

The Chromebook keyboard features some unique keys that may be unfamiliar to new users. However, these can be remapped to boost productivity. For example, you can turn the Search or Launcher key into a Caps Lock key by going to Settings > Device > Keyboard > Built-In Keyboard > Remap Keyboard Keys and then choosing the desired action.

10. Change your account photo

Changing your account photo can add a personal touch to your Chromebook. To do this, click Settings > Wallpaper and Style > Set your Wallpaper and Style > Edit. You can take a photo by selecting Camera, take a short, looping video via Create a Looping Video, or choose a saved photo by clicking Files.

Your Chromebook, your style

There are numerous ways to customize your Chromebook to reflect your style and preferences. Whether you wish to adjust the browser aesthetic to make the screen a tad easier on the eyes or put your favorite applications in one place, there is a Chromebook tweak to suit you.