General Maintenance for Your Chromebook
Authored by:
Support.com Tech Pro Team
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1 Introduction
Your Chromebook requires very little, if any maintenance. By design, it will take care of most common maintenance tasks for you. There are a few things you can do to make sure your Chromebook is in great shape. This guide will take you through them.
2 Clear Cache
- Open Google Chrome.
- Select the menu at the top, point to More tools, and select Clear browsing data.
- Select Advanced at the top. For Time range, select All time. Place a checkmark next to each item you'd like to clear, then select Clear data.
Browsing history Recommended
This clears the memory of the pages you've browsed to.Download history Recommended
This clears the memory of files you've downloaded.Cookies and other site data Recommended
Pages store small data to remember you between visits to their pages. These are called cookies. This option clears cookies.Cached images and files Recommended
Pages are downloaded and saved to your computer, so they are faster to display. This option clears cached copies, which can resolve many problems you may have.Passwords and other sign-in data Not Recommended
The browser saves usernames and passwords for sites you sign into. There's no need to clear this, normally.Autofill form data Not Recommended
Your browser stores other form data, such as your address, common search terms, and other things you type often on sites. There's no need to clear this, normally.Site Settings Recommended
Checking this will clear specialty site settings you may have save.Hosted app data Recommended
Some sites, especially Google apps, store extra app data that will automatically re-download when needed. Clearing this will cause a very small wait and solves problems with those apps.
3 Check Extensions
- Open Google Chrome.
- Select the Menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Select More tools > Extensions.
- Look through the extensions listed, make sure you recognize and use them. If you see any you do not use or want, select the Trash Can to remove it.
4 Check Downloads Folder
- Select the Apps menu in the bottom-left corner.
- Select All Apps > Files.
- Select Downloads on the left. These are the only files stored on your Chromebook.
- You can open a file by double-clicking on it.
- You can copy files to your Google Drive by dragging them to My Drive on the left.
- You can copy files to external storage by dragging them to the icon for that external storage on the left.
- You can delete them by highlighting a file, then pushing the Delete key on your keyboard, or selecting the Trash icon at the top.
5 Restart
There are 2 main ways to restart your Chromebook. The first method is preferred.
Shut Down From Menus
- Select the User menu by clicking your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Select the Power symbol. Your Chromebook will turn off.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Push the Power Button on your Chromebook to turn it back on.
Shut Down With Hardware
- Push and hold the Power Button on your keyboard for 10 seconds.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Push the Power Button on your Chromebook to turn it back on.
Was this content helpful?
YesNoYour Chromebook requires very little, if any maintenance. By design, it will take care of most common maintenance tasks for you. There are a few things you can do to make sure your Chromebook is in great shape. This guide will take you through them.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Select the menu at the top, point to More tools, and select Clear browsing data.
- Select Advanced at the top. For Time range, select All time. Place a checkmark next to each item you'd like to clear, then select Clear data.
Browsing history Recommended
This clears the memory of the pages you've browsed to.Download history Recommended
This clears the memory of files you've downloaded.Cookies and other site data Recommended
Pages store small data to remember you between visits to their pages. These are called cookies. This option clears cookies.Cached images and files Recommended
Pages are downloaded and saved to your computer, so they are faster to display. This option clears cached copies, which can resolve many problems you may have.Passwords and other sign-in data Not Recommended
The browser saves usernames and passwords for sites you sign into. There's no need to clear this, normally.Autofill form data Not Recommended
Your browser stores other form data, such as your address, common search terms, and other things you type often on sites. There's no need to clear this, normally.Site Settings Recommended
Checking this will clear specialty site settings you may have save.Hosted app data Recommended
Some sites, especially Google apps, store extra app data that will automatically re-download when needed. Clearing this will cause a very small wait and solves problems with those apps.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Select the Menu icon in the top-right corner.
- Select More tools > Extensions.
- Look through the extensions listed, make sure you recognize and use them. If you see any you do not use or want, select the Trash Can to remove it.
- Select the Apps menu in the bottom-left corner.
- Select All Apps > Files.
- Select Downloads on the left. These are the only files stored on your Chromebook.
- You can open a file by double-clicking on it.
- You can copy files to your Google Drive by dragging them to My Drive on the left.
- You can copy files to external storage by dragging them to the icon for that external storage on the left.
- You can delete them by highlighting a file, then pushing the Delete key on your keyboard, or selecting the Trash icon at the top.
There are 2 main ways to restart your Chromebook. The first method is preferred.
Shut Down From Menus
- Select the User menu by clicking your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
- Select the Power symbol. Your Chromebook will turn off.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Push the Power Button on your Chromebook to turn it back on.
Shut Down With Hardware
- Push and hold the Power Button on your keyboard for 10 seconds.
- Wait 10 seconds.
- Push the Power Button on your Chromebook to turn it back on.