General Maintenance for Your Chromebook

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction: Chromebook: Maintenance

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.

a chromebook

2. Chrome Browser: Clear Cache

  1. Open Google Chrome.
Google Chrome Icon


  1. Select the Menu icon in the top-right corner.
chrome menu highlighted


  1. Select Settings.
settings highlighted in chrome menu


  1. Scroll down, and select Clear browsing data.
Chrome options with clear browsing data highlighted


  1. For Time range, select All time. Place a check ✔ next to each box. Then, select Clear Data.
clear browsing data dialog with time range and checkboxes highlighted


3. Chrome Browser: Check Extensions

  1. Open Google Chrome.
Google Chrome icon
  1. Select the Menu icon in the top-right corner.
Screenshot of the menu icon of Chrome
  1. Select More tools > Extensions.
screenshot of the Chrome menu with more tools then extensions highlighted
  1. 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.
Screenshot of Chrome extensions with the trash can icon highlighted

4. Chromebook: Check Downloads Folder

  1. Select the Apps menu in the bottom-left corner.
Chromebook Apps menu


  1. Select All Apps > Files.
Apps list with all apps and files highlighted


  1. Select Downloads on the left. These are the only files stored on your Chromebook.
file browser with downloads highlighted


  1. You can open a file by double-clicking on it.
  2. You can copy files to your Google Drive by dragging them to My Drive on the left.
  3. You can copy files to external storage by dragging them to the icon for that external storage on the left.
  4. 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. Chromebook: Restart

There are 2 main ways to restart your Chromebook. The first method is preferred.

Shut Down From Menus

  1. Select the User menu by clicking your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
User Menu.
  1. Select the Power symbol. Your Chromebook will turn off.
User menu with Power highlighted.
  1. Wait 10 seconds.
  2. Push the Power Button on your Chromebook to turn it back on.

Shut Down With Hardware

  1. Push and hold the Power Button on your keyboard for 10 seconds.
  2. Wait 10 seconds.
  3. Push the Power Button on your Chromebook to turn it back on.