Customize your Chromebook's shelf

At the bottom or side of your screen, there's a row of apps called the shelf. If there's an app or web page that you use frequently, you can pin it to the shelf for quick access. You can't add apps and shortcuts to your desktop's wallpaper or background.

Add, change, remove, or hide apps in your shelf

Add an app to your shelf

In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
Find the app you want to add.
Right-click the app icon.
Select Pin to Shelf.

When you pin an app to your shelf, the app will stay there until you move or remove it.

Change the position of the apps

Select and hold the app you want to move.
Drag it to a new position.
Release to put the app in a new spot.

Remove an app from your shelf

Right-click the app you want to remove.
Select Unpin .

Change the position of your shelf

Right-click the shelf.
Select Shelf position.
From the menu, select Left, Bottom or Right.

Hide or stop hiding your shelf

To hide your shelf:

Right-click the shelf.
Select Autohide shelf .

Tip: When they're hidden, move the pointer to that side of the screen to find your apps, bookmarks, and account picture.

To stop hiding your shelf:

Right click on the shelf or where your shelf was.
Select Always show shelf .

Pin web pages or files to your shelf

Pin a web page to your shelf

If you go to the same web page often, you might want to pin it to your shelf.

Open the web page in Chrome.
Select More Cast, save and share Create shortcut.
- Optional: If you don’t like the suggested title for your shortcut, write in your own title.
Select Create.
In the corner of your screen, select the Launcher .
Right-click the shortcut icon you want from a list of apps and shortcuts.
Select Pin to shelf.

Tip: If you can’t find the shortcut icon you want, use the Search key

or or the Launcher key

to find the icon with keywords.

Pin files to your shelf

To pin a file:

At the bottom left, select the Launcher .
Open Files .
On the left, select the folder that contains the file you want to pin.
Right-click the file.
Select Pin .

Tip: To unpin a file from your shelf, right-click on a file on your shelf, select Unpin .

Find a pinned file:

At the bottom right, select the shelf container.
Right-click your file.
Select Show in folder.

Manage downloads and screenshots in your shelf

Open recent downloads & screenshots in your shelf

Important: Your recent downloads and screenshots are temporary. To find recent downloads or screenshots at the bottom right, select Tote

. Otherwise, you’ll find up to 3 circles, with a preview of your recent downloads, screenshots, or an icon of the pinned files in your shelf.

Open files from the shelf preview:

At the bottom, select the Tote .
Select the preview of the file you want to open.

Hide the shelf preview:

At the bottom, right-click on the previews you want to check.
Select Hide previews.

Insert pinned files into documents

You can add images or screenshots to your documents from your shelf.

Drag images or screenshots:

At the bottom right, select the shelf container.
From the “Screen captures” menu, select the image or screenshot you want to move.
Drag into your document.

Copy and paste images or screenshots:

At the bottom right, select the shelf container.
From the “Screen captures” menu, right-click the image or screenshot you want.
Select Copy image.
On your document, right-click anywhere.
Select Paste.

Related resources

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