To enable Caps Lock on a Chromebook, press Alt + Search or Alt + Launcher, depending on your keyboard. Release both keys, then repeat the same shortcut to turn Caps Lock off. On a Chromebook with Fn and Quick Insert keys, press Fn + Quick Insert instead.
If you prefer a dedicated key, you can assign Caps Lock to a supported key in your keyboard settings. External keyboards, touch keyboards and supported accessibility controls offer additional ways to toggle it.
The short version
- Keyboard shortcut: Press Alt + Search or Alt + Launcher on the corresponding keyboard layout.
- Quick Insert keyboards: Press Fn + Quick Insert when your keyboard provides those keys.
- Dedicated key: Open your keyboard remapping settings and assign Caps Lock to a supported key.
- Turn it off: Repeat the shortcut or press your assigned key again.
| Method | What you need | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Search or Launcher shortcut | Corresponding Chromebook keyboard layout | Press Alt + Search or Alt + Launcher |
| Quick Insert shortcut | Keyboard with both keys | Press Fn + Quick Insert |
| Dedicated Search or Launcher key | Remappable built-in keyboard | Assign Caps Lock to Search or Launcher |
| Another reassigned key | Supported built-in or external keyboard key | Assign Caps Lock through keyboard remapping |
| Physical external key | External keyboard retaining its Caps Lock mapping | Press Caps Lock |
| External keyboard shortcut | Windows or Mac keyboard with default modifier mappings | Press Alt + Windows or Option + Command |
| Touch keyboard | Pixel Slate or Pixelbook touch keyboard | Double-tap Shift |
| Sticky keys | Sticky keys enabled and a keyboard supporting the Search or Launcher shortcut | Press and release Alt, then Search or Launcher |
| Mouse button | Supported customizable mouse and physical Caps Lock key for setup | Assign the keypress to a mouse button |
| Pen or tablet button | Supported connected pen tablet and physical Caps Lock key for setup | Assign the keypress to a pen or tablet button |
| Administrator enabled input | Managed ChromeOS account and administrator access | Enable Sticky keys or the on-screen keyboard, then use the applicable input method |
Turn Caps Lock on with your keyboard
Find the Search or Launcher key on your Chromebook keyboard. Hold Alt, press that key, then release both keys to enable Caps Lock. Press the same combination again to turn Caps Lock off.
If your keyboard provides Fn and Quick Insert, press those two keys together to enable Caps Lock. Repeat Fn + Quick Insert to switch it off. Use the combination that matches your keyboard layout.
Make Search or Launcher a dedicated Caps Lock key
Sign in, select the time, then open Settings > Device > Keyboard. Under Built-in keyboard, select Remap keyboard keys. Open the action menu for Search or Launcher and select Caps Lock.
Press the reassigned key once to enable Caps Lock and again to disable it. The key now performs the Caps Lock action in place of its previous action. To undo keyboard remapping, select Restore defaults.
Google also uses the labels Keyboard and inputs and Customize keyboard keys for the keyboard settings route. If your menus use those names, follow them to the remapping controls.
Assign another keyboard key
You can assign Caps Lock to another supported key on a built-in or external keyboard. Open Settings > Device > Keyboard, choose the keyboard you want to configure, then select Remap keyboard keys. Open an available key's action menu and select Caps Lock.
Your available keys depend on the keyboard. Google's customizable key types include modifier keys, Esc, Backspace and Caps Lock. Press your chosen key to toggle Caps Lock, or select Restore defaults to undo the remapping.
Use an external keyboard
Connect a compatible external keyboard with a physical Caps Lock key. Press Caps Lock once to turn it on and again to turn it off. This works when the key retains its Caps Lock mapping.
With default modifier mappings, you can also press Alt + Windows on an external Windows keyboard. On an external Mac keyboard, press Option + Command, with Option acting as Alt and Command acting as Search or Launcher. Repeat the combination to turn Caps Lock off.
If a reassigned key no longer performs its expected action, open Settings > Device > Keyboard, choose the external keyboard, then select Remap keyboard keys. Assign Caps Lock to the intended key, or select Restore defaults to undo remapping. The external keyboard shortcuts above depend on the default modifier mappings.
Turn on Caps Lock with the touch keyboard
On a Pixel Slate or Pixelbook in tablet mode, tap a text box to open the touch keyboard. Double-tap Shift, shown as an up-arrow, to enable Caps Lock. Tap Shift again to disable it.
To enable the on-screen keyboard in laptop mode on a Chromebook, select the time and open Settings > Accessibility. Under Keyboard and text input, turn on On-screen keyboard. Google documents the double-tap gesture for Pixel Slate and Pixelbook touch keyboards; other keyboard layouts can differ.
Use Sticky keys for a sequential shortcut
With Sticky keys enabled, you can enter a shortcut one key at a time. Select the time, open Settings > Accessibility, then turn on Sticky keys under Keyboard and text input. Use this method with a keyboard that supports Alt + Search or Alt + Launcher.
Press and release Alt, then press and release Search or Launcher to enter the Caps Lock shortcut sequentially. Enter the same sequence again to turn Caps Lock off.
Assign a mouse or pen tablet button
You can assign a Caps Lock keypress to a supported customizable mouse button if you have a physical Caps Lock key available during setup. Open Settings > Device > Mouse > Customize mouse buttons. Open the desired button's action menu and choose the key combination option.
In the key combination dialog, press and release Caps Lock, then select Save. Press the configured mouse button to toggle Caps Lock.
For a supported connected pen tablet with customizable buttons, open Settings > Device > Pen tablet. Select Customize tablet buttons or the pen button customization option, open the desired button's action menu, then choose the key combination option. In the key combination dialog, press and release a physical Caps Lock key, then select Save. Press the configured button to toggle Caps Lock.
Enable alternative input on a managed Chromebook
If your school or workplace enforces accessibility settings, ask your administrator to enable the input method you need. An administrator can enable Sticky keys or the on-screen keyboard for managed ChromeOS users. These settings enable alternative input routes; they do not directly switch Caps Lock on.
If you administer the managed accounts, open the Admin console and go to Devices > Chrome > Settings > User & browser settings > Accessibility. Turn on the Sticky keys or Accessibility on-screen keyboard setting for the relevant users. With Sticky keys turned on, they can then enter the Caps Lock shortcut sequentially on a compatible keyboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you change the Caps Lock shortcut in the Shortcuts app?
You cannot edit the Caps Lock toggle in the Shortcuts app because it is a locked shortcut. You can assign a dedicated key through the keyboard remapping settings instead.
Does holding Shift enable Caps Lock?
Holding Shift does not enable Caps Lock. Automatic capitalization and converting existing text to uppercase also do not turn Caps Lock on.
Do you need an extension or download to enable Caps Lock?
You do not need an extension or product download for the standard keyboard shortcuts or keyboard remapping. You also do not need to uninstall anything or reset your Chromebook for these methods.
Can you turn on Caps Lock with Dictation?
Google does not document a Caps Lock command for Dictation. You can use a keyboard shortcut or another supported input method to toggle it.
Can you enable Caps Lock through Chrome browser settings or your Google Account?
Google does not document a direct Caps Lock toggle in Chrome browser settings, Google Account settings or Family Link. You can use your Chromebook's keyboard controls or supported accessibility input methods instead.