ChromeOS has been adding capabilities to bring it up to speed with other operating systems for…well, for as long as Google has been working on it, which is about 12 years now. The latest update might be of particular interest to anyone who switches between a Chromebook and other devices regularly. It lets you change the keyboard shortcuts and mouse buttons to your liking.
The change to the release build of ChromeOS was announced on Google’s Chromebook support page, spotted by The Verge. ChromeOS version M123 is the one you’re looking for, which should be available to download and install on all currently updating Chromebooks. The options for changes are in the Settings menu, under Device>Keyboard>Customize Keyboard Keys and Device>Mouse>Customize mouse buttons.
Further reading: The best Chromebooks we’ve tested
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Michael Crider/Foundry
Trying out the new system for myself, it seems like a great way to adapt some non-standard keyboards to a device that doesn’t have one (like my poor maligned Pixel Slate), or for adjusting to a few of the oddities of Chromebook design, like the Search button replacing Caps Lock. The update for the mouse is particularly handy for my Razer Naga and its many thumb buttons, which ChromeOS recognized immediately (above). Neat.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer
Michael is a former graphic designer who's been building and tweaking desktop computers for longer than he cares to admit. His interests include folk music, football, science fiction, and salsa verde, in no particular order.