Author Archives: RK Popkin

10 ways students can make the most of Chrome

Whether you’re getting back into the swing of schoolwork or already in the middle of the school year, you can use Chrome to help you study.

Here are 10 ways Chrome can help students get their work done in the classroom or at home:

1. Turn on Live Caption

Need to watch a video for history class, but stuck in a noisy study hall without headphones? Use Live Caption on Chrome to automatically generate real-time captions on media with audio. It works across different content like social and video sites, podcasts, and embedded video players. And it can make content accessible if you are deaf or hard of hearing or need to read along while you listen.

2. Organize projects with Chrome's tab groups

If you tend to find yourself with so many open tabs that you can’t keep track of, tab groups are here to help. Keep the chaos under control by sorting open tabs into groups for your projects or classes. Doing research for a paper? You can move all the tabs you’re referencing into a group and then click its name to collapse it when you’re working on other things.

3. Open accidentally closed tabs

We’ve all been there: you find the perfect website for your research project on marine biology, but in a sea of sources you accidentally close the tab. Chrome has your back. Press Control/Command + Shift + T to bring the most recently closed tab back up. Or, check your history to see all of your recently visited sites.

4. Review your security settings

In the event you stumble upon a potentially harmful website or encounter a malicious file while working, Chrome’s security features can keep your computer secure. Looking for extra credit? Turn on enhanced protection to activate additional safety layers against phishing and malware.

5. Sync across your devices

Whether you’re on your phone or your laptop, you can easily sync your bookmarks, passwords and other settings. Finish reading that article from class earlier that day, or brush up on your Spanish vocabulary words from your phone while you wait for track practice to start. At any time, you can turn off sync or choose what to sync in your settings.

6. Right-click to search highlighted text

Another handy shortcut on Chrome is the ability to highlight and right-click to quickly search text. Reading a dense piece of text and not sure what “hyperbolic” means? Have instructions to “use the quadratic formula to solve” and don’t have the equation handy? Highlight the text, right-click and select “Search [provider] for [text]” and a new tab will open with a pre-filled search for the highlighted text.

7. Use the Chrome address bar for answers…

Solve math problems, answer basic questions or perform conversions within your Chrome address bar. Chrome will show you answers without even needing to press enter.

8. …and to quickly complete a task

With Chrome Actions, you can also easily create new Docs, Sheets and more directly from the address bar — just type “Create Google Doc.”

9. Use Chrome extensions

Whether you need a helping hand taking notes, a better way to collaborate with classmates, or a little help with a tough math problem, there’s probably a Chrome extension to make your life easier. Find a list of our recommendations on the Chrome Web Store.

10. Let Chrome manage your passwords

With an endless list of online tools, websites and apps required for school, remembering all your usernames and passwords can be a hassle. Google Password Manager is built into Chrome to help by saving your login information and generating unique, strong passwords across platforms. And now you can also generate passwords on iOS apps when you set Chrome as your autofill provider.

Source: Google Chrome


Celebrate Black creative visions with Chrome

This Black History Month, the Chrome team is showcasing exciting new work by Black artists in a collection of themes that let you customize the look of your browser.

We commissioned six contemporary artists and invited them to turn Chrome into their canvas. Working in different mediums and bringing different points of view, each artist has presented their interpretation of the ways people use Chrome: finding new knowledge, connecting with each other, exploring our world and taking action towards our goals.

Our design team crafted themes around their work to fuse them seamlessly into Chrome, coordinating the colors of your tabs and making sure the work looks great on all types of laptop and desktop screens.

We drew inspiration from the #drawingwhileblack hashtag, organized by featured artist Abelle Hayford, as well as from the many artists who have used their talents to advance the call for justice and give us visions of a better future. We hope these themes help you discover new artists, and bring you energy and joy throughout your day as you go to new places through art. 

Browse all 24 themes in the collection on the Chrome Web Store, and read on to hear from the artists:


  • “Telepathy” - Sabrena Khadija

    “Telepathy” - Sabrena Khadija

    “Black women are my one true source of inspiration. For my ‘Telepathy’ theme I wanted to represent the bonds that connect us and allow us to uplift, empower, and embolden each other. To show that whether we are sisters or strangers, the bonds that connect us remain strong.” Sabrena Khadija is a Brooklyn-based illustrator from Prince George’s County, Maryland.

  • “Bubbly” - Olivia Fields

    “Bubbly” - Olivia Fields

    “One day, I was doing the dishes and a tiny bubble managed to escape from the kitchen and travel all the way to my workspace. As I watched it move slowly through the room, I realized I was still drawn in by its gentle movements as well as the urge to pop it before reaching its destination. ‘Bubbly’ is inspired by that warm nostalgic feeling of spending time at play. ”   Olivia Fields is a cartoonist and illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York, where she currently works as a freelancer.

  • "Stay Flo" - Laci Jordan

    “Stay Flo” - Laci Jordan

    “Inspired by exploration, escapism, and vacation. ‘Stay Flo’ captures the idea of the movement, flow, and lush vibes commonly experienced through exploring (and vacation).”   Laci Jordan is a multidisciplinary designer, illustrator and creative director. Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Jordan currently lives in Los Angeles.

  • "The Explorer" - Janelle Cummins

    “The Explorer” - Janelle Cummins

    “I wanted to create designs influenced by its fluidity. I arrived at a unifying theme of water, a versatile element that provides, sustains and captivates. This theme design shows a macro shot of scenes within water droplets caught on blades of grass. A curious ladybug enters one of the encapsulated worlds.”   Janelle Cummins is an illustrator born and raised in Barbados, who now calls the San Francisco Bay Area her home.

  • "Ntentan (Connections)" - Derrick Ofosu Boateng

    “Ntentan (Connections)” - Derrick Ofosu Boateng

    “Connection as a part of human existence is so vital for the society as a whole. Not just on the surface, but deep within us, where we’re joined spirit to spirit, heart to heart. It’s such a healing relationship. That was my inspiration for this collection.”   Derrick Ofosu Boateng is a Ghanaian digital artist inspired by the richness of Africa and the way of life of her inhabitants.

  • "A Spark" - Abelle Hayford

    “A Spark” - Abelle Hayford

    “For this illustration, I wanted to approach the concept of ‘finding’ in a more symbolic way. When I find or discover ideas or concepts it feels like a giant spark of inspiration coming to life.”   Abelle Hayford is a Los Angeles-based illustrator and artist working in animation and comics.