Chrome Extension Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Set Up

Most extensions can be opened or controlled with a keyboard shortcut, but many ship without one set. A minute in Chrome's shortcut page saves a lot of clicking.

Where to set extension shortcuts

1. Go to chrome://extensions/shortcuts, or open chrome://extensions, click the menu at the top left and choose Keyboard shortcuts.
2. Find the extension. Each action it offers has a box; Activate the extension opens its pop-up.
3. Click the pencil icon or the box, then press the keys you want, such as Alt + Shift + D.

Shortcuts have to include Ctrl or Alt (Cmd or Option on Mac). Chrome won't let you take a shortcut it already uses for itself, like Ctrl + T.

In Chrome or global

Next to some shortcuts there's a choice between In Chrome and Global. Global shortcuts work even when Chrome isn't the active window, which is handy for media controls and quick-capture tools. Only some extension actions can be global.

Shortcuts worth setting up

• Your password manager: open it or fill a login without reaching for the mouse.
• Dark mode on and off: Modern Dark Mode comes with Alt + Shift + D set by default.
• Quick notes: Sticky Notes Anywhere uses Ctrl + Shift + S to open its notes panel and Ctrl + Shift + X to add a note to the current page (Cmd on Mac).
• Reading focus: ADHD Reading Focus turns its one-paragraph view on and off with Alt + R.
• Screenshots, translation, or a read-later tool: anything you use several times a day.

If two extensions want the same keys, only one gets them. Check the shortcuts page and reassign the clash.

Chrome shortcuts to pair with them

• Ctrl + Shift + T: reopen the last closed tab.
• Ctrl + L: jump to the address bar.
• Ctrl + 1 to 8: jump to that tab; Ctrl + 9 goes to the last tab.
• Ctrl + Shift + B: show or hide the bookmarks bar.
• Shift + Esc (Windows): Chrome's Task Manager, to see which extension is using memory.

On a Mac, use Cmd in place of Ctrl.

When a shortcut doesn't work

• Some pages, such as the Chrome Web Store and chrome:// pages, block extensions entirely.
• Another app may own the same keys globally. Try a different combination.
• If you just installed the extension, reload open tabs so its scripts are running there.