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To delete the character in front of your cursor on a Chromebook, press Alt + Backspace. Chromebooks have a Backspace key, which removes the character before the cursor. Alt + Backspace performs a forward delete, removing the character after the cursor. Google’s official shortcut list describes this action as “Delete the next letter (forward delete)” and gives Alt + Backspace as the shortcut. Google’s Chromebook keyboard shortcuts page is the primary reference for this.
Three different kinds of “delete”
The phrase “delete button” can mean three different actions on a Chromebook. Pick the row that matches what you are trying to do.
| What you want to remove | How to do it | What gets removed |
|---|---|---|
| The character before the cursor | Backspace | One character to the left |
| The character after the cursor | Alt + Backspace (forward delete) | One character to the right |
| The word before the cursor | Ctrl + Backspace | The previous word |
| A file or folder | Files app, then the Trash control | Moves the item to Trash; see the 30-day rule below |
The first three rows concern text. The last row concerns files, which work differently and are covered in their own section.
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Place the cursor where you want to remove text, then hold Alt and press Backspace. Each press removes one character to the right of the cursor. This is the shortcut that answers the most common version of the question, and it works in text fields across the browser and apps that accept standard keyboard input.
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Confirm the shortcut on your own Chromebook
Google’s list assumes a US Chromebook with a standard English QWERTY keyboard. If your device uses another layout, check the list stored on the device itself:
- Select the time in the bottom-right corner of the shelf.
- Select the Settings gear.
- Go to Device > Keyboard and inputs.
- Select View keyboard shortcuts.
To search all shortcuts from anywhere, press Ctrl + Search + S. On a Chromebook the Search key is the key that opens the launcher; a Windows key on an attached keyboard can act as Search. Google notes that Search and Launcher can both work for some shortcuts, so the on-device list is the authority for your model.
Rank #2
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- Multimedia Shortcuts: The full-sized cordless keyboard with numeric keypad features 12 multimedia hotkeys for instant access to your media player, E-mail, Internet, volume, play/pause, mute, computer and favorites, so you can easily check out your favorite sites. Ideal for office work and entertainment, it saves you time and makes work and life easier. Note: the 12 shortcuts are not fully compatible with the Mac system
Deleting a file instead of text
Deleting a file does not use the keyboard shortcuts above. Use the Files app:
- Open the Files app.
- Select the file or folder you want to remove.
- Select the Trash control.
Google’s Chromebook help states that most deleted files go to Trash, and that items in Trash are permanently deleted after 30 days. The help page for this statement carries no publication date, so treat the 30-day period as Google’s current published rule rather than a guarantee for every file type or storage location. Items you have not yet emptied from Trash can still be recovered within that window.
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Keyboards with other layouts and external keyboards
Google’s keyboard settings cover both the built-in keyboard and external keyboards, and Backspace is among the keys you can remap. If you have changed a key assignment, check the keyboard settings before assuming a shortcut is broken. Google’s documentation covers changing keyboard behavior and managing custom shortcuts, as described in Google’s guide to using your Chromebook keyboard, its page on creating input shortcuts, and its page on customizing keyboard shortcuts.
Google’s documentation does not identify a single physical Delete key that appears in the same place on every Chromebook or attached keyboard. Where a dedicated key sits depends on the keyboard model, so use the on-device shortcut list as the reference for your specific hardware.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Sources
- Google, “Chromebook keyboard shortcuts”: the forward-delete shortcut, layout caveat, and settings path.
- Google, “Use your Chromebook keyboard” and Google, “Create input shortcuts”: built-in and external keyboard settings, and Backspace remapping.
- Google, “Open, save, or delete files on your Chromebook”: file deletion steps and the 30-day Trash statement.
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