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Pin a frequently used file from the Chromebook Files app to the shelf’s Tote container to make it easier to reopen or drag into a document. It can cut out repeated searching, though Google does not publish a specific time-saved figure.
What pinning a file does
Tote is the container on your Chromebook shelf for quick access to pinned files, recent downloads, and screenshots. Recent downloads and screenshots appear temporarily; pinning is useful when you expect to return to a file repeatedly.
Google’s ChromeOS team described pinning as a way to keep a frequently used file close during a multi-week project. Its example was a logo dragged from Tote into presentations, spreadsheets, and emails. Those are Google’s suggested uses, not a measured productivity guarantee. Google’s September 7, 2021 explanation of Tote says the feature is faster than repeatedly searching for the file.
How to pin a file from Files
- Open the Files app.
- Open the folder that contains the file you want to keep handy.
- Right-click the file and select Pin.
The file then appears in Tote on the shelf. If you are using a touchscreen, use the equivalent press-and-hold action to open the file’s context menu.
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Open, use, or unpin a file
Open the file’s location
Open Tote on the shelf, right-click the pinned file, and choose Show in folder. This takes you to the file’s location in Files.
Drag or share files
You can drag a pinned file from Tote into a document. For images and screenshots, Chromebook Help also documents dragging from the shelf container into a document, or copying an image there and pasting it. Google’s blog also describes selecting multiple Tote files and sharing them.
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Remove a pin
When you no longer need quick access, right-click the pinned item on the shelf and select Unpin. This removes the pin from Tote; it is not a file-deletion command.
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For a recent download or screenshot, check Tote first. If an older download is not there, open the Downloads area in Files or search from the Files app. Downloads is the default save location, but ChromeOS lets you change the download location or choose where an individual download goes. In Files, the Recent view can be sorted by name, size, type, or date.
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Pinning is a shortcut, not backup protection. Google notes that Chromebook local storage is limited and downloads may be deleted to free space. Keep another copy of important files if you need to protect them from loss.
Google’s current instructions are in Customize your Chromebook’s shelf and Open, save, or delete files on your Chromebook. Shelf labels and placement can vary as ChromeOS changes.
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