Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
To inspect or debug a page in Chrome, right-click the part that looks wrong and choose Inspect. DevTools opens on the matching element in the Elements panel. Use Console for runtime messages, Sources to pause JavaScript at breakpoints, and Network to investigate requests and loading behavior. The panel to start with depends on what failed; for many problems, checking more than one panel reveals the cause.
Choose the DevTools panel that matches the symptom
| What you observe | Start here | Evidence to look for |
|---|---|---|
| A visible element has the wrong size, color, position, or text | Elements | The element’s DOM node, applied styles, and computed appearance |
| An interaction fails or the page reports an error | Console | JavaScript errors, logged messages, and useful expression results |
| You need to find what code runs before or during a failure | Sources | Execution paused at a breakpoint, with the surrounding code state available to inspect |
| A page, image, script, or other resource does not load as expected | Network | Request headers, payload, response, initiator, and timing |
| A layout breaks at a narrow viewport | Device Mode, then Elements | The page at an emulated viewport size and the styles affecting its layout |
Chrome describes DevTools as web developer tools built directly into Chrome. The panels expose different kinds of evidence, so start with the one that corresponds to the symptom and corroborate a suspected cause elsewhere when useful. See Chrome’s DevTools overview.
Open DevTools where the problem appears
- On the page, right-click the element or area you want to inspect and choose Inspect. Chrome opens DevTools, usually on the Elements panel, with the corresponding DOM node selected.
- To open the element picker without right-clicking, use Ctrl+Shift+C on Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS, or Cmd+Option+C on macOS. Then point to or select an element on the page.
- To open Console directly, use Ctrl+Shift+J on Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS, or Cmd+Option+J on macOS.
Shortcuts and interface details can vary with Chrome versions and platform settings; if a shortcut does not work, open DevTools from Chrome’s menu or use the page’s right-click menu.
Inspect an element and its styles
The Elements panel connects the rendered page to its DOM and CSS. With the picker active, hover over the problem area and select the element that corresponds to it. Follow the highlighted node in the DOM tree, then examine its Styles and computed appearance to see which rules are applying.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Use the highlight tooltip as a clue
Chrome’s Inspect mode can show details such as dimensions, foreground and background colors, font properties, padding, margin, accessibility name and role, keyboard focusability, and text contrast for headers. These details help narrow down layout and presentation problems. The tooltip is a debugging aid, not a complete accessibility audit. See Inspect mode: Quickly analyze element properties.
Test a style change before editing the site
In Styles, temporarily change or disable a rule and observe the page. This is useful for confirming whether a particular declaration is responsible for the visual symptom. These DevTools edits help diagnose the page in your current browser session; use the result to guide a change in the site’s source code or styling workflow.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Use Console to find runtime errors
Open the Console panel and look for errors or other messages that coincide with the failed behavior. You can also evaluate small JavaScript expressions there to check a value or inspect page state. For a problem that occurs only after reload, enable Preserve Log so messages remain visible across page loads. Chrome documents Console’s message and expression features in its Console overview.
A Console message is evidence, not automatically the root cause. A network or CORS message may point to a request issue; inspect the relevant request in Network and check related details in Issues where available.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Pause JavaScript execution in Sources
When a log message is not enough to explain a failure, use the Sources panel to pause execution with a breakpoint. Reproduce the interaction or load condition that reaches the breakpoint, then inspect the code around the paused line and the state at that point. This can show what the program was doing immediately before the problem without relying only on additional console.log() calls. See Chrome’s Sources panel overview.
Trace page loading in Network
- Open Network before reproducing the load problem. Request logging starts while DevTools is open, so opening it afterward may miss the activity you need.
- Reload the page or repeat the action that triggers the issue. Use the request list and filters to narrow the view to relevant resources.
- Select a request and review Headers, Payload, Preview or Response, Initiator, and Timing. These views help establish what was requested, what data was sent or returned, what initiated the request, and how it progressed.
- If the issue appears sensitive to cached resources or connection conditions, compare cache behavior or apply network throttling, then reproduce the same action again.
Network evidence helps distinguish a page-rendering problem from a resource that was delayed, failed, or returned unexpected content. Chrome’s guides cover the Network panel and network activity workflow.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Check responsive layouts with Device Mode
Use Chrome’s Device Mode to simulate a mobile viewport, then inspect the affected layout in Elements. This is a useful first check for responsive behavior, but viewport emulation does not establish how every feature behaves on every physical device. For device-specific issues, treat emulation as an initial diagnostic step rather than a substitute for testing on the relevant hardware. Chrome includes Device Mode in its DevTools overview.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Or skip the browser setup
If what you need is a screenshot of a page rather than an interactive DevTools investigation, ScreenshotNeo can capture it with one GET request. For request parameters and response details, see the ScreenshotNeo documentation.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo removes cookie banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before the capture; those cleanup steps can be turned off. Bot checks and CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides screenshot and PDF tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots a month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. This is a capture service, not a replacement for DevTools when you need to inspect DOM, CSS, JavaScript execution, or network requests. Learn about ScreenshotNeo.
Sign up free for 1,000 screenshots a month, with no card required.
Troubleshoot common inspection problems
- Inspect opens, but the wrong element is selected: activate the picker with Ctrl+Shift+C or Cmd+Option+C, then select the visible element itself. Nested elements can make the DOM selection more specific than the area you initially clicked.
- Console messages disappear after reload: enable Preserve Log before reloading so messages persist across page loads.
- The Network panel has no request you expected: open Network first, then reload or repeat the action. Logging begins while DevTools is open.
- A resource appears to load differently on repeat visits: compare cache behavior and reproduce under the condition that matches the failure; use throttling if the issue may depend on network conditions.
- You cannot tell which script caused the failure: use Sources breakpoints to pause execution around the failing line and inspect the surrounding state.
- A mobile layout looks right in emulation but fails on a phone: the emulated viewport is an initial check, not proof of identical physical-device behavior; verify on the affected hardware if possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chrome DevTools cost anything to use?
DevTools is built into Google Chrome; this workflow does not require a separate paid product.
Can DevTools tell me whether a page passes an accessibility audit?
No. Inspect mode can surface useful accessibility-related clues, but its tooltip is not a full accessibility audit.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
