The Delete key is in the top row of your keyboard, where it says "Backspace" or shows a back arrow

Chromebooks don't have a traditional Delete key in the spot where Windows or Mac keyboards put it. Instead, the key that deletes text to the right of your cursor is called Backspace, and it sits in the top row of keys on the right side. On most Chromebooks, it shows a left-pointing arrow instead of the word "Backspace".

If you're used to a regular computer keyboard, this is the biggest difference you'll notice. The Backspace key does what the Delete key does on other computers — it removes the character to the right of where your cursor is blinking. The key that removes text to the left of your cursor (which is also called Backspace on Chromebooks) is in the same spot.

Chromebooks simplified their keyboards by removing keys you rarely need and combining functions. This means you have fewer keys to learn, but you may need to use keyboard shortcuts to do things you used to do with dedicated keys.

Key Takeaways

  • The Backspace key with a left arrow is in the top row on the right side and deletes text to the right of your cursor, just like Delete on other keyboards.
  • You can also use Alt + Backspace to delete text to the left of your cursor, which works like a traditional Delete key in reverse.
  • If you need to delete an entire line of text, press Ctrl + Backspace to remove everything from your cursor to the beginning of the line.
  • Chromebook keyboards have fewer keys than Windows or Mac keyboards because many functions are built into keyboard shortcuts instead.

Using Backspace to delete text while typing

When you're typing in a document, email, or search box and you make a mistake, press the Backspace key (the one with the left arrow in the top row). This removes the character immediately to the left of your cursor, just like pressing Delete on a Windows computer would. You can hold it down to delete multiple characters at once.

If you want to delete text to the right of your cursor instead — something a traditional Delete key would do — hold Alt and press Backspace. This is less common in everyday typing, but it's useful when you're editing text you've already written and your cursor is in the middle of a word.

Deleting entire lines and blocks of text

If you need to remove a whole line of text at once, press Ctrl + Backspace. This deletes everything from your cursor back to the beginning of the line. It's much faster than holding down Backspace and watching characters disappear one by one.

To delete an entire paragraph or block of text, click at the beginning of what you want to remove, then hold Shift and click at the end. The text will highlight in blue. Now press Backspace to delete the whole selection at once. This works the same way on Chromebooks as it does on any other computer.

Deleting files and folders from your Chromebook

Deleting files works differently than deleting text. Open the Files app (it looks like a folder) and find the file or folder you want to remove. Right-click on it and select "Delete" from the menu that appears. The file moves to your Trash folder, where it stays for 30 days before being permanently removed.

If you want to permanently delete a file right away instead of sending it to Trash, open the Trash folder, right-click the file, and select "Delete permanently". You can also select multiple files at once by clicking the first one, holding Ctrl, and clicking the others. Then right-click any of the selected files and choose Delete.

Clearing your browser history and cache

If you want to delete your browsing history in Chrome (the web browser that comes with Chromebooks), press Ctrl + H to open your history. Find the entries you want to remove, hover over them, and click the X that appears. To delete your entire history at once, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete to open the Clear Browsing Data window.

In the Clear Browsing Data window, you can choose what time period to clear (last hour, last day, all time) and what types of data to remove (history, cookies, cached images). Select what you want to delete and click "Clear data". This is useful if you want to remove traces of websites you've visited or free up storage space on your Chromebook.

What to do if your Backspace key isn't working

If pressing Backspace doesn't delete text, first check that you're actually in a text field. Click inside the document, email, or search box you're trying to edit and make sure your cursor is blinking there. Sometimes Backspace won't work if the focus is on a button or menu instead of a text area.

If Backspace still doesn't work, restart your Chromebook. Press the power button on the side or top of your device and hold it until the power menu appears. Select "Power off" and wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. Most keyboard problems fix themselves after a restart.

If the problem continues after restarting, try using an external USB keyboard to see if the issue is with your Chromebook's built-in keyboard or with the Chromebook itself. If an external keyboard works fine, your built-in keyboard may need service. If the external keyboard has the same problem, contact your Chromebook manufacturer or the person who manages your device.

Keyboard shortcuts that replace missing keys

Chromebook keyboards leave out several keys you might be used to on Windows or Mac computers. Here are the shortcuts that replace them:

  • Delete (right-side delete): Alt + Backspace
  • Home key: Ctrl + Left Arrow
  • End key: Ctrl + Right Arrow
  • Page Up: Alt + Up Arrow
  • Page Down: Alt + Down Arrow
  • Insert: Ctrl + Shift + V (to paste without formatting)

Learning these shortcuts takes a few days, but they become automatic once you use them a few times. Many of them follow a pattern — Ctrl usually means "move to the beginning or end of something," and Alt usually means "move up or down by a larger amount." Once you see the pattern, the rest of the shortcuts are easier to remember.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't my Chromebook have a Delete key like my old computer?

Chromebooks use simplified keyboards to reduce clutter and cost. Most of the functions you need are available through keyboard shortcuts instead. The Backspace key does what Delete does on other computers, and Alt + Backspace gives you the reverse function. This design choice also makes Chromebook keyboards more reliable because there are fewer moving parts.

How do I delete something to the right of my cursor?

Press Alt + Backspace. This deletes the character to the right of your cursor, which is what a traditional Delete key would do. It's less commonly used than regular Backspace, but it's there when you need it.

Can I undo a deletion if I accidentally delete something?

Yes. Press Ctrl + Z to undo your last action, including deletions. You can press it multiple times to undo several actions in a row. If you delete a file from your Chromebook's Files app, it goes to Trash first, so you have 30 days to recover it before it's permanently gone.

What's the difference between Backspace and Alt + Backspace?

Backspace deletes the character to the left of your cursor (the one you just typed). Alt + Backspace deletes the character to the right of your cursor. Most of the time you'll use regular Backspace, but Alt + Backspace is useful when you're editing text in the middle of a sentence.

Is there a way to delete an entire word at once instead of one letter?

Yes. Press Ctrl + Backspace to delete the entire word to the left of your cursor. Press Ctrl + Alt + Backspace to delete the word to the right. These shortcuts are much faster than holding down Backspace and waiting for the word to disappear letter by letter.