Whether you are using Chrome the browser or Chrome OS, there is a wealth of helpful information that can be found using chrome:// commands. Much like a http:// address, the chrome:// doesn’t go out to the web but searching your PC, Mac or Chrome OS computer to find information about about Chrome itself, system information, extensions and other useful info. While Chrome settings are reasonably easy to navigate, using the chrome:// commands makes it faster and you can bookmark them for easy access later.
In Chrome or on your Chrome OS device, navigate to chrome://about and you will see a laundry list of commands that you can use. Some of these are going to be device specific meaning that some will give you information about your Chromebook or PC that is running on it. Other commands will let you quickly and easily navigate to different settings within Chrome to check or modify.
After the break I am going to outline some of the most useful of these commands but I would encourage you to use the //about page to investigate all of them for yourself. You can’t break anything by checking each of them so have at it.
For each of these below, you will need to start each one with chrome:// so assume that as you look through the list.
- //chrome: This gives you the information about your version of Chrome that is installed on your device (be it the browser or the OS). Here you can quickly check for a new version and get information about your install if you need to contact support.
- //crashes: Gives you detailed crash information if you encountered an
Chrome OS
error and you can easily file a bug report with a link from this page from each crash event.
- //devices: Gives you a list of devices associated with Chrome. Usually you will see your Cloud Print printers here so you can easily manage them.
- //downloads: Gives you a list of all of the downloads you have made so you can easily retrieve them
- //extensions: Gives you a list of all of the extensions you have installed where you can enable, disable or delete them.
- //gpu: Gives you detailed information about the GPU on your device including what hardware accelerators are enabled.
- //history: Gives you all of your browsing history and the option to clear it if you want to do so.
- //keyboardoverlay: This is hugely handy when it comes to figuring out what different key combinations on your keyboard can do for you in the browser or OS. Think of it as an interactive tool that actively shows you what you can do when you tap a key.
- //memory: Gives you detailed information about apps and services that are consuming memory on your device.
- //network: Gives you detailed information about your network connections and also lists your favorite networks which you can delete
- //plugins: Gives you a list of all of the plugins installed and allows you to disable or update them.
- //policy: Gives you information about policies that are enabled on your device. This is particularly handy if your Chromebook is part of an education or work domain.
- //system: Gives you in glorious detail all kinds of information about your system
- //terms: Gives you the terms and agreements for the platform
This is just a handful of all of the commands that are available but ones that many users will find informative or helpful. Again, give them a try yourself as with How To’s like this, what is informative or helpful often depends on each user.
As you go through the commands you may find a few that don’t work. Don’t sweat it. Some of these have been retired by Google or have been combined with other commands in the system.
For more How To’s, be sure to check out the How To Pages
