Chromebook Troubleshooting

Is it charged? Look at the charging light. If it's not lit, plug in your Chromebook and make sure the charger is plugged into the wall properly. Give it a few minutes to charge, then try turning it on again.

Is the power button really pressed? Hold the power button down for a full 5-10 seconds. Sometimes a quick tap isn't enough.

Try a "hard reset" (don't worry, it won't delete your files!):

1. Unplug your Chromebook.

2. Hold down the Refresh button (the one with the arrow circling) and the Power button at the same time.

3. Hold them down for about 10 seconds, then release.

4. Plug in your Chromebook and try turning it on again.

Is Wi-Fi turned on?

1. Look at the bottom right corner of your screen (where the time is).

2. Click on the Wi-Fi symbol (it looks like a fan).

3. Make sure Wi-Fi is "On."

4. Make sure you're connected to the correct school Wi-Fi network (ask your teacher if you're not sure which one).

Restart your Chromebook: Sometimes a quick restart fixes Wi-Fi glitches.

Are other devices working on the Wi-Fi? If no one else can get online, it might be a school network problem, not your Chromebook.

Wait a moment: Sometimes apps just need a second to catch up.

Close the app:

1. Look at the top right corner of the app window.

2. Click the "X" to close it.

3. If that doesn't work, right-click on the app's icon in the shelf (bottom of the screen) and choose "Close."

Restart the Chromebook: This is the easiest way to clear up most frozen screens.

1. Click on the time in the bottom right corner.

2. Click the power icon to restart.

Check the volume:

1. Look at the bottom right corner of your screen.

2. Click on the speaker symbol.

3. Make sure the volume slider is up and not muted (no red "X" over the speaker).

Are headphones plugged in? If you have headphones plugged in, sound will come through them, not the Chromebook's speakers. Unplug them to hear sound from the Chromebook.

Is the website or app muted? Some websites (like YouTube) or apps have their own volume controls. Check those.

Restart your Chromebook.

Clean it: Sometimes crumbs or dirt can get under keys or in the trackpad. Gently wipe it clean (with a dry cloth only!).

Restart your Chromebook: This often fixes temporary glitches with hardware.

Try an external mouse/keyboard (if available): If an external one works, it might mean there's an issue with your Chromebook's built-in parts.

Close extra tabs: Having too many tabs open can slow things down. Close any tabs you're not actively using.

Close unnecessary apps: Look at the apps on your shelf (bottom of the screen). Close any you don't need open.

Clear your Browse data (ask your teacher if you're unsure!):

1. Open Chrome browser.

2. Click the three dots in the top right corner.

3. Go to More tools > Clear Browse data.

4. Select "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files."

5. Change the time range to "All time" and click "Clear data."

6. Important: This will sign you out of websites, so you'll need to sign back in!

Restart your Chromebook.

Are you typing your username and password correctly? Double-check for typos, capitalization, and numbers.

Are you on the school network? You often need to be connected to the school's Wi-Fi to log in the first time or if your password recently changed.

Ask your teacher! If you've tried everything and still can't log in, your teacher can help reset your password or check your account.