How to Customize the Chromebook Shelf (Taskbar): The Complete Guide

To move the Chromebook taskbar, right-click an empty part of the Shelf, point to Shelf position, and choose Left, Bottom, or Right. ChromeOS calls its taskbar the Shelf. To hide it until you need it, right-click the Shelf and choose Autohide shelf instead.

Before you start

• Applies to: All Chromebooks. Not version-specific.
• You need: Nothing extra. No flags, no apps.
• School or work Chromebook? Your admin may lock some Shelf settings.

What is the Chromebook Shelf?

The Shelf is the bar along the edge of your screen, like the taskbar on Windows or the Dock on a Mac. It holds:

• The Launcher button (the circle) for finding and opening apps
• Pinned apps that stay put whether they’re open or not
• Open apps and browser windows
• The system tray on the far end, with the time, battery, Wi-Fi, and notifications

How do I move the Chromebook taskbar to the left or right?

1. Right-click an empty part of the Shelf, not an app icon.
2. Point to Shelf position.
3. Choose Left, Bottom, or Right.

The change happens right away. A side Shelf can feel better on a wide external monitor, because it leaves more height for web pages.

How do I right-click without a mouse?

On the touchpad, tap with two fingers at once. On a touchscreen, press and hold the Shelf until the menu appears.

How do I hide the taskbar on a Chromebook?

1. Right-click an empty part of the Shelf.
2. Choose Autohide shelf.

Now the Shelf slides away until you move the pointer to that edge of the screen. To keep it on screen again, right-click it and choose Always show shelf.

How do I pin apps to the Shelf?

1. Open the Launcher and find the app.
2. Right-click the app.
3. Choose Pin to shelf.

If the app is already open, right-click its icon on the Shelf and choose Pin.

To pin a website:

1. Open the site in Chrome.
2. Click the three-dot menu.
3. Choose Cast, save, and share, then Create shortcut.
4. Tick Open as window if you want it in its own window, then click Create.
5. Find the new shortcut in the Launcher, right-click it, and pin it.

How do I unpin or rearrange apps?

• Unpin: right-click the icon and choose Unpin. The app stays installed, so you’ll still find it in the Launcher.
• Rearrange: click and hold an icon, then drag it to a new spot.
• Make a folder: drag one pinned icon on top of another. ChromeOS makes a folder for them.

The Launcher button and the system tray always stay at the ends, so you can’t move those two.

Can I make the Shelf icons bigger?

Not on their own. The Shelf has a fixed size. However, you can make everything on screen bigger, Shelf included:

1. Open Settings, then Device, then Displays.
2. Move the Display size slider to the right.

Why does the Shelf look different in tablet mode?

When you fold a 2-in-1 Chromebook into a tablet, ChromeOS can hide the Shelf and switch to gestures. Swipe up from the bottom edge to bring it back. It returns to normal when you fold the keyboard back.

What if the Shelf won’t do what I want?

Right-clicking only shows “Set wallpaper”

You clicked the desktop, not the Shelf. Right-click the dark Shelf bar itself. If it’s hidden, move the pointer to the edge first so it shows up.

Shelf position is missing or greyed out

A school or work admin probably manages your Chromebook and has locked it. Ask your IT team.

The Shelf moved back on its own

If you use the same Google Account on more than one Chromebook, the Shelf position can sync between them. So a change on one device may undo your change on another.

An app keeps coming back after I unpin it

Your admin has pinned it by policy, so it can’t be removed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I move the Shelf to the top of the screen?

No. ChromeOS only offers left, bottom, and right.

Does hiding the Shelf give me more screen space?

Yes. With Autohide on, windows can use the full height of the screen, which helps most on small Chromebooks.

Will unpinning an app delete it?

No. It only takes the icon off the Shelf. The app stays in your Launcher.

The short version

Right-click the Shelf and use Shelf position to move it, or Autohide shelf to hide it. Pin, unpin, and drag icons to set it up the way you like.

Related guides

• How to Auto-Hide the Shelf on a Chromebook (and Bring It Back)
• Separate Shelf Auto-hide Settings for Tablet and Laptop Modes
• How to Pin a Chrome Profile to Your Taskbar

Last verified: November 9, 2026