To auto-hide the shelf on a Chromebook, right-click an empty spot on the shelf and choose Autohide shelf. The shelf is the bar of apps at the bottom of the screen, like the taskbar in Windows. It slides away until you move the pointer to that edge. If your shelf keeps disappearing and you want it to stay, right-click it and choose Always show shelf.
Before you start
- Applies to: Any Chromebook.
- Time: Under a minute.
- Tip: On a touchpad, a two-finger tap works as a right-click.
How do I make the shelf hide itself?
- Right-click an empty part of the shelf. Don’t click an app icon.
- Choose Autohide shelf.
- Move the pointer away. The shelf slides off the screen.
- To see it again, move the pointer to the bottom edge, or to the side where the shelf sits.
How do I stop the shelf from disappearing?
- Move the pointer to the bottom edge so the shelf shows up.
- Right-click an empty part of the shelf.
- Choose Always show shelf.
The shelf now stays put, even when you open apps in big windows.
Why does my shelf still vanish?
If the shelf is set to always show but still goes away, check these:
- Full-screen mode is on. Full-screen hides the shelf on purpose. Press the full-screen key (the box with corners, above the number 4 or 5) to leave it.
- Tablet mode is on. When you fold a 2-in-1 Chromebook back, the shelf shrinks to save space. Swipe up a little from the bottom edge to see your apps.
- The shelf moved. It may be on the left or right side now. Look along each edge.
- A school or work policy controls it. On a managed Chromebook, your admin can lock the shelf setting, so the menu option may be greyed out.
Can I move the shelf to the side?
Yes. Right-click the shelf, choose Shelf position, then pick Left, Bottom, or Right. Auto-hide works in any position.
FAQ
Is there a keyboard shortcut to hide the shelf?
Yes. Press Shift + Search + L (Shift + Launcher + L on newer keyboards) to switch auto-hide on or off.
Does auto-hide give me more screen space?
Yes. Windows can use the full height of the screen when the shelf is hidden. That helps most on small 11-inch screens.
Will the setting stay after I restart?
Yes. ChromeOS remembers your shelf choice for your account, so it stays the same after a restart.
The bottom line
Right-click the shelf and pick Autohide shelf to hide it, or Always show shelf to keep it in place. If it still vanishes, check full-screen and tablet mode first.
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