5 tweaks for early Google Chrome adopters

Posted on September 8, 2008 at 5:35 am

Everyone has been talking about the new web browser from Google called Chrome and it seems that quite a few people have started using it, according to ReadWriteWeb. Personally, I have found that I really enjoy using Chrome, even more than Firefox! I’m not really 100% sure why, but it’s definitely a nice browser.

After spending a few days using the new browser, I’ve come across a few settings/configurations that are useful to adjust. Let’s get started.

1. Change Default Download Location

I download a lot of crap off the Internet and by default, Chrome puts all of my files into the Downloads folder in My Documents. If you want to change this download location in Google Chrome, click on the wrench icon at the top right and choose Options.

Click on the Minor Tweaks tab and click on Browse to change the download location. You can also check the box “Ask where to save each file before downloading“.

2. Make Google Chrome the default browser

By default, Chrome does not try to force itself to become your default browser like IE and Firefox, but allows you to do it manually. Again, click on the Options button under the wrench icon and then click the Make Google Chrome my default browser button in the Default Browser section.

3. Add Home button to Chrome toolbar

I’m so used to the Home button now that I was going crazy every time I wanted to go Home, but couldn’t find the button! Luckily, there is an option to add the button back to the toolbar.

Again, go to Options and on the Basics tab, check the box next to Show Home button on the toolbar.

4. Learn keyboard shortcuts for Google Chrome

Google Chrome is all about speed and simplicity and it’s even better if you learn some of the keyboard shortcuts also! I never really bothered to do this for Firefox, but I’ve come to really enjoy it on Chrome. Here are my favorite.

Ctrl + T – Opens a new tab

Ctrl + J – Opens the Download page

Ctrl + B – Show/Hides the Bookmarks bar

Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen the last tab closed

Alt + Home – Opens the homepage

5. Add Print button to Bookmarks toolbar

One thing that I really miss in Chrome is a Print button! I really hate having to click on the Document icon and then clicking Print! There should have been an option to add that button to the toolbar, just like the Home button.

Anyway, you can kind of emulate this functionality by doing the following:

Right-click on the bookmarks toolbar and select Add Page. In the Name box, type in Print and in the URL box, type in the following:

javascript:window.print()

Now just click on that button to print any web page from Google Chrome! Much better! There are also a couple of more great hacks from Digital Inspiration that you might be interested in reading:

Open Websites in Google Chrome from Firefox

Install Google Chrome on a USB drive

Create multiple profiles in Google Chrome

» Filed Under Google Software/Tips

Comments

6 Responses to “5 tweaks for early Google Chrome adopters”

Ragflan said on : September 9th, 2008 at 6:10 am

How can these be considered tweaks? There’s just settings and there are only 3 tabs of settings in Google Chrome. How can these be considered tweaks? Sorry, not a great article. Definitely not worthy of a site of this standard.

Hassen said on : September 13th, 2008 at 7:44 pm

salut! bon il lui manque le toolbar de google, je ne veux pas ouvrire à chaque fois google le site pour faire une recherche!! (la toolbar comme dans firefox)

jai said on : February 25th, 2009 at 11:18 am

very cool and an eye opener for newbie…

Steve said on : July 26th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

Thanks for the good info… I don’t know what Ragflan’s problem is.

Eva said on : October 24th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

I-I don’t have a minor tweaks tab….WHY?!

Open a new tab in Google Chrome or Firefox with one keystroke Says:

[...] TabsLock for Google Chrome or for Firefox here. If you enjoy using Google Chrome, check out my post 5 tweaks for Google Chrome. Source: LifeHacker Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to Online Tech Tips via RSS Feed or via Email and [...]
September 9th, 2008 at 5:27 am