How to Set Up Your Chromebook

 By: Unknown    01.18  No comments

Chromebooks are among the simplest computers to set up and use. Still, if you have a brand new Chromebook, you'll probably want to customize it and set it up as best as possible before you hit the road with it or use it as your main (or backup) laptop or computing machine. Here's what you need to know. ~ December 29, 2014

Chromebooks , those inexpensive Google laptops you can take anywhere, are all about the Google ecosystem. Basically, the moment you turn a Chromebook on, you just have to log in with your Google account (for example, your Gmail username and password). fire up Chrome, and then your settings carry over from your other devices to your new Chromebook. If you do most of your work and play in the Chrome browser, it even easier than setting up an Android smartphone or tablet, since there's nothing to install. 
But there are things you should keep in mind.

Before You Set Up Your Chromebook

It helps to have a few things handy before you turn your Chromebook on for the first time. Actually, two specific things: Your Google account username and password--and your two-factor authentication app device if you have it installed for Google, which you should--and a connection to the internet (e.g., your Wi-Fi information, including password). Having these available just means you don't have to go hunting for them in the middle of the setup process.

Setting Up Your Chromebook for the First Time

With those in hand, setting up your Chromebook is basically a walk in the park (or a walk through Google's Chromebook wizard). You'll turn on your Chromebook, choose your language settings, connect to your wireless network, accept Google's terms of services, and then sign in with your Google account. If you have any doubts, check these Google Support steps

Tweak Your Chromebook in Settings

Once you've done the above, you've basically done everything you need to get started with a Chromebook, but you probably will want to change a few settings to refine your new Chrome computer. Click on the account picture in the lower right corner of your desktop and then Settings to personalize your device.
From there you can change the wallpaper, select a new Chrome theme, adjust the font size and page zoom for your browser, and so on. A few of the more important settings to set up first include:

Sync Settings

This is probably the biggest benefit and most magical part of Chromebooks and Chrome OS: If you've set up Chrome just as you like already on your other computer, if you have syncing turned on for those devices, when you log into your Chromebook all those bookmarks, settings, and extensions carry forward. Still, you'll probably want to go into Settings > Advanced Sync Sewttings button to make sure you're syncing everything. 

Google Cloud Print

The easiest way to print from your Chromebook is to set up Google Cloud Print, if you haven't already, from your home network or the computer your printer is connected to. Head to settings and click the "Show advanced settings" link at the bottom, then look for the Google Cloud Print settings to see if your printer is already listed.
If it isn't already there, you'll need to sign on to your Google account from the computer connected to the printer and enable it for Google Cloud Print. 
Best to do this before you're desperate to print anything! 

Enable Offline Use

Finally, while Chromebooks excel at web-based tasks, you don't need an internet connection to keep working--as long as you set your Chrome apps to work offline. Often you have to do this before you go offline. For example, set up the Gmail Offline app or enable Google Drive's offline storage (head to http://drive.google.com and in the Settings menu make sure Offline syncing for Google Docs, Sheets, Slides & Drawings are enabled offline. They should be by default). For any of the critical apps yo9u use without an internet connection sometimes, make sure you have the offline option checked, if available.