5 Ways to Lock Your Chromebook Screen

By Mehvish Updated July 8, 2024 Reviewed & Updated by Atish Rajasekharan

Quick Tips

Press either Search + L or Launcher + L.
Click the clock in the corner, then select Lock.
Hold the Power button and choose Lock.

Method 1: Using the Lock Button on the Keyboard

On most Chromebook keyboards, you will find a lock button that lets you lock your Chromebook quickly without closing its lid. All you need to do is press and hold the button.

You will be taken to the lock screen where you need to enter your password or PIN to get back, or you can click on the Sign out button to log out from your account.

Method 2: Using the Keyboard Shortcut

If your Chromebook doesn’t have the Lock button, you can lock the Chromebook by pressing Search + L keyboard shortcut to lock your Chromebook.

On some newer Chromebooks, you might have to press the Launcher + L button.

Note: In case this method doesn’t work, ensure the Search function is assigned to the Search key in keyboard settings. Basically, you might have remapped the Search key to some other function. Go to Chromebook Settings > Device > Keyboard. Check the function assigned to the Search key.

Method 3: From the Quick Settings Panel

Step 1: Click on the time at the bottom-right corner to open the Quick Settings panel.

Step 2: Click on the Lock icon next to the Power icon to lock your account on your Chromebook.

Tip: From the Quick Settings panel, you can also enable the dark mode on your Chromebook.

Method 4: Using the Power Button

Step 1: Press and hold the Power button on your Chromebook.

A pop-up window will show up on your screen.

Step 2: Select the Lock option to lock your ChromeOS device.

Method 5: Lock the Chromebook When Lid is Closed or Sleeping

Generally, your Chromebook will not lock or sign you out of your Chromebook if you close its lid or if the Chromebook goes into sleep mode. To change this behavior, follow the below steps.

Step 1: Click on time at the bottom-right corner of your Chromebook.

Step 2: Click on the Settings icon to open Chromebook Settings.

Step 3: Go to Security and Privacy followed by Lock screen and sign-in.

Step 4: Enter your Google account’s password when asked and hit the Confirm button.

Step 5: Enable the toggle next to Lock when sleeping or lid is closed.

Now, whenever you want to lock your Chromebook, just close its lid. That said, if you have any queries, check out the FAQ section below.

FAQs About Locking a Chromebook

1. How do I lock my Chromebook with Ctrl?

You cannot lock your Chromebook using the Ctrl key. However, you can use the Shift + Ctrl + q (twice) shortcut to sign out of your account on Chromebook.

2. How to sign in using a password instead of a PIN?

If you have forgotten your Chromebook’s PIN, you can log in using your Google account’s password too. On the sign-in screen, click on the Switch to password right below the number pad.

3. How to unlock a Chromebook if you forgot the password?

Since your Chromebook’s password is your Google account’s password, you can easily retrieve your Google password from the Google account recovery page by resetting your password. Enter your email ID and then click on Forgot my password or I don’t know my password. Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password. After resetting the password, use the new password to unlock your Chromebook.

4. How to remove the password when I turn Chromebook on?

You cannot remove the password or the lock screen completely from your Chromebook. You can only remove it when the lid is closed or after your Chromebook wakes up from sleep mode.