If you’ve just swapped a MacBook or a Windows laptop for a sleek new ChromeOS device, you’re probably staring at the keyboard in a state of mild confusion. Where is the Delete key? Seriously. It's not there. You have a big Backspace key, but that only helps when you want to erase the letter you just typed. If you're trying to get rid of the character ahead of the cursor, or if you're trying to send a bloated file to the trash, the muscle memory in your right pinky is currently hitting air.
Honestly, it’s one of the most common complaints people have when they first start asking how do you delete on a Chromebook. Google decided to keep the keyboard minimalist to save space, but in doing so, they hid some of the most basic functions behind keyboard shortcuts that aren't exactly intuitive.
The Missing Key Mystery
On a standard PC, the Delete key is your best friend. On a Chromebook, you have to get used to the "Alt" and "Search" (or Launcher) keys doing a lot of the heavy lifting. To perform a forward delete—which is what the Delete key does on Windows—you have to hold down Alt and press Backspace.
It feels clunky at first.
Eventually, it becomes second nature, but that initial week of "where is it?" is universal. It’s also worth noting that if you have one of those fancy external keyboards plugged into your Chromebox or laptop, the physical Delete key might actually work, depending on the brand. But for the built-in keyboard? You're stuck with the Alt + Backspace combo.
Getting Files Out of Your Life
Deleting text is one thing, but managing your storage is where things get a bit more high-stakes. If you open the Files app, you’ll see all your downloads, screenshots, and Linux files. To get rid of a file, you can’t just click it and hit backspace. That does nothing. You’ve got to right-click (which is a two-finger tap on the touchpad, by the way) and select "Move to Trash."
Or, if you’re a shortcut junkie, highlight the file and hit Search + Backspace.
There is a weird quirk with ChromeOS that catches people off guard: Google Drive files. If you delete a file in the "Google Drive" section of your Files app, it goes to the Google Drive trash online. If you delete a file from "My Files" or "Downloads," it goes to the local Trash folder on your Chromebook.
Until recently, Chromebooks didn't even have a Trash folder. You’d hit delete, and the file was just... gone. Poof. Forever. Google finally added a proper Trash bin in ChromeOS 108, which was a massive relief for anyone who has ever accidentally nuked a 20-page term paper because their finger slipped. You can find the Trash icon in the sidebar of the Files app. If you don't see it, you might be running a prehistoric version of the OS, and you should probably check for an update in your settings.
The "Permanent" Delete Trick
Sometimes you don't want the file sitting in the Trash for 30 days. If you want a file gone immediately—no middleman, no recovery—you can hold Shift + Search + Backspace. A little warning box will pop up asking if you're sure.
Be sure.
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Once you click okay on that, the data is marked as free space on your SSD. Unless you're an expert in forensic data recovery, that cat photo or broken PDF is history.
Why Your Chromebook is Suddenly Full
Chromebooks usually don't come with massive hard drives. While some premium models like the HP Dragonfly Pro or the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 have decent storage, many budget models still ship with 64GB or 128GB. That fills up fast.
If you find yourself constantly asking how do you delete on a Chromebook just to stay ahead of the "low disk space" warning, you need to look at your Linux container and your Android apps.
Android apps are notorious for hoarding "cache" data. To clear this out, go to Settings > Apps > Manage your apps. Pick an app—like Netflix or Spotify—and look at the storage usage. You’ll see a button for "Clear Cache." Do it. It’s basically digital cobwebs. If you’ve downloaded half of "Stranger Things" for offline viewing and forgot about it, this is where that space went.
Deleting the Entire System (Powerwash)
Sometimes, you just want to start over. Maybe you're selling the device, or maybe it’s just acting buggy after three years of heavy use. In the ChromeOS world, this is called a Powerwash.
It is the nuclear option.
It wipes every single user account, every file in the Downloads folder, and every saved Wi-Fi password. To do this, go to Settings > Advanced > Reset settings. You'll see the Powerwash option there. It takes about five minutes, and when it’s done, the laptop will act like it just came out of the box.
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Just remember: Powerwashing does not delete things from your Google Drive. Since your Drive is in the cloud, all those files will magically reappear once you sign back into your Google account. This is the beauty of the ecosystem. Your local storage is temporary; the cloud is (mostly) forever.
Clearing Your Browsing History
Since a Chromebook is basically a glorified Chrome browser (I say that with love), a lot of the "deleting" you’ll do happens inside the browser. To clear your history, cookies, or that embarrassing search from 2:00 AM, hit Ctrl + Shift + Backspace. This is a global Chrome shortcut.
It opens up the "Clear browsing data" menu instantly.
From here, you can choose to delete things from the "Last hour," "Last 24 hours," or "All time." If your Chromebook feels sluggish, clearing the cookies and cache often fixes the problem. It forces the browser to stop relying on old, potentially corrupted data and fetch fresh versions of the sites you visit.
Managing PWA and Android Apps
Deleting an app isn't as straightforward as it is on a phone. On a Chromebook, you might have three different types of "apps":
- Web Shortcuts: These are just links to websites.
- PWAs (Progressive Web Apps): These behave like apps but run through the browser.
- Android Apps: These come from the Google Play Store.
To delete any of these, open your Launcher (the circle icon in the bottom left or the dedicated key on the keyboard). Find the icon for the app you hate. Right-click it (two-finger tap). Select Uninstall.
If it’s a Chrome extension that’s bothering you—those little icons next to your address bar—right-click the icon and choose "Remove from Chrome." Extensions are the primary cause of Chromebooks running hot or battery life tanking, so if you haven't used that "Grammar Checker" or "Coupon Finder" in six months, delete it.
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The Tricky Parts of Deleting
There are a few things you can't easily delete. For instance, you can't delete the "Camera" app or the "Settings" app. These are "baked in" to the system.
Also, if you're using a Chromebook issued by a school or a workplace, you might find that the "Delete" or "Uninstall" options are greyed out. This is because the administrator has locked the device down using Chrome Enterprise Management. In that case, no amount of keyboard shortcuts will help you; you’re at the mercy of the IT department.
Summary of Essential Shortcuts
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just memorize these three:
- Alt + Backspace: Forward delete (text).
- Search + Backspace: Delete a file in the Files app.
- Shift + Search + Backspace: Permanently delete a file (skip the Trash).
Actionable Next Steps
To get your Chromebook storage under control right now, start by opening your Files app and clicking on the Trash folder in the left-hand sidebar. If it's full, click "Empty trash now" at the top. This is the quickest way to reclaim space you thought you'd already freed up.
Next, head to your Settings and search for "Storage Management." This tool gives you a breakdown of exactly what is eating your space, whether it's "System" files, "Android apps," or "Other users." If you see a large amount of space taken up by "Other users," and those people don't use the laptop anymore, you can remove their accounts from the main sign-in screen. This will instantly wipe their local data and give that space back to you.
Finally, check your Downloads folder. By default, ChromeOS saves everything there. It was never meant for long-term storage. Move the files you actually want to keep into Google Drive or an external SD card, then delete the local copies. Your Chromebook will run smoother, and you'll stop getting those annoying "disk full" notifications every time you try to save a screenshot.