The Delete key is in the top row, where it says "Backspace" on most Chromebooks
Chromebooks label the key differently than Windows or Mac computers do. Instead of "Delete", the key in the top-right area of the keyboard says Backspace. It does the same job — it removes the character to the left of your cursor. If you're used to a Windows or Mac keyboard, this is the first place to look.
The Backspace key sits at the far right of the number row, right after the 0 and the minus sign. On most Chromebook models, it's a wide key with a left-pointing arrow printed on it. Press it once and it deletes one character behind your cursor. Hold it down and it will keep deleting backwards until you let go.
If you're looking for a key that deletes forward (the character to the right of your cursor), Chromebooks handle that differently than other computers. You'll need to use a keyboard shortcut instead, which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- The Backspace key in the top-right corner of your keyboard deletes characters to the left of your cursor, just like the Delete key on Windows or Mac.
- To delete characters to the right of your cursor, hold Alt and press Backspace on most Chromebooks.
- If you're typing in a text field and want to clear everything, you can select all text with Ctrl+A, then press Backspace to remove it.
- Some Chromebook models may have slightly different key layouts, so check your specific model's keyboard if the Backspace key is not where you expect it.
How to delete text you just typed
The most common delete task is removing text you just wrote. Position your cursor at the end of the text or right after the character you want to remove, then press Backspace. Each press removes one character. This works in email, documents, search boxes, and anywhere else you type on your Chromebook.
If you need to delete a whole word at once instead of one letter at a time, hold Ctrl and press Backspace. This removes the word to the left of your cursor in one action. It's faster than tapping Backspace multiple times if you've typed something longer.
Deleting characters in front of your cursor
On Windows and Mac computers, the Delete key removes the character to the right of your cursor (the one you haven't typed yet). Chromebooks don't have a dedicated key for this, but you can do the same thing with a keyboard shortcut.
Hold Alt and press Backspace to delete the character in front of your cursor. This is less common than deleting backwards, but it's useful if you've moved your cursor back into the middle of a sentence and want to remove something ahead of it without retyping.
Clearing an entire text field or document
If you want to delete everything in a text box or document at once, use Ctrl+A to select all the text, then press Backspace. Ctrl+A highlights every character on the page or in the field you're working in. Once everything is selected (it will appear highlighted), pressing Backspace removes it all at once.
This is faster than holding Backspace for several seconds, and it's the standard way to clear a field across all computers. Be careful with this on important documents — once you delete, you'll need to use Ctrl+Z to undo if you change your mind.
Undoing a delete if you made a mistake
If you delete something and realize you didn't mean to, press Ctrl+Z when ready. This is the undo command on Chromebooks, and it works in almost every program and website. Ctrl+Z will restore whatever you just deleted, character by character if you press it multiple times.
You can undo multiple actions in a row. If you deleted three separate things and want to bring them all back, press Ctrl+Z three times. Each press undoes the action before it, going backwards through your recent changes.
Deleting files and folders from your Chromebook
The Backspace key deletes text, but to delete files and folders, you use a different method. Right-click on the file or folder you want to remove, and a menu will appear. Click "Delete" or "Move to trash" from that menu. The file moves to your Trash folder, where it stays for 30 days before being permanently removed.
If you want to permanently delete a file without waiting 30 days, open your Trash folder, right-click the file, and choose "Delete permanently". You can also select a file and press the Delete key (Backspace) on your keyboard — on some Chromebooks this will delete the file directly, though the behavior varies by model and what app you're using.
Keyboard shortcuts that work with delete
Once you know Backspace, these related shortcuts make editing faster. Ctrl+Backspace deletes an entire word to the left. Shift+Backspace does the same thing as Backspace on most Chromebooks (it's a backup method). Alt+Backspace deletes forward, as mentioned above. Ctrl+Z undoes your last action, including deletes.
These shortcuts work the same way across Google Docs, Gmail, search boxes, and most websites. They're worth memorizing because they work on any Chromebook, regardless of the specific model or brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Chromebook keyboard say Backspace instead of Delete?
Chromebooks use a simplified keyboard layout. The Backspace key does what the Delete key does on Windows and Mac — it removes characters to the left of your cursor. Chromebook designers chose to label it Backspace because that's its primary function, and they removed the separate forward-delete key to make the keyboard more compact.
How do I delete a file from my Chromebook without using the trash?
Right-click the file, select "Delete" or "Move to trash", then open your Trash folder. Right-click the file again and choose "Delete permanently". This removes it without waiting 30 days. Be certain you want to delete it — permanently deleted files cannot be recovered.
What if the Backspace key doesn't work on my Chromebook?
Try pressing Ctrl+Z to undo your last action instead. If Backspace isn't working at all, restart your Chromebook by holding the power button for a few seconds. If the problem continues, check that you're not in a mode that blocks keyboard input, like presentation mode or a locked app.
Can I use Backspace to delete files like I do on Windows?
On some Chromebooks, selecting a file and pressing Backspace will delete it, but this behavior is not consistent across all models and apps. The safest method is to right-click the file and choose Delete from the menu. This works the same way on every Chromebook.
How do I delete multiple files at once?
Click the first file, then hold Ctrl and click each additional file you want to delete. Once all files are selected (they'll appear highlighted), right-click one of them and choose Delete. All selected files move to trash together.