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How to Set a Keyboard Shortcut for a Chrome Extension

Tap a step to see it in order.

  1. Go to "chrome://extensions/shortcuts"

    Type this address into Chrome's address bar and press Enter to open the extension shortcuts page.

  2. Find the extension you want to set a shortcut for

    Scroll through the list to find the extension you want.

  3. Click the input box and press the key combination

    Click the empty field, then physically press the combination you want to use, such as Ctrl+Shift+Y.

  4. Choose the scope: global or Chrome-only

    Pick either "In Chrome" (works only while Chrome is focused) or "Global" (works even when other apps are focused).

  5. Why it is worth doing

    Instead of hunting for an icon and clicking it every time, triggering a frequently used extension with a single keyboard shortcut speeds up your workflow noticeably.

One keystroke beats hunting for an icon

If there is an extension you reach for constantly -- a clipboard manager, a translator, a screenshot tool -- clicking its toolbar icon every single time adds up. A dedicated keyboard shortcut turns that into a single reflexive keystroke, which matters more than it sounds like over a full day of work.

Global scope can collide with other software

Setting a shortcut to "Global" means it fires even when Chrome is not the focused window, which is convenient but risks colliding with a shortcut some other application already uses. Scoping it to "In Chrome" instead avoids that conflict entirely, at the cost of only working while Chrome is active.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the shortcut I want is already used by another program?

A "Global" shortcut can conflict with another program's shortcut, so it is safer to pick a combination that is rarely used elsewhere, or scope it to "In Chrome" only.

How do I remove a shortcut I already set?

Click the input field, then press Backspace or Delete to clear the assigned shortcut.