# How to Browse the Web Without a Mouse (Chrome, Edge, Brave)

Source: https://supercommands.com/blogs/how-to-browse-the-web-without-a-mouse
Author: Akshay A
Updated: 2026-10-21

> Browse the web without a mouse in Chrome, Edge and Brave: tab shortcuts for Windows and Mac, caret browsing with F7, following links, and extensions that help.

To browse the web without a mouse in Chrome, Edge or Brave, learn about 10 built-in shortcuts for tabs, the address bar and scrolling, then add a link-hint extension such as Vimium for clicking links. It is for anyone who wants their hands to stay on the keyboard.

The shortcuts come from Google's [Chrome keyboard shortcuts](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/157179) page and Microsoft's Edge list. Brave uses the same Chromium defaults.

## Which keys move between tabs and the address bar?

| Action | Windows and Linux | Mac |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Focus the address bar | `Ctrl + L`, `Alt + D` or `F6` | `Cmd + L` |
| Find on page | `Ctrl + F` | `Cmd + F` |
| Back / forward | `Alt + Left` / `Alt + Right` | `Cmd + [` / `Cmd + ]` |
| Next / previous tab | `Ctrl + Tab` / `Ctrl + Shift + Tab` | `Cmd + Option + Right` / `Left` |
| Tab 1 to 8 / last tab | `Ctrl + 1` to `Ctrl + 8` / `Ctrl + 9` | `Cmd + 1` to `Cmd + 8` / `Cmd + 9` |
| New / close / reopen tab | `Ctrl + T` / `Ctrl + W` / `Ctrl + Shift + T` | `Cmd + T` / `Cmd + W` / `Cmd + Shift + T` |
| Search open tabs (Chrome) | `Ctrl + Shift + A` | `Cmd + Shift + A` |

- **Scenario:** with 30 tabs open, press `Ctrl + Shift + A`, type "invoice" and press Enter. Microsoft's Edge list does not include this key, so in Edge type the page name in the address bar instead.
- **Menus (Windows):** `Alt + F` opens the Chrome menu, `Ctrl + H` history, `Ctrl + J` downloads.

> **Tip:** `F6` moves focus from the page to the address bar and toolbars, which gets you out of a stubborn text box without touching anything.

## How do I click links and select text without a mouse?

Built-in keys handle forms and text; a link-hint extension handles link-heavy pages.

- **Tab through the page:** `Tab` moves to the next link, button or field, `Shift + Tab` moves back, `Enter` activates. Fine on a login form, slow on a news page with 200 links.
- **Find, then Enter:** press `Ctrl + F`, type a few letters of the link text, press `Esc`, then `Enter`. Chrome leaves the matched link focused.
- **Scroll:** `Space` and `Shift + Space` move a screen at a time; `Home` and `End` jump to the top and bottom on Windows.
- **Caret browsing:** press `F7` (`fn + F7` on some Mac laptops) and confirm. Move the cursor with arrow keys, hold `Shift` to select, `Ctrl + C` to copy, `F7` again to turn it off.

**Link hints:** [Vimium](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/vimium/dbepggeogbaibhgnhhndojpepiihcmeb) is free and open source. Press `f`, then type the letters shown on the link; `j`/`k` scroll, `T` searches tabs, `x` closes a tab. [Vimium C](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/vimium-c-all-by-keyboard/hfjbmagddngcpeloejdejnfgbamkjaeg) and [Surfingkeys](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/surfingkeys/gfbliohnnapiefjpjlpjnehglfpaknnc) do the same with more configuration. Limit: like all extensions, they cannot run on `chrome://` pages. We compare more options in [the best keyboard shortcut extensions](https://supercommands.com/blogs/best-keyboard-shortcut-extensions-chrome-edge-brave).

## How do I open the same pages every day without clicking?

Save them as a SuperCommands link collection, such as the same 6 tabs you open every morning, and open it by typing its name.

1. Open the tabs, press `Alt + S` and type `c link`.
2. Choose **Current Tabs**, tick the pages and save the collection as `standup`.
3. In **Properties**, add the text shortcut `standup` or a hotkey such as `Alt + 1`.
4. Next morning, type `c`, Space, `standup` in the address bar and press Enter: all the tabs open together.

SuperCommands is free and open source, but runs in Chrome, Edge and Brave only and does not label links, so many people run it next to Vimium. See the [address bar search docs](https://supercommands.com/docs/omnibox-search) and our [SuperCommands vs Vimium comparison](https://supercommands.com/blogs/supercommands-vs-vimium-keyboard-first-browser-commands).

## Which one should you pick?

- Pick **`Ctrl + L`** if you only learn one key.
- Pick **`Ctrl + 1` to `Ctrl + 9` and `Ctrl + Shift + A`** if most of your clicks are switching tabs.
- Pick **Vimium** if you follow many links on content-heavy pages.
- Pick **a SuperCommands link collection** if you open the same set of pages every day.

## FAQ

### Can you use Chrome without a mouse?

Yes. Built-in shortcuts cover tabs, the address bar, scrolling, history and menus, and `Tab` or Find plus `Enter` follows links. Vimium makes clicking links much faster.

### What is caret browsing in Chrome?

A mode that puts a movable text cursor on web pages so you can select text with the arrow keys. Toggle it with `F7` in Chrome, Edge and Brave.

### What is the shortcut to search tabs in Chrome?

`Ctrl + Shift + A` on Windows and Linux, `Cmd + Shift + A` on Mac. Type part of a tab's title and press Enter.

### How do I switch to the last tab in Chrome?

Press `Ctrl + 9` on Windows or `Cmd + 9` on Mac. It always selects the rightmost tab, however many are open.