How to Inspect Element on Chrome

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Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: October 18, 2024 Tested

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This wikiHow teaches you how to inspect the HTML source code of a visual element on any web page on Google Chrome, using a computer.

Steps

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1. 1
   Open Google Chrome on your computer. The Chrome icon looks like a colored ball with a blue dot at the center. You can find it in your Applications folder on a Mac, or on your Start menu on Windows.
2. 2
   Click the three vertical dots icon. This button is located next to the address bar in the upper-right corner of your browser window. It will open a drop-down menu.
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3. 3
   Hover over More Tools on the drop-down menu. A sub-menu will pop up.
4. 4
   Click Developer Tools on the More Tools sub-menu. This will open the Inspector column on the right-hand side of your browser window.

   • Alternatively, you can open the Inspector with a keyboard shortcut. This shortcut is ⌥ Option+⌘ Cmd+I on Mac, and Ctrl+Alt+I on Windows.
5. 5
   Hover over an element on the Inspector column. Moving your mouse to an element or a line in Inspector will highlight the selected element on the web page.
6. 6
   Right-click an element you want to inspect on any web page. Your right-click menu will pop up in a drop-down box.
7. 7
   Select Inspect on the drop-down menu. This will scroll the Inspector column up or down to the selected element, and highlight its source code.

   • You don't have to manually open the Inspector column to do this. Selecting Inspect on the right-click menu will automatically open the Inspector.
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• Question

  How do I inspect elements on a Chromebook?

  

  Aidan Howarth

  Community Answer

  The instructions in the article should work on Chromebooks.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 40 Helpful 21
• Question

  How do I inspect an element on Chrome with only my touchpad?

  

  Jack Atkinson

  Community Answer

  Place two fingers on your touchpad and the same options will appear; click on the Inspect option and on the right hand side there will be your Inspect Element.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 17 Helpful 14
• Question

  Can I change my details permanently after inspecting elements on Chrome?

  

  Community Answer

  No. You can only temporarily change details that are seen on your screen only. If you are to reload the page the correct words will be on the screen.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 10 Helpful 10

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