If you work in website development, there’s a good chance you’ve opened Chrome DevTools more times than you can count. Whether you’re debugging layout issues, checking performance, testing responsive behaviour, or inspecting front-end code, Google Chrome Developer Tools are one of the most powerful (and most underrated) tools available to web developers.
But while most people know the basics – right click, inspect, tweak some CSS – DevTools has far more to offer. When used properly, it can speed up development, improve quality, and help you diagnose problems faster.
In this blog, we share six must-know tips to help you get more from Chrome DevTools and make the most of these Chrome web development tools in your day-to-day workflow.
What is Chrome DevTools?
Chrome DevTools, also known as Google Chrome Developer Tools, is a built-in set of web development tools that helps you inspect, test, and troubleshoot websites directly in the browser. It gives you real-time visibility into how a page is built and how it behaves – from HTML structure and CSS styling, to JavaScript performance, loading speed, and responsive layouts.
At a basic level, Chrome DevTools lets you right-click and inspect elements on a page to see what’s happening behind the scenes. But it goes far beyond that. It’s an essential tool for modern web development that can allow you to:
- Diagnose layout and styling issues quickly (without guessing what’s causing the problem)
- Test responsive behaviour across screen sizes and devices
- Debug scripts and front-end functionality more efficiently
- Audit performance and page speed bottlenecks
- Check accessibility and SEO best practices using built-in tools like Lighthouse
- Preview changes live before committing anything in your codebase
Whether you’re a developer, designer, QA tester, or digital marketer, Chrome DevTools makes it faster and easier to understand how a site is working and what needs improving.
6 must-know ChromeDevTools tips and tricks
Now that you know what ChromeDevTools can do, here are six essential tips and tricks to help you work faster and more efficiently.
1. Test responsive layouts instantly with Device Mode
One of the most useful features inside ChromeDevTools is Device Mode, which is a quick way to see how a website behaves on different screens. Instead of resizing your browser window manually (and guessing breakpoints), Device Mode lets you simulate popular devices and test responsiveness properly.
Here’s how to use it:
- Open Chrome DevTools
- Click the Toggle Device Toolbar icon (or press Ctrl + Shift + M)
- Choose a device preset (iPhone, Pixel, iPad etc.) or set a custom size
Responsive issues are some of the most common problems in web development. But using Device Mode helps you spot any broken layouts, overlapping elements, awkward spacing, missing mobile navigation, or inconsistent typography.
If you’re using Chrome DevTools regularly, this feature alone can save hours of time over the course of a project.
2. Use the Colour Picker to speed up design tweaks
When you’re adjusting styles, colours are one of the first things you’ll edit and Chrome DevTools can make this task incredibly fast.
Inside the Styles panel, you can click any colour value (like #000000 or rgba…) to open a visual colour picker and quickly test new colours without touching your codebase.
This is extremely helpful because:
- You can preview changes live on the page
- You can fine-tune shades quickly
- You can switch between formats (HEX, RGB, HSL)
- You can test transparency and contrast
This is especially useful when you’re aligning UI elements with a brand palette or ironing out inconsistencies across components.
It might seem small, but tools like this are exactly why Google Chrome Developer Tools are so valuable because they turn what would be a slow trial-and-error work into quick, confident editing.
3. Force hover, focus, and active states (without fighting your mouse)
Interactive states like hover and focus are essential for good user experience (UX), but they’re also notoriously awkward to test manually. Hover menus disappear the moment your cursor moves, focus states vanish when you click away, and active states are difficult to inspect at all. Chrome DevTools solves this with forced element states.
Here’s how you can do it:
- Inspect an element
- In the Styles panel, click ‘:hov’
- Choose the state you want to force, such as :hover, :focus, :active, or :visited
With forced element states, you can test hover effects on buttons and links, dropdown navigation behaviour, focus styles for accessibility, and active click states for UI consistency.
If you’re building modern interfaces, this is one of the most practical Chrome DevTools features you can use.
4. Find and switch between files quickly in the Sources panel
The Sources tab is where DevTools becomes more than an inspector, it becomes a debugging tool. If you’re working on a modern site with scripts, bundles, and stylesheets, finding the right file can be time-consuming.
Here’s a simple but powerful tip to using quick file search:
Shortcut:
Press Ctrl + P (on Windows) or Cmd + P (on Mac) to open a search bar that lets you quickly find files by name.
This is particularly useful when you’re navigating large projects, working with frameworks, or debugging complex issues where multiple scripts are involved.
Bonus tip:
You can also search within files using:
- Ctrl + F/Cmd + F for a quick find
- Ctrl + Shift + F/Cmd + Shift + F to search across all loaded source files
When you’re working under pressure, small DevTools shortcuts like this make a huge difference.
5. Simulate slow internet with Network Throttling
Performance matters, and if you only ever test websites on fast Wi-Fi and powerful machines, you’ll miss a huge chunk of real-world user experience.
Chrome DevTools includes Network Throttling, which allows you to simulate slower connections like 3G or 4G. This helps you understand how your site performs under realistic conditions.
Here’s how to use it:
- Open DevTools
- Go to the Network tab
- Find the Throttling dropdown (often set to “No throttling”)
- Select a speed profile (e.g. Slow 3G, Fast 3G)
Through Network Throttling, you’ll learn which assets are slowing load time, whether images are too heavy, how long it takes for core content to appear, or if scripts or third-party tools are delaying performance.
If you care about UX, accessibility, and SEO, this is one of the most impactful Chrome web development tools you can use.
6. Run Lighthouse audits to improve performance, SEO, and accessibility
Chrome DevTools also includes Lighthouse, a built-in auditing tool that helps you assess and improve your website. Through Lighthouse, you can review pages for performance, accessibility, SEO, and best practices.
You’ll receive clear feedback and actionable recommendations – from compressing images and reducing unused JavaScript, to improving meta tags and accessibility labels.
It’s worth remembering that Lighthouse is not “the final answer”, but it’s a great starting point. If you want quick insights into improvements that could boost user experience and search visibility, this is one of the most useful features in Google Chrome Developer Tools.
Do you need professional web development services?
Mastering Chrome DevTools can transform how you build, test, and optimise websites, and give you the tools to streamline your workflow, solve problems faster, and deliver high-performing sites.
At Fifteen, we’ve helped numerous brands improve their websites, troubleshoot faster, and enhance performance through our expert use of Chrome DevTools and strategic web development practices.
With years of experience and a portfolio of successful projects, we know exactly how to apply these tools to drive measurable results. Get in touch with our team today, and let’s use our expertise to transform your website into a high-performing, results-driven powerhouse.
