Keyboard Test

How to Use This Test

1. Click on the test area above to make sure it has focus, then press any key on your keyboard.
2. Watch the on-screen keyboard layout highlight each key as you press it to confirm it registers correctly.
3. Test all keys individually, then try pressing multiple keys at once to check for ghosting or rollover issues.

What This Test Checks

This keyboard tester detects every key press and displays the corresponding key code, helping you verify that your keyboard is fully functional.

• Individual key registration and responsiveness
• Key code output for each key press
• Multi-key rollover and anti-ghosting capability
• Modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Meta) functionality
• Special keys like function row, navigation, and numpad

Troubleshooting

If you're having issues:

• Click directly on the test area to ensure it has keyboard focus before pressing keys.
• Disable browser extensions that may intercept key presses (e.g., keyboard shortcut tools).
• If certain keys don't register, try cleaning under the keycap or testing with a different keyboard.
• For wireless keyboards, check battery level and ensure the receiver is properly connected.

Fixing a Broken Keyboard by Operating System

If the test confirms keys are failing, the next step depends on your OS. Driver conflicts and stuck keys are often fixable before you buy a new keyboard.

Windows 10 / Windows 11

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Devices, find your keyboard, click the three dots and choose Remove. Reconnect it to force a fresh driver install.
2. If keys still fail, run Settings → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters → Keyboard.
3. Check for stuck modifiers under Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard — disable Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys if enabled accidentally.

macOS

1. Open System Settings → Keyboard and run Change Keyboard Type to force macOS to re-detect the layout.
2. For MacBooks with butterfly switches (2015–2019), sticky or double-registering keys are a known issue. Apple's keyboard service program may still cover repairs — check your serial number on the Apple support site.
3. Reset the SMC and NVRAM if modifier keys (Command, Option) misbehave.

Linux

1. Run xev in a terminal and press the faulty key. If no event appears, the key signal is not reaching the kernel — likely hardware.
2. On Wayland, use wev instead of xev.
3. Check dmesg | grep -i keyboard for driver errors after plugging in a USB keyboard.

ChromeOS

1. Open Settings → Device → Keyboard and inputs and use Diagnostics → Keyboard to run Google's built-in per-key test.
2. Perform a hardware reset: power off, then press Refresh + Power together.

Keyboard Layout Differences

If a key prints the wrong character but still registers on this test, the problem is layout mapping, not hardware. Examples:

• US QWERTY vs UK QWERTY — swap of @, ", #, and \.
• AZERTY (France, Belgium) — Q/A and W/Z swapped, plus shifted number row for digits.
• QWERTZ (Germany, Central Europe) — Y/Z swapped.
• ISO vs ANSI — ISO has an extra key next to Left Shift and a taller Enter key.

Change the active layout in Windows (Settings → Time & language → Language), macOS (System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources), or Linux (setxkbmap).

Related Input Device Checks

A misbehaving keyboard sometimes points to a broader input-layer problem. If your mouse also has delays or missed inputs, the cause is often a system-wide USB or driver issue rather than the keyboard itself. On touch-enabled laptops, verify that the touchscreen and gamepad inputs work too — anything plugged in USB can affect the others.

Frequently Asked Questions