How to test a keyboard online
Press each key once. The on-screen keyboard highlights the key while it's held and turns it green when it's released, so you can see at a glance which keys work. Type the sentence above to cover every letter and number, then press Tab, Enter, Backspace, Shift, the arrow keys and the function row. The test works for built-in laptop keyboards and external USB or Bluetooth keyboards, and it runs entirely in your browser.
What the colors mean
- Green: the key works.
- Blue: the key is being held down right now. A key that stays blue after you let go is stuck.
- Red: the key registered twice from one press (key chatter). This usually means a worn or dirty switch.
- Gray: not pressed yet. If a key stays gray when you press it, the key isn't working.
Keys that don't light up
Some keys never reach the browser, even on a working keyboard. Fn is handled inside the keyboard itself, and brightness, volume, media and keyboard backlight keys are often handled by Windows or macOS. The Windows key and Esc may also be taken by the system: click Full screen in Chrome or Edge and the test can capture them. Check the other special keys by watching the screen brightness or volume change.
How to test key rollover and ghosting
Hold down several keys at once, such as W, A, S and D plus Shift and Space. Most at once shows how many keys registered together. Most laptop keyboards handle 2 to 6 keys at a time, while gaming keyboards with N-key rollover register every key. If a key you're holding doesn't light up, the keyboard has hit its rollover limit, which is normal for office keyboards.
How to fix keys that don't work
- Restart the computer and test again, so you know it isn't a software glitch.
- Turn the laptop upside down and gently tap it, then blow compressed air under the keys at an angle to clear crumbs and dust.
- Windows: turn off Filter Keys and Sticky Keys in Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard. Mac: turn off Slow Keys in System Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard.
- Check the keyboard language and layout. A wrong layout (for example UK instead of US) swaps symbol keys.
- Keys that type twice or not at all after liquid spills usually need a new keyboard. On many laptops the keyboard is part of the top case, so compare repair prices before buying a used laptop with keyboard faults.
Keys still not working?
A compact wireless keyboard works right away while you wait for a repair, or search for a replacement keyboard with your laptop model.
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Testing the rest of the laptop? Run the full laptop diagnostic, which includes this keyboard test.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if all my keyboard keys are working?
Open this page and press every key. Keys turn green when they work, stay gray if they do not respond, and turn red if one press types twice. Type the sample sentence to cover every letter and number quickly.
Why do some keys not light up in the keyboard test?
The Fn key, and often the brightness, volume and media keys, are handled by the keyboard or operating system and never reach the browser. The Windows key and Esc can also be taken by the system. Click Full screen in Chrome or Edge to capture them.
Why does my laptop keyboard type letters twice?
Key chatter usually comes from dust under the key or a worn switch. Clean under the key with compressed air, and on Windows turn off Filter Keys. If the key keeps typing twice in this test, the keyboard needs repair or replacement.
What is key rollover or ghosting?
Rollover is how many keys a keyboard can register at the same time. Hold several keys together and check Most at once. Office and laptop keyboards usually handle 2 to 6 keys, while gaming keyboards with N-key rollover handle all of them. Ghosting is when a key you pressed is missed or a key you did not press appears.
Does the keyboard test work with Mac keyboards?
Yes. The page picks a Mac or Windows layout automatically, and you can switch between them. It works with built-in laptop keyboards and USB or Bluetooth keyboards.