Keyboard test

The tester reads the physical key codes your keyboard sends, so every key registers whatever language your operating system uses. Pick the on-screen layout that matches your keyboard: US (ANSI), UK (ISO), German (ISO, QWERTZ) or Hungarian (ISO), in full size (with number pad), TKL (tenkeyless) or compact. In Chrome and Edge, the key labels can follow the layout set on your computer automatically.

• Blue: held down right now.
• Green: has worked at least once.
• Yellow: suspected chatter (a second press right after release).

The event log lists each keystroke with its key, code and keyCode values, the location (left, right or number pad) and how long you held it in milliseconds.

Key rollover is how many keys a keyboard can register at the same time. The counter shows how many are held now and the maximum you reached. Many office keyboards handle only a few simultaneous keys in certain combinations, while gaming keyboards often advertise 6-key or full N-key rollover (NKRO).

Ghosting is when a key you didn't press appears, or a pressed key is ignored, while certain combinations are held. Instead of guessing, run the preset combos: W+A+Shift+Space (run and jump), Q+W+E+R (ability keys) and the eight home row keys. The tool shows exactly which key failed to register. If a combo fails here, it will fail in your game too.

Chatter happens when a worn or dirty switch makes contact more than once during a single press, so you get tthe instead of the. The tester flags a key in yellow when a new press arrives within the chatter threshold after release. The default is 30 ms, and you can adjust it: raise it to catch borderline switches, lower it if fast deliberate double taps get flagged.

To confirm, press the suspect key slowly about 20 times. If it turns yellow repeatedly with careful single presses, the switch is chattering. Compressed air sometimes helps; otherwise the switch needs replacing. Some keyboard software offers a debounce setting that hides minor chatter.

Hold any key down and the tool measures the repeat delay (how long before the first repeat) and the repeat rate (repeats per second). These come from your operating system, not the keyboard, so you can change them:

• Windows: Control Panel › Keyboard, sliders for Repeat delay and Repeat rate.
• Mac: System Settings › Keyboard, Key repeat rate and Delay until repeat.

A short delay and fast rate help when you move through text with the arrow keys; a long delay prevents accidental repeated letters if you type with a heavy hand.

Normally the operating system captures some keys before the browser sees them: the Windows key, Alt+Tab, Ctrl+W, and Esc in full screen. In Chrome and Edge, the full-screen system-key mode uses the browser's Keyboard Lock feature so these keys can be tested too. Press Esc and hold it to leave. Ctrl+Alt+Delete is never available to web pages.

The laptop Fn key never sends a code of its own; it changes what other keys send. Print Screen and some media keys may still be intercepted by the system.

The built-in troubleshooter under the test detects your system and suggests matching steps. Common causes:

• Keys need a long press or ignore quick taps: Filter Keys is on. Windows 11: Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard. Mac: System Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard › Slow Keys.
• Shift or Ctrl seems stuck: Sticky Keys is on (same settings pages).
• F1–F12 do the wrong thing: toggle Fn lock, often Fn+Esc.
• Windows key does nothing: many gaming keyboards have a Win lock or game mode switch.
• Z and Y are swapped, or symbols are wrong: the system layout doesn't match the keyboard. Windows 11: Settings › Time & language › Language & region. Mac: System Settings › Keyboard › Input Sources.
• Dead key: try another USB port or computer, charge or re-pair a wireless keyboard, and blow out debris with compressed air with the keyboard unplugged.

To check your typing rather than your hardware, try the typing speed test or the spacebar counter; for your mouse, use the mouse test.