Keyboard test

What the keyboard test is for

A key that only works when you press it hard, a key that types twice, or a used keyboard you want to check before buying it: in all of these cases it helps to see every key press clearly. This test shows a keyboard on screen. Each key lights up while you hold it and stays marked afterwards, so you can work your way across the keyboard and see at a glance which keys never responded.

Below the keyboard, the test displays the values the browser receives for the last key: key, code, keyCode and location. That is useful for developers and for anyone who wants to know why a shortcut does not work, for example because the left and right Shift keys are reported differently.

You can switch between a German and an English (US) layout so the labels match the keyboard in front of you. The test detects the physical position of each key, so it works even if the printed labels differ.

Step by step

1. Choose the layout that matches your keyboard: German or English (US).
2. Click into the keyboard area. A frame shows that the test is listening.
3. Press every key once, row by row. Keys you have tested stay dark.
4. Look for keys that remain light. Press them again, firmly and gently, to see whether they respond.
5. Watch the readout below the keyboard to check what each key reports.
6. Press Esc to leave the test area, and use Clear to start over.

Common problems and fixes

Some keys do nothing on screen

Certain keys and combinations are captured by the operating system before a web page sees them, for example the Windows key, Cmd+Tab, Alt+Tab or media keys. The Fn key on laptops usually never reaches the browser at all. That does not mean the key is broken. Test those keys in a text editor or in the system settings instead.

A different key lights up

The test uses the physical position of the key. If your system layout differs from the one selected here, the labels will not match. Switch the layout above the keyboard.

A key registers twice

If a single press shows up as repeated input, the switch may be worn or dirty. Turn the keyboard upside down and gently shake it, or use compressed air between the keys. On mechanical keyboards, a faulty switch can often be replaced individually.

Nothing happens at all

Make sure the keyboard area has focus by clicking into it. Check the cable or the batteries of a wireless keyboard, and try another USB port. With Bluetooth keyboards, remove and re-pair the device in your system settings.

Firefox or Safari reacts to some keys

Browsers reserve a few shortcuts such as Ctrl+W or Cmd+Q, which close the tab or the browser. Avoid these while testing. The test prevents most other default actions, such as Tab moving the focus.

Tips

• Test the keys you use most first: space bar, Enter, Backspace and the letters of your password.
• When checking a used keyboard, also try each key with Shift held, since worn contacts sometimes fail only in combination.
• For gaming keyboards, press several keys at once to see how many are registered together.
• Clean the keyboard before you decide that a key is defective. Crumbs are a very common cause.

Frequently asked questions