FreeWrench
Keyboard Tester
Is that key dead, or is it the software? Press it here. Each key lights up the moment your computer receives it.
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How to use it
- Press each key on your keyboard.
- A key turns orange while held and stays green after.
- Keys that never light up are not reaching the computer.
Good to know
Some keys are handled by the system before a web page sees them, including Fn, Print Screen and certain Windows shortcuts. Those may not register here even if they work.
The layout shown is a standard US one, but the test recognises physical keys and works on other layouts too.
Reading the results
| What you see | What it probably means |
|---|---|
| Key never lights up | Failed switch, dirt or a damaged connection |
| Key stays orange after release | Stuck key, or a key-up the system swallowed |
| Key lights only with a hard press | Dirt under the key or a worn contact |
| Wrong key lights up | A remap in software, or a fault in the keyboard matrix |
| One press types twice in documents | Switch chatter, common on worn mechanical switches |
Is it the keyboard or the computer?
- Try another USB port, and avoid unpowered hubs.
- On a wireless keyboard, replace or charge the battery and pair it again.
- Connect the keyboard to a second computer. If the same key fails, the keyboard is at fault.
- If a key fails only in one program, check that program's settings instead.
- Look for key remapping utilities that might be running.
Testing for ghosting
Hold down several keys at once and watch which ones turn orange. Many office keyboards drop keys in certain three-key groups, a limit known as key rollover. Gaming and most mechanical keyboards handle more. Try the combinations you actually use, such as W, A and Space.
Keys that need care during the test
Most keys are captured by this page, but combinations with Ctrl are left alone, so Ctrl+W will close the tab. Alt+F4 and the Windows key are handled by your system. The numeric keypad and some extra keys are not drawn on the layout, although they still appear under Last key code and add to Keys tested.
Questions
What does a key that stays lit mean?
It is probably physically stuck or dirty.
Why do some key combinations fail?
Many keyboards cannot register certain groups of three or more keys at once. This is known as ghosting.