Keyboard Test guide
How to Test Keyboard Keys, Modifiers and Repeat Events
Test laptop and external keyboard keys, understand physical key highlighting and troubleshoot missing Fn, numpad or shortcut events.
Open Keyboard Test →Before you start
- Use a physical keyboard. A phone’s virtual keyboard may not provide physical key codes; connect an external keyboard for a meaningful check.
- The visual diagram uses US-style positions. Your printed labels and produced characters can differ if you use another keyboard layout.
Step-by-step instructions
- Open the Keyboard Tester and click Start testing to focus the dedicated area.
- Press and release letters, digits and punctuation one at a time. Confirm the positions are marked as tested.
- Check both sides of Shift, Control, Alt and Meta where present. Try holding one modifier while pressing another key.
- Test arrows, navigation keys and the numpad. Check NumLock if a numpad key produces an unexpected character.
- Hold an ordinary letter briefly to see auto-repeat counts. Release it, then use Reset to clear the test before checking again. Press Tab to leave the area.
Physical position versus typed character
The physical code identifies a position, such as KeyQ. The key value describes the character or action produced by the current layout and modifiers. On a different layout, these can disagree without indicating a fault. Use both pieces of information rather than comparing the diagram to printed labels alone.
Only the focused test area monitors keyboard events. Header search and other editable controls are outside the test. Typed text is not assembled into a saved sentence or typing history.
Repeat counts and unobserved keys
An initial press and subsequent auto-repeat events have separate counts. Auto-repeat while holding a key is normal operating-system behavior; this is not a debounce or keyboard chatter diagnosis.
Fn, media keys and system-reserved shortcuts may never reach the browser. Browser and operating-system shortcuts remain available. An untested key therefore means it has not been observed, not that the keyboard has failed. This tool does not measure typing speed or certify rollover limits.
Troubleshooting
Nothing lights up
Click Start testing again and keep the dedicated area focused. Clicking another control or switching windows takes focus away.
Fn or a shortcut does not register
The keyboard firmware or operating system may handle it. Check its intended action outside this page rather than treating the missing event as a failed key.
A key stays held after switching windows
Focus loss clears held states. Return to the area and repeat the press and release; Reset also clears progress.
Privacy and cleanup
Only current event details, tested positions and a bounded list of recent physical codes are kept in memory. Typed text is not assembled or saved, and keyboard results are not uploaded.
Read the Privacy Policy for site preferences, optional analytics and hosting information.
Related tools and guides
Use Keyboard Test with the steps above, or continue with a related task.
Technical references
These references explain the underlying formats or browser behavior. The steps above describe the current AnyUtils tool.