Keyboard tester: check that every key works
TurboTest’s keyboard tester is a free online tool for checking that every key on your keyboard works. Press each key and it lights up on the keyboard above, so you can spot keys that are dead, sticky or registering as something else. It works with Mac and Windows keyboards, laptops and mechanical keyboards in 60%, 75%, TKL and full-size layouts, with nothing to download or install.
At a glance
- Free, with no sign-up
- Runs in your browser, nothing to install
- Mac, Windows and Linux keyboards
- 60%, 75%, TKL and 100% layouts
- Key presses never leave your device
How to use the keyboard tester
- Choose your keyboard. Pick Mac or PC at the top of the page. For a PC keyboard, choose its size: 60%, 75%, TKL or 100%. For a Mac keyboard with a number pad, switch on Numpad.
- Press every key. Each key lights up while it’s held down and keeps a glowing border once it has registered, so you can see at a glance what’s left to test.
- Check the readout. The readout above the keyboard shows the name, code and keyCode of the last key you pressed, which is handy for checking a key sends what you expect.
- Test rollover. Hold several keys at once. The held counter shows how many keys your keyboard reports together.
- Finish the set. When the counter reaches the total, every key on your keyboard has been confirmed working.
What it can help you find
- Dead keys. A key that never lights up isn’t reaching your computer.
- Sticky or repeating keys. Keys that stay lit after you let go, or fire more than once from a single press.
- Ghosting and rollover limits. Keys that drop out when you press several together. This is common on budget keyboards and matters for gaming.
- Layout mix-ups. If a key lights up somewhere unexpected, the wrong keyboard layout is probably selected in your system settings.
60%, 75%, TKL and 100% keyboards
Mechanical keyboards come in different sizes, and smaller ones drop keys to save space.
- 100%
- Full size, with every key including the number pad. 104 keys on a standard board.
- TKL
- Tenkeyless, about 80%. A full-size layout without the number pad. 87 keys.
- 75%
- The function row and arrows packed tightly, with a column of navigation keys. Usually 84 keys.
- 60%
- No function row, arrows or navigation keys; they live on a Fn layer. 61 keys.
Keys on each keyboard size
Standard ANSI layouts
| Size | Keys |
|---|---|
| 100% | 104 |
| TKL | 87 |
| 75% | 84 |
| 60% | 61 |
Mac and Windows keyboards
The Mac layout follows Apple’s Magic Keyboard, with a Numpad option that adds the numeric keypad, F13 to F19 and the home, end and page keys. The PC layouts use Windows key names and suit Linux keyboards too.
Laptop keyboards work as well: choose the closest layout and ignore any keys yours doesn’t have.
Keys a browser can’t detect
A few keys are handled before a web page ever sees them, so they may not light up even when they work: the fn or globe key and Touch ID on a Mac, the Fn key on PC keyboards, some media keys, and system shortcuts such as ⌘Q or Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
Keys on a 60% or 75% keyboard’s Fn layer still register as the key they stand in for. On a Mac, hold fn to test F1 to F12.
Keys registered at once
By rollover type, on a full-size keyboard
| Rollover type | Keys at once |
|---|---|
| 2-key | 2 |
| 6-key | 6 |
| N-key | 104 |
What to do if a key isn’t working
- Clean around the key with compressed air. Dust and crumbs are the most common cause.
- On a mechanical keyboard, reseat the keycap, or the switch if your board is hot-swappable.
- Reconnect the keyboard or try another USB port. For a wireless keyboard, charge it or replace the batteries.
- Test again in a different browser to rule out an extension intercepting the key.
- Check your keyboard layout and language settings.
- Update the keyboard’s driver or firmware, or try it on another computer to see whether the fault is the keyboard or the computer.
Frequently asked questions
Is the keyboard tester free?
Yes. It’s free to use, with nothing to sign up for or download.
Does it record what I type?
No. Everything happens in your browser. Your key presses aren’t saved or sent anywhere.
Does it work with a laptop keyboard?
Yes. Any keyboard connected to your computer works, including laptop keyboards. Choose Mac or PC to match yours and ignore any keys your keyboard doesn’t have.
What’s the difference between 60%, 75%, TKL and 100% keyboards?
They’re keyboard sizes. A 100% keyboard has every key, including the number pad. TKL (tenkeyless) drops the number pad. A 75% keyboard also squeezes the navigation keys into a column beside the main keys, and a 60% keyboard drops the function row, arrows and navigation keys, which you reach through a Fn layer instead.
Why don’t F1 to F12 light up on my Mac?
On a Mac the top row controls brightness, volume and media by default, and macOS handles those before a web page sees them. Hold fn while you press F1 to F12 to test them as function keys.
What is key rollover?
Rollover is how many keys a keyboard can register at the same time. Hold several keys down together and watch the held counter. Many gaming keyboards can register every key at once, which is called n-key rollover.