This laptop keyboard test shows a laptop layout: Esc and the F keys in a short top row, Insert and Delete squeezed in at the end, a small Up arrow and no number pad. Press any key and it lights yellow while held, then turns green once released, so dead keys stand out after one pass. It works on HP, Dell, Lenovo, ASUS, Acer, Microsoft Surface and MacBook laptops in any browser. Laptop keyboards hide extra jobs behind Fn, and the test watches for them: when letters send number pad codes or the top row sends volume and brightness commands, it says so, because those are settings, not faults.
How to test a laptop keyboard
- Keep the Laptop layout selected. If your laptop has a number pad on the right, pick Full size. MacBook owners can pick Mac or open the mac keyboard test.
- Press every key once, row by row, at normal speed. Include both Shift keys, Ctrl, Alt and the Windows key.
- Press each key on the top row on its own, then again while holding Fn. One of the two should light the F key.
- Look for keys that stayed dark, keys marked ×2 in orange, and keys that stay yellow after you let go.
- Read any hint that appears under the keyboard. It explains what your laptop sent and how to switch it back.
- Press Copy results to keep a list of failing keys for a repair shop or a warranty claim.
What the results mean
| Readout | What it tells you | Normal result |
|---|---|---|
| Keys tested | Keys that registered, out of the 78 on the laptop picture, 79 in ISO shape | Every key your model has. Fn never counts |
| Last key | The key name, its code and what it typed | The character printed on the key |
| Keys held now | How many keys the laptop reports as down | Rises as you hold more keys |
| Press time | How long the last key stayed down | 60 to 150 ms for a quick tap |
| Typed twice | Keys that sent a second press within 35 ms of letting go | 0 |
| Hints | Num Lock, Fn lock or media mode detected | None, unless a setting is switched |
Keys that are not on the picture, such as volume keys or a number pad, appear under Other keys when they arrive.
Letters type numbers instead of letters
Many laptops without a separate number pad hide one on the letter keys. When it is on, U, I and O type 4, 5 and 6, J, K and L type 1, 2 and 3, and M types 0. The test shows this as number pad keys arriving from a laptop keyboard.
- Press Num Lock to turn it off. On laptops it often shares a key with F11, F12, Insert or Scroll Lock, so press it with Fn.
- No Num Lock key at all? On Windows, press Win + Ctrl + O for the On-Screen Keyboard, choose Options, tick Turn on numeric key pad, then click NumLock on screen.
- If it comes back after every restart, look for a Num Lock setting in the BIOS. The numpad test shows the full Num Lock behaviour.
The F keys change volume or brightness instead
Most laptops ship with the top row in media mode, so keys such as F2 or F5 change the volume or the screen brightness instead of doing their F key job. The test shows a hint when a volume, brightness or playback command arrives. Hold Fn to get the F key for one press, or switch the default:
| Brand | Swap F keys and media keys | Open the BIOS setup | Keyboard light |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dell | Fn + Esc on many models | F2 at the logo | Often F10 or Fn + F10 |
| Lenovo | Fn + Esc, the FnLock light shows the mode | F1 on ThinkPad, F2 or Fn + F2 on IdeaPad | Fn + Space |
| ASUS | Fn + Esc on many models, or MyASUS | F2 at the logo | Often F7 |
| HP | Action Keys Mode in the BIOS | Esc, then F10 | Often F5 |
| Acer | Function key behavior in the BIOS | F2 at the logo | Often Fn + F9 |
| Microsoft Surface | The light on the Fn key shows the mode | Hold Volume up while turning on | Varies by model |
| MacBook | System Settings, then Keyboard | No BIOS, see the Mac test | Control Center |
Keyboard light, brightness and airplane mode keys are often handled by the laptop's own firmware and never reach the browser, so they may not light up here even when they work.
A key does not light up
A laptop key that stays dark is not reaching the computer. Work through the causes from the most common:
- Debris under the keycap. Laptop keycaps clip onto thin plastic scissors that break easily, so do not pry them off. Tilt the laptop and use short bursts of compressed air at an angle around the key.
- Filter Keys. With Filter Keys on, quick taps are ignored. On Windows 11, open Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard and turn Filter keys off.
- A worn or broken scissor clip. The key feels loose or wobbles. The keycap and clip can be replaced on their own on many models.
- A loose ribbon cable. If a whole row or block of keys died together, often after a repair or a knock, the cable between keyboard and motherboard is the usual suspect.
- A detachable keyboard not seated. On a Surface Pro or another 2 in 1, detach the keyboard cover, wipe the connector pins and magnets with a dry cloth, and click it back in place.
- The keyboard driver. In Device Manager, open Keyboards, right click the laptop keyboard (often listed as Standard PS/2 Keyboard), choose Uninstall device and restart. Windows reinstalls it.
If no key works at all, follow the steps for when your laptop keyboard not working, including the brand specific fixes for HP, Dell and Lenovo.
The keyboard stopped working after a spill
Turn the laptop off straight away and unplug it. Do not press keys to check them while it is wet, because power and liquid together cause the damage. Open it like a tent with the keyboard facing down so liquid runs out, wipe what you can reach and let it dry for at least 48 hours. Water often dries out cleanly. Coffee, tea, juice and soda leave a sticky film that makes keys stick, repeat or die, and that usually needs a cleaning by a repair shop or a new keyboard. Run this test once it is dry: keys that stay yellow on their own, or type without being touched, point to liquid still bridging the contacts.
Test the keyboard in the BIOS
The BIOS setup runs before Windows, so it tells you whether the keyboard hardware works at all. Restart and press the setup key from the table above as the logo appears. If you can move through the menus with the arrow keys, open items with Enter and back out with Esc, the keyboard and its cable work, and a dead keyboard in Windows comes from a driver, a setting or an update. HP laptops also have a keyboard check in HP PC Hardware Diagnostics: press Esc during startup, then F2, then open the component tests. A BIOS only uses a few keys, so finish the check here in the browser, where every key can be tested.
Use an external keyboard in the meantime
A USB or Bluetooth keyboard works the moment you connect it and narrows the fault down. If it works in this test and the built in keyboard does not, the laptop keyboard or its cable has failed. If both fail, the cause is in the system. A USB keyboard that is not detected at all points to the port, covered in the guide for when a usb device not recognized message appears.
Warranty and repair
Keys that die, stick or type twice on their own are normally covered by the warranty; spills and drops need an accidental damage plan. Many laptop keyboards are built into the top case, so a repair can mean a whole new palm rest. Check the warranty first and paste the Copy results summary into the claim.
What a laptop keyboard test cannot read
Fn, the keyboard light, screen brightness and airplane mode keys are handled inside the laptop. The Windows key and Alt+Tab are taken by the system first; in Chrome and Edge, Lock system keys passes them to the page. Check the rest of the input hardware too: the touchpad test covers clicks, scrolling and gestures, and the keyboard rollover test shows which key combinations your laptop blocks in games. For a desktop keyboard, use the full size keyboard tester.
Laptop keyboard test questions
How do I test my laptop keyboard without installing anything?
Open this page and press every key. The test runs in the browser, so there is nothing to download. Keys that work turn green, keys that send two presses turn orange, and the readouts show how long each press lasts and how many keys register together.
How do I test a keyboard in the BIOS?
Restart and press the setup key as the logo appears: F2 on most Dell, ASUS and Acer laptops, F1 or F2 on Lenovo, Esc then F10 on HP. If the arrows, Enter and Esc work there, the keyboard hardware is fine and the fault is in Windows, such as a driver or a setting.
Why are some letters on my laptop typing numbers?
The hidden number pad on the letter keys is switched on. U, I and O type 4, 5 and 6, J, K and L type 1, 2 and 3, and M types 0. Press Num Lock to turn it off. On laptops Num Lock often shares a key such as F11, F12, Insert or Scroll Lock and needs Fn.
Why does the Fn key not light up in the test?
The Fn key is read by the laptop's own controller and never reaches the computer as a key press, so no web page can see it. Test it by holding Fn and pressing a top row key: if the key's second job works, Fn works.
Is a broken laptop keyboard covered by warranty?
Keys that fail on their own, type twice or stick are normally covered while the warranty lasts. Liquid and drops count as accidental damage, which a standard warranty does not cover unless you bought accidental damage protection. Use Copy results to give the support team a list of the failing keys.
Can I use an external keyboard if my laptop keyboard is broken?
Yes. Any USB or Bluetooth keyboard works straight away and the laptop keyboard can stay as it is. If the external keyboard also fails, the problem is in Windows or macOS rather than in the laptop keyboard.