Why doesn't the Win/Meta key work?

The Windows/Meta key is often intercepted by the OS before it reaches the browser. Pressing Win alone opens the Start Menu. It may work in some browsers on some operating systems.

What is the difference between event.key and event.code?

event.key is the character produced by the key (changes with Shift/language layout). event.code is the physical key location, independent of layout (e.g. "KeyA" is always the A key physical position).

Does this tool work with mechanical keyboards?

Yes. This tool works with any keyboard that connects to your computer — mechanical, membrane, laptop, gaming, and wireless keyboards all work.

Is my typing data collected?

No. Keyboard events are processed entirely in your browser. No keylog data is sent to any server. This tool cannot see what you type in other applications.

Can I test numpad keys?

Yes. The full numpad is shown separately on the right side of the keyboard diagram, including NumLock, 0–9, arithmetic operators, decimal, and numpad Enter.

Does this work on laptops?

Yes. This keyboard tester works on laptop keyboards. Note that laptops often don't have a dedicated numpad — those keys won't be present on the physical keyboard, so they won't be testable.

Keyboard Tester

Press any key to test if it's working. Every key lights up instantly.

Keys Tested

Complete

Progress — 0 of 95 keys tested0%

Esc

F10

F11

F12

Backspace

Tab

[

]

Caps Lock

;

Enter

Shift

Ctrl

Win

Alt

Space

Alt

Win

Ctrl

↑

←

↓

→

Numpad

Num

−

↵

Not Tested

Tested (works)

Currently Pressed

Free Online Keyboard Tester — Test Every Key on Your Keyboard Instantly

Is a key on your keyboard not responding? Are you getting random key presses, double inputs, or ghosting on certain key combinations? The OmniWebKit Keyboard Tester lets you diagnose keyboard issues in seconds — directly in your browser, with no software to install and no account required.

Press any key on your physical keyboard and watch it light up on the on-screen keyboard diagram in real time. Keys that are working correctly turn green when pressed and blue after they have been successfully tested. Keys that haven't been pressed yet remain grey. The progress bar and counter show you how many keys you have tested and what percentage of the full keyboard has been covered.

The tool shows the full standard keyboard layout including alphanumeric keys, function keys (F1–F12), modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt, Win/Meta), special keys (Escape, Tab, Caps Lock, Backspace, Enter, Space), arrow keys, and the full numpad. As you press each key, the Last Key panel shows the key character, the event code (e.g. KeyA, ShiftLeft), and the numeric keycode — useful information for developers debugging keyboard event handling in web applications.

When Should You Test Your Keyboard?

After liquid spill damage

Water or liquid spills are one of the most common causes of keyboard key failure. After a spill, some keys may appear to work but register incorrect inputs, or fail to register at all. Use this tester to identify which keys were affected before deciding whether to repair or replace the keyboard.

New keyboard out of the box

Testing a new keyboard immediately after purchase lets you identify dead keys or defective switches before the return window closes. Run a full test by pressing every key and checking that each one lights up correctly.

Gaming — checking for ghosting

Keyboard ghosting happens when some key combinations don't register correctly because of limitations in the keyboard's hardware. Gamers often experience ghosting on certain WASD + action key combinations. Test your keyboard with specific multi-key presses to check for ghosting.

Sticky or intermittent keys

Dust, crumbs, or worn-out key switches can cause keys to stick (registering multiple keypresses) or become intermittent (sometimes working, sometimes not). The tester helps confirm that a suspected key is genuinely failing before you open the keyboard for cleaning.

Laptop keyboard issues

Laptop keyboards are more sensitive to damage and wear than external keyboards. Specific areas (like keys near heat vents) may fail earlier. Test your laptop keyboard periodically as part of device maintenance.

After system driver updates

In rare cases, operating system or driver updates can cause keyboard mapping issues where keys send the wrong keycodes. This tool's Last Key panel shows the exact code your OS is reporting for each key, making it easy to identify remapping issues.

Understanding Key Codes — For Developers

The Last Key panel shows three pieces of information about each keypress, which are particularly useful for web developers working with keyboard event handlers:

key

The character or name produced by the keypress (e.g. "a", "A", "Enter", "ArrowUp"). Changes with modifier keys like Shift.

code

The physical key location on the keyboard, independent of the current layout. "KeyA" always refers to the key in that position, regardless of language.

keyCode

The numeric code for the key (legacy property). For example, the A key always has a keyCode of 65. Useful for older browsers and some game frameworks.

Modern web development best practice is to use event.code for detecting which physical key was pressed (useful for games and shortcuts), and event.key for detecting what character was typed (useful for text input handling). Avoid relying on keyCode in new code — it is deprecated in the W3C specification.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn't a key lighting up when I press it?+

If a key doesn't light up, it means the browser is not receiving a keydown event for that key code. This usually means the key is physically damaged, the switch has failed, or the key contact is dirty. Try cleaning the key area with compressed air. If it still doesn't work, the key may need replacement.

Why does the Win/Meta key not light up?+

Some operating systems intercept the Windows/Meta key and don't pass the keydown event to browser applications. On Windows, pressing Win alone opens the Start Menu and the browser never sees the event. It tends to work in some browsers but not others.

Why doesn't the Print Screen key register?+

The Print Screen key is often intercepted directly by the operating system for screenshots before it reaches the browser. This is OS-level behaviour and cannot be overridden by a web application.

What is keyboard ghosting?+

Ghosting happens when pressing multiple keys simultaneously causes some keypresses not to register. Cheaper keyboards have limited key rollover, meaning they can only detect 2–6 simultaneous keys. High-quality gaming keyboards have N-key rollover (NKRO) that detects all keys simultaneously.

Why do some keys show the same code (e.g. ShiftLeft and ShiftRight)?+

They have different e.code values (ShiftLeft vs ShiftRight, AltLeft vs AltRight) but the same e.key value ("Shift" or "Alt"). This tool uses e.code to identify keys, so both Left and Right Shift show as separate keys on the keyboard.

Does this tool work with all keyboard layouts?+

The on-screen keyboard shows the standard US ANSI layout. Keycodes (e.code) are based on physical key positions and work regardless of your keyboard's language layout. If your keyboard has different key positions (e.g. ISO layout with an extra key), a key may not have a matching key on the on-screen diagram but will still be detected and shown in the Last Key panel.

Can I use this to test a gaming keyboard?+

Yes. This is a great tool for testing gaming keyboards, mechanical keyboards, and laptop keyboards alike. It accurately shows which keys are pressed in real time, making it useful for testing actuation, checking key rollover, and verifying that all switches are functioning.

Is any data collected when I press keys?+

No. Keyboard event processing is done entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No keylog data is sent to any server. This tool cannot capture what you type and does not work as a keylogger.