Keyboard issues - Why is my computer beeping at me/keyboard not working right?

If your computer is beeping at you when you press certain keys or is not receiving "normal" keyboard inputs, you may have enabled certain Windows Accessibility/keyboard tools such as "Sticky Keys," "Filter keys," or "Toggle Keys."

 

Sticky Keys

If your computer is beeping at you whenever you press Shift / Control / Alt / Windows Key, you may have enabled Sticky keys. (By default, this will turn on when the shift key has been pressed 5 times in a row) This is the screen that should show up before it turns on.

When it is on, it will also add an icon to the bottom right of your computer that changes based on what keys are "pressed."

   

To turn this off, open up Windows settings, the easiest way to do this is by click on the Windows icon at the bottom left and then click on "Settings."

Then click on "Ease of Access" to take you to the Accessibility settings.

Scroll down the menu on the left side until you reach "Keyboard" and click on that.

From there, look for the section on "Sticky Keys."

Make sure that the slider is turned off (it is also a good idea to disable the shortcut by unchecking the box "Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys" as this will prevent this from being turned on in the future.)

This should stop your keyboard from behaving strangely.

 

Filter Keys

Filter keys is a tool which will prevent duplicate presses (holding down the key no longer causes multiple inputs). This accessibility tool also has a shortcut which can be accidentally turned on (pressing and holding the shift key for eight seconds). You can tell if Filter keys is enabled as it will add an icon to the bottom right of your computer.

To disable Filter keys, open up Windows settings as listed earlier in this guide to the keyboard section of the accessibility options. Scroll down until you reach "Filter Keys."

You can turn off Filter Keys by sliding the on/off button. (Again, it may be a good idea to disable the shortcut key by unchecking the box.)

This should restore the normal input timing for your keyboard.

 

Toggle Keys

Toggle keys is similar to Sticky keys in that it is very easy to turn on accidentally with it's shortcut. Toggle keys will beep whenever you press any "lock" button such as Caps/Number/Scroll Lock. The shortcut that triggers it is holding down the "Num Lock"/"numlk" button for 5 seconds. To disable this, open up Windows settings as listed earlier in this guide to the keyboard section of the accessibility options. Scroll down until you reach "Toggle Keys."

You can turn off Toggle Keys by sliding the on/off button. (Again, it may be a good idea to disable the shortcut key by unchecking the box.)

That should stop the weird behavior of certain keys beeping.

 

 

At the very bottom of the keyboard sections are these options, it is helpful to ensure that these are on to prevent these options from turning on without any warning.