This online keyboard test lights up each key on a virtual keyboard the moment you press it, so you can quickly confirm that every switch on your keyboard registers. It works with membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards and laptop chiclet layouts, and it needs nothing more than a modern browser. Start typing and every keypress is captured live, complete with the human-readable key name and the raw JavaScript code your browser reports.
A dead key is easy to miss until it costs you a password or a game. By pressing every key and checking that it flashes on screen, you can find keys that no longer register, keys that stick down after release, and keys that fire the wrong character. The test also tracks how many keys are held at once, which is how you check n-key rollover and anti-ghosting: mash a handful of keys together and count how many stay lit. Cheap keyboards often cap out at two or three simultaneous keys, while gaming boards should hold many more.
Because everything happens on your own device, nothing you type is recorded, uploaded or stored. The keyboard tester simply listens for the browser keydown and keyup events and mirrors them onto the layout. That makes it safe to run before an exam, a tournament or an important deadline, and it is a fast first step when you are deciding whether a keyboard fault is hardware or software. If a key fails here in more than one browser, the problem is almost certainly the keyboard itself.
Testers, refurbishers and second-hand buyers use a keyboard checker like this to verify a board before they trust it. If you just bought a used mechanical keyboard, run through the full layout, hold key combinations to confirm rollover, and watch for chatter where a single press registers twice. It is the quickest way to catch a problem while you can still return the hardware.
How to use the keyboard test
- Click anywhere on the page so the keyboard capture area has focus.
- Press each key in turn and confirm the matching key lights up on screen.
- Hold several keys at once to test n-key rollover and anti-ghosting.
- Watch the last-key panel for the exact key name and JavaScript code.
- Note any key that fails to light, stays lit, or reports the wrong value.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a key is dead?
Press the suspect key and watch the on-screen keyboard. If the matching key does not light up while every other key does, that key is not registering and is likely dead. Try it in a second browser to rule out software before you blame the hardware.
What is n-key rollover and how do I test it?
N-key rollover is the number of keys a keyboard can register at the same time. To test it, hold down several keys together and count how many stay highlighted. Basic keyboards often stop at two or three, while gaming keyboards with full rollover keep every held key lit.
Is anything I type sent to a server?
No. The keyboard test runs entirely in your browser using the native keydown and keyup events. Nothing you press is uploaded, logged or stored, so it is safe to run at any time.
Why does a key show the wrong character?
That usually means your active keyboard layout in the operating system does not match the physical keyboard. The test shows the raw event code, which is tied to the physical key, so you can compare it against the printed legend to confirm a layout mismatch rather than a fault.
More hardware tests
Keep checking your gear with the rest of the MyGearCheck suite: