How To Disable Sticky Keys on a Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook

Users with physical limitations can use sticky keys. This innovative accessibility feature decreases the type of movement that leads to repetitive strain injury. Instead of asking users to press many keys at once, this option serializes the keystrokes.

Fortunately, the option is easy to switch on and off. But it does make accidentally activating the feature simple. In order to counter the problem, we’ll explain how to disable sticky keys on many different operating systems.

How to Disable Sticky Keys in Windows 11

The sticky keys feature in Windows 11 can be disabled in two ways. The first method includes the Control Panel. To disable the feature this way, follow these steps:

1. Open “Control Panel.”
   
2. Click on “Ease of Access.”
   
3. Scroll to the “Ease of Access Center.”
   
4. Look for the “Make the Keyboard Easier to Use” menu option.
   
5. Disable the “Turn on Sticky Keys” checkbox under “Make it Easier to Type.”
   
6. Click on “Apply.”
   

Here’s how to disable the feature another way:

1. In Windows 11, access “Windows Settings.”
   
2. Select “Keyboard” from the “Accessibility” menu.
   
3. Then select “Sticky Keys.”
   
4. Turn off the “Keyboard shortcut for Sticky keys” setting.
   

Note that Windows 11 will no longer prompt you to enable sticky keys when you hit the Shift key five times in a row.

How to Disable Sticky Keys in Windows 10

There are three ways for Windows 10 users to disable sticky keys. The instructions for one method are the same as for Windows 11, and it involves the Control Panel. Apply the same method as described above to disable sticky keys in this manner:

1. Go to “Control Panel.”
   
2. Select “Ease of Access.”
   
3. Navigate to the “Ease of Access Center.”
   
4. Find the “Make the Keyboard Easier to Use” menu option.
   
5. Turn off the “Turn on Sticky Keys” checkbox under “Make it Easier to Type.”
   
6. Press “Apply.”
   
   • Using the Shift button. To turn off this feature, press the Shift button five times.
   • Using Ease of Access. To disable sticky keys this way, follow these steps:
     1. Go to “Settings.”
        
     2. Enter “Ease of Access” and choose “Keyboards.”
        
     3. Turn off the option “Press one key at a time for keyboard shortcuts.”
        

How to Disable Sticky Keys on a Mac

Sticky keys can be enabled by default in the System Preferences panel’s Universal Access section. Follow these steps to access this menu and turn this feature off:

1. Choose “System Preferences” from the “Apple” menu.
   
2. Select “Accessibility.”
   
3. Select the “Keyboard” tab.
   
4. In the “Sticky Keys” menu, select the “Off” button.
   

You can also enable or disable sticky keys by checking the box next to “Press the Shift key five times.” The Shift key will now be used to turn Sticky Keys on or off.

How to Disable Sticky Keys on a Chromebook

There are many Accessibility Features on Chromebook that can assist those with physical disabilities who find it difficult to operate the regular keyboard settings. These simple instructions will show you how to disable the feature.

1. Choose the time in the lower right corner.
   
2. Choose “Settings.”
   
3. Go to the bottom and choose “Advanced.”
   
4. Choose “Manage accessibility features” from the “Accessibility” section.
   
5. Under “Keyboard” section, you’ll find “Sticky Key” option.
   
6. You can select to turn it on or off.
   

You can visit their official support site to learn more about Chromebook accessibility features.

Sticky Keys Won’t Turn Off

If nothing works and your sticky keys won’t turn off, try some of the tips outlined below to resolve the issue.

Corrupted Windows

Your computer may be compromised with malware. But it’s important to know that not all malware is dangerous. If your OS is Windows, you can use Microsoft Defender to resolve this issue.

1. Navigate to the search field.
   
2. Lookup “Microsoft Defender.”
   
3. You can download it from the Microsoft website if you don’t already have it.
4. Select “Scan Now” in the “Defender” menu.

Let the Defender scan your system for malware. In case malware is found, select “Remove all.” Now attempt to deactivate your sticky keys.

Reinstall Keyboard Drivers on Windows

You may have corrupted keyboard drivers if you can’t turn off sticky keys. Try installing the keyboard drivers again.

1. In order to open “Device Manager”, press Windows+X.
   
2. Choose “Device Manager.”
   
3. Locate the Keyboard Driver and select it with the right click.
   
4. Choose “Uninstall Device” select “Uninstall.”
   

Restarting your computer will cause the keyboard drivers to install again automatically.

Update Your Windows

Your operating system may be out of date. Follow these instructions to update it:

1. Select the “Search” tab.
   
2. Look for “Settings.”
   
3. Click “Update & Security.”
   
4. Press the “Check for Updates” button.
   

Windows will do an update check. If any updates are available, download them. Restart the computer to apply the updates after the procedure is complete.

Reset Keyboard Settings on Mac

If the above solutions don’t work to resolve your sticky key problem on your Mac, consider completely resetting your keyboard.

1. Select “System Preferences” by clicking on the “Apple” icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
   
2. Select “Keyboard.”
   
3. In the keyboard tab’s lower right-hand corner, select “Modifier Keys.”
   
4. Click “OK” after selecting “Restore Defaults.”
   
5. Next, select a keyboard to be removed by clicking on the “Text” tab.
   
6. In order to remove the keyboard shortcut, click the minus sign.
   
7. Select the “Shortcuts” tab.
   
8. If you’ve modified the shortcuts, click “Restore Defaults” once more to return them to their original configuration.
   
9. To check that your keyboard has correctly reset, reboot your Mac.
   

How do I Interact with a Keyboard with Stuck Keys on a Mac?

There may be times when some of the keyboard’s keys are not functional. If you need a quick solution, follow the steps below to enable and use Keyboard Viewer:

1. Select “System Preferences” by clicking the “Apple” logo in the top Mac menu.
   
2. Then select the “Keyboard” and click on “Input Sources” button.
   
3. In “Show Input Menu” in menu Bar, enable “checkbox.”
   
4. To display the “Keyboard Viewer”, select A in the top menu.
5. Use the Apple Virtual Keyboard.

Reinstalling Mac may help if you know the software is the cause of the problem. Make sure to create a backup copy of your data in case something goes wrong. Take it to a professional service for repair if you’re unsure about doing it yourself.

Why Should You Disable Sticky Keys?

Sticky keys are often a practical choice, especially if you don’t like to hold a key for a long time. However, it can easily become inconvenient. Fortunately, the sticky keys can be turned on or off by hitting the Shift key five times. As such, you shouldn’t leave the feature enabled unless you’re learning to use software that relies on modifier keys.

Have you ever disabled the sticky keys feature? Did you use any of the tips and tricks from this article? Let us know in comments section below.