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Can’t Turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 10? Pick from 10 Solutions

Find out how to get rid of this feature for good

6 min. read

Updated onApril 11, 2024

updated onApril 11, 2024

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Key notes

Sticky Keys might be useful for some, but most Windows 10 users instantlyturn this feature offbecause it interferes with their work.

A few users reported that Sticky Keys won’t turn off on their computers, and that can cause a lot of inconvenience. It’s not just on newer Windows OSs. The same happened on older versions, as well.

Not to mention that sometimes, Sticky Keys randomly turn on, which can indicate keyboard issues.

So in this article, we’ll try several solutions. We hope that before you reach the end, Sticky Keys won’t be an issue anymore.

What can I do if Sticky Keys won’t turn off in Windows 10?

1. Check your PC for malware

If you can’t turn Sticky Keys off, it’s possible that your PC isinfected with malware. Not all malware is harmful, and some malware is designed just to annoy the infected users.

If that is the case, run a full system scan and check if that solves the problem.

We recommend you pick one of thebest antivirus software because itcan detect the latest malware signatures.

A good antivirus can save you from a lot of trouble by blocking threats before they get the chance to infect your PC, but they can also remove already existing malware with the least possible damage to your system files and apps.

Using an antivirus software such asESET HOME Security Essentialcan be a great option here because it has a powerful anti-malware scanner. It has various scanning options, such as the system scan where it scans every single file on your PC, including program files, system files, cached files, and others.

Furthermore, it provides you with an overview of your entire system and allows you to generate security reports so you can see an in-depth list of your computer’s running processes.

ESET HOME Security Essential

2. Reinstall your keyboard drivers

After the driver is removed, restart your PC and the default driver will be installed. Once that is finished, check if the problem still persists.

If the previous method doesn’t fix the issue, we recommend you use a dedicated tool. It is a faster and safer option for your device and you don’t have to worry about choosing the right driver.

Tools likeOutbyte Driver Updatercan update your drivers automatically by identifying each component on your computer and matching it with the latest driver versions from an extensive online database.

3. Reinstall the Synaptic pointing device

If you’re having problems with Sticky Keys on your laptop, the issue might be Synaptics pointing device. So it’s advised to reinstall this software.

The most effective way is to use an uninstaller application since it will safely and completely remove programs from your PC.

Unlike regular uninstall processes, uninstaller software will remove all files and registry entries associated with the application you no longer need.

Oftentimes, regular uninstalls leave behind residual files that only take up space and have the potential to cause errors. An improperly removed file may prevent you from reinstalling it.

There are many great options available, and thebest uninstaller softwarecan scan your whole computer and remove any lingering files. On top of that, they can also force remove stubborn (often malicious) programs from your PC.

Once you are sure your program is completely removed, you can reinstall it and see if the problem persists.

4. Change registry values

1.PressWindows Key + Ron your keyboard to open the Run dialog.

Typeregeditand thenclickOKor pressEnterto run the command.

3.Navigate to the following location:HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilityStickyKeys

4.In the right pane locatetheFlagsstring. Double-click it and change its value to506.

5.In the left panel, navigate to:HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilityKeyboardResponse

6.LocateFlagsin the right pane, double-click it, and set its value to122.

7.To the left, go to:HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelAccessibilityToggleKeys

Finally, locateFlagsin the right pane and set its value to58.

If other solutions did not work, you can try a more advanced one. The Registry Editor allows you to modify any settings you want on your PC. You can turn off Sticky Keys from it by editing some String Values, as shown in the steps above.

We have to mention that changing your registry can cause certain issues with Windows 10 if you don’t do it properly, so before you start, make sure to create abackup of your registry.

If youcan’t edit your Windows 10’s registry, read ourhandy guide and find the quickest solutions to the issue.

5. Change your keyboard power management settings

Bear in mind that your keyboard might be listed in both Keyboards and Human Interface Devices sections, so you’ll have to repeat this process for both entries.

6. Replace your keyboard

If Sticky Keys won’t turn off on your computer, it might be due to a faulty keyboard. Users reported that this issue was fixed simply byreplacing their keyboard.

Before you replace your keyboard, it’s advised to inspect it for hardware malfunctions. Sometimes certain keys such as Shift, Alt, or Ctrl can get stuck and that can cause this problem to appear.

Alternatively, you can also try the keyboard on a different PC. If the problem appears on another PC, it’s rather likely that the keyboard is faulty.

7. Disable Sticky Keys from Control Panel / Settings app

8. Press the Num Lock key

Many users reported that the FN key is always pressed on their laptops. As you know, the FN key is designed to perform certain functionalities, and if it stays active, you might activate certainshortcutsby accident.

This behavior can interfere with your work, and in order to fix this problem, you just need to turn off the Num Lock button. Simply press the button and the problem should be resolved.

Keep in mind that this is just a workaround, but many users reported that it fixed the problem on their laptop, so be sure to try it out.

9. Press the right and left Shift keys at the same time

According to users, you might be able to fix this problem simply by using a quick keyboard shortcut: pressing bothShiftkeys simultaneously.

This sounds like a workaround, but few users claim that it works, so feel free to try it out.

10. Install the latest updates

Windows will now check for available updates. The available ones will be downloaded in the background. Once the update process is finished, restart your PC to install the updates.

After updating Windows 10 to the latest version, check if the problem still persists.

By default, Windows 10automatically downloads the updates, so you won’t have to repeat the process often.

As mentioned, not being able to turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 10 can be troublesome, but most users report that the issue was resolved using one of the solutions suggested in this article.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below and we’ll be sure to check them out.

Can’t Turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 10? Pick from 10 Solutions#

What can I do if Sticky Keys won’t turn off in Windows 10?#

1. Check your PC for malware#

ESET HOME Security Essential#

2. Reinstall your keyboard drivers#

3. Reinstall the Synaptic pointing device#

4. Change registry values#

5. Change your keyboard power management settings#

6. Replace your keyboard#

7. Disable Sticky Keys from Control Panel / Settings app#

8. Press the Num Lock key#

9. Press the right and left Shift keys at the same time#

10. Install the latest updates#