Random keys act like they're stuck even though they're physically not

Anonymous
2022-04-06T05:02:14+00:00

I just bought a brand-new laptop a couple of weeks ago with Windows 11 on it but from day 1 I've been having issues with the keyboard. For example, if I hold down the down arrow button or W key too long sometimes, the window start button activates. If I'm casually typing or scrolling on the web, sometimes either shift, ctrl, windows, or fn key (I haven't been able to verify which ones specifically are the issue but it looks like it's different ones at different times) acts like it's stuck so if I click on something, the computer thinks I'm holding down the shift, windows, etc. key + whatever key I pressed. Sometimes I can't even type anything because of this.

If I lock myself out of my account and then log myself back in, it goes away temporarily so the problem only happens when I'm logged in because the keyboard never does this on the sign in screen. Even if I use an external keyboard or even the on-screen one, it still does the exact same thing so it seems to me it's a software issue and not a hardware one. I've tried updating the keyboard drivers and mouse drivers and uninstalling and reinstalling them. I turned off sticky keys and all that but still nothing. The keyboard troubleshooter has found no issue either. Would appreciate any help with this.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-26T20:32:31+00:00

    My solution was to realise that my bluetooth portable keyboard in my bag had switched on and the arrow key was being pressed. Switching it off sorted it

    Thank you Max for taking the trouble to reply.

    I don't have a modern enough external keyboard to try wiith my laptop (or know anyone within reach whose I could try), but everything's pointing to my instance being a Windows 11 problem anyway.  (Either recently having moved to it, or one of the Windows updates too numerous these days for me to check out each one for any issues before downloading!).

    I ran into the problem about a year ago (my phone's been doing all the work since).  I couldn't seem to summarise the problem in few enough words to get a single relevant result on the general web (however many pages of each one I trawled through).  It was only after eliminating just about every cause except Windows that I homed in on these forums, which I've found very useful in the past.  (I mistakenly thought this topic was locked (maybe as too 'old'), but have now realised I'd just forgotten to sign in).

    Just a thought; I wonder how many sufferers have just assumed they had a faulty computer, instead of enough publicity being created for Microsoft to do something about it.  (I'm assuming they still haven't?).  I couldn't even find anything about it at Bleeping Computer.  (I'm open to correction of course, and would be interested to know if there's anything about it outside here!).

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-04-28T13:13:34+00:00

    Have all regions have been experiencing this problem?  (If not, I just wondered if that could be any clue to where the cause lies).

    Personal details don't seem to be given here, but perhaps it's ok to say I'm having this issue in Europe (Republic of Ireland, to be precise).

    My laptop's an HP Envy 13-ah0501na, bought online (from a supplier who also ships to the UK, If I remember right), in 2020 (though the 2019 model).  Its OEM Windows was installed while the latest update was a disastrous one that made it unusable (Microsoft withdrew it within a week, after a public outcry), and I had a very time-consuming struggle to remedy that.  Later, it was the same with a forced Windows update.  And now this!  (If the laptop model hadn't been the standout one for me after weeks of online research, I'd be using only Android by now!).

    This issue hit me in April 2024, but more urgent problems got in the way of attending to it.

    I just bought a brand-new laptop a couple of weeks ago with Windows 11 on it but from day 1 I've been having issues with the keyboard. For example, if I hold down the down arrow button or W key too long sometimes, the window start button activates. If I'm casually typing or scrolling on the web, sometimes either shift, ctrl, windows, or fn key (I haven't been able to verify which ones specifically are the issue but it looks like it's different ones at different times) acts like it's stuck so if I click on something, the computer thinks I'm holding down the shift, windows, etc. key + whatever key I pressed. Sometimes I can't even type anything because of this.

    If I lock myself out of my account and then log myself back in, it goes away temporarily so the problem only happens when I'm logged in because the keyboard never does this on the sign in screen. Even if I use an external keyboard or even the on-screen one, it still does the exact same thing so it seems to me it's a software issue and not a hardware one. I've tried updating the keyboard drivers and mouse drivers and uninstalling and reinstalling them. I turned off sticky keys and all that but still nothing. The keyboard troubleshooter has found no issue either. Would appreciate any help with this.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-06-09T12:57:41+00:00

    I had same issue today, and after reading this thread i got one thing that in Device Manager > Keyboard, if you find this keyboard name "HD Keyboard Device", uninstall it, reboot your system. error will be fixed.

    later on after updating your bios this keyboard it will back again,

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-06-22T00:19:37+00:00

    I have this stuck keys issue on windows 11. It happens with 3 different keyboards, it happens when I'm using the on screen keyboard , it happens when I'm using my mouse that has a button mapped to a keystroke. It is 100% not a hardware issue and I've tried everything you mentioned and checked that sticky keys was disabled, this is driving me nuts

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