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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

84 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2022-12-22T09:06:35+00:00

    I have the exact same problem since day one, I mean Windows 11 was already installed. Everytime I'm using word or the search bar on google chrome, or basically about anytime I am using the keyboard I get random errors with any key I press. I've been trying to count the errors and find a pattern, but the only thing I've noticed so far is that when it happens it clicks +8 to 16 times the same last letterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (that's an example). By the way, I did not type that on purpose, it just happened, and continues to happen randomly at any given time, usually 2 or 3 times during the next minutes, then it disappears for a while and again randomly reappears. I've been trying to give it a failure name so more people can relate to this problem and I came up with the following names and searches:

    • stuck key
    • stuck pressing a random key
    • key processed many times
    • crazy keyboard pressing letter many times
    • keyboard repeating keys
    • fix repeated keystrokes
    • Keyboard Types Multiple Letters

    So, the best solution I could find so far, which is not a real solution, but a way to bypass the problem is to Change the Keyboard Repeat Delay.

    To do so, follow these steps to delay the time between repeated keystrokes

    1. In the Start menu search bar, search for control panel and select the Best match.
    2. Go to the View by menu and select Large icons or Small icons.
    3. Select Keyboard to access its properties.
    4. Here you can reduce Repeat Delay and the Repeat Rate until you feel the problem has been solved.
    5. Click Apply > OK to save the new settings.

    ( source: https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-10-fix-keyboard-typing-multiple-letters/ )

    Nevertheless, I don't think this is the right way to solve this problem, and MSI (that's my PC brand) or Microsoft should come up with a fix or patch to have this solved once and for all.

    Was this answer helpful?

    5 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-12-08T14:58:25+00:00

    Just recently got a new computer with Windows 11 and am having this issue now - never had the issue using the same exact USB keyboard with Windows 10. Took me forever to find others struggling with my exact issue because anything I searched wasn't exactly what I was experiencing.

    Uninstalling the keyboard drivers under Device Manager and scanning for changes seems to be a temporary fix. I also enabled the Keyboard filter under accessibility as a precaution. Hope there is a fix for this soon, it's insanely annoying trying to play video games where you're constantly moving around and suddenly you're stuck going in one direction.

    Was this answer helpful?

    5 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-08T00:57:09+00:00

    Microsoft doesn't care about any of us having this issue and will never do anything to fix it. Googling it shows that it's been an issue going back almost 10 years lol.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-25T13:10:52+00:00

    I found my fix (for now).

    Oh my Lord, the effort to just log into a M$ site. Click click click. Wow.

    I wanted to post here because I been having this same issue all night (W11 Pro, Dell hardware) and I could not figure out what caused it all of the sudden. My WIN key would not work unless I click it twice. Made a mess of things when I thought I was bringing up the Start with a press, or doing a WIN-R, and then realizing that was not happening. Fun too, I found CTRL would constantly make my mouse zoom!

    I checked all the usual stuff and everything seemed in order.

    Then I read something that made me just click here.

    And I clicked Accessibility.

    But wait, why? It is already disabled in Settings. Both classic and the over bloated Settings v2.

    So, a third setting? It seems this has no bearing on the other settings on the other images posted. Nor vise versa. Seems a separate one. I turned that off, and my keyboard working normally again!!!

    So, I had THREE places to make sure it is off. I tested and retested various combos, and none have any affect on one another where one is on, they all are. No, I had to make sure all three are off.

    Maybe this can help someone else.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2022-06-14T13:04:07+00:00

    Keys stay pressed for me on dock 2 and surface pro 8 on Win 11 Pro even though I lift my fingers off the key or some keys press randomly on their own even though they arent pressed or they dont respond at all when im pressed. Microsoft has released some buggy update I imagine. Im on a Razer gaming keyboard so its similar to the Logitech G keyboards. Razer went through unimaginable amount of types of troubleshooting steps me losing hours of my time and then they said to factory erase my new system which would have lost rona of setups. I said Im not factory restoring. Bluetooth keyboard is a workaround, so I bought a temp Bluetooth keyboard since its a USB keyboards issue. So frustrating because I need high performance keyboard at end of tax time in Australia and the most important piece of equipment is gone wako. Keyboards possessed by medichlorians or gremlins. Microsoft needs to fix this asap since it seems to be across various USB keyboards and fire the fire that rolled out an update thats affected keyboards.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments