How to Turn On or Off Sticky Keys in Windows 10
When Sticky Keys is turned on, you can press a modifier key (SHIFT, CTRL, or ALT) and then another key in sequence rather than at the same time, to enter shifted (modified) characters and other key combinations. This way, you can press a modifier key and have it remain active until another key is pressed.
By default pressing a modifier key once latches the key down until the user presses a non-modifier key or clicks a mouse button. Pressing a modifier key twice locks the key until the user presses the key a third time.
This tutorial will show you how to turn on or off Sticky Keys and adjust its settings for your account in Windows 10.
For a Windows 11 version of this tutorial, see:
Turn On or Off Sticky Keys in Windows 11
Contents
- Option One: Turn On or Off Sticky Keys using Keyboard Shortcut
- Option Two: Turn On or Off Sticky Keys and Adjust Settings in Settings
- Option Three: Turn On or Off Sticky Keys and Adjust Settings in Control Panel
1 Press the Shift key five times to turn Sticky Keys on or off.
The keyboard shortcut will only work if turned on in Option Two or step 5C of Option Three. It is turned on by default.
2 By default, a sound will play indicating Sticky Keys was turned on (high pitch) or off (low pitch).
The sound will only play if turned on in step 5C of Option Three. It is turned on by default.
3 If you are wanting to turn on Sticky Keys, click/tap on Yes if prompted by the warning message below.
The warning message will only show if turned on in step 5C of Option Three. It is turned on by default.
1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Ease of Access icon.
Starting with Windows 10 build 21359, the Ease of Access category in Settings has been renamed to Accessibility.
2 Do step 3 (on) or step 4 (off) below for what you would like to do.
A) Click/tap on Keyboard on the left side, and turn on Press one key at a time for keyboard shortcuts under Use Sticky Keys on the right side. (see screenshot below)
B) Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys for what you want.
C) Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Show the Sticky Keys icon on the taskbar for what you want.
D) Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Lock the modifier key when pressed twice in a row for what you want.
E) Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Turn off Sticky Keys when two keys are pressed at the same time for what you want.
F) Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Play a sound when a modifier key is pressed and released for what you want.
G) When finished, go to step 5 below.
A) Click/tap on Keyboard on the left side, turn off Press one key at a time for keyboard shortcuts under Use Sticky Keys on the right side. (see screenshot below)
B) Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys for what you want.
C) When finished, go to step 5 below.
5 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.
1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Ease of Access Center icon.
2 Click/tap on either the Make the keyboard easier to use or Make it easier to focus on tasks settings link. (see screenshot below)
3 Do step 4 (on/off) or step 5 (settings) below for what you would like to do.
A) Check (on) or uncheck (off - default) Turn on Sticky Keys under Make it easier to type for what you want. (see screenshot below)
B) Click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below.
A) Click/tap on the Set up Sticky Keys link under Turn on Sticky Keys under Make it easier to type. (see screenshot below)
B) Check (on) or uncheck (off - default) Turn on Sticky Keys for what you want. (see screenshot below)
C) Under Keyboard shortcut, check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Turn on Sticky Keys when SHIFT is pressed five times for what you want.
- Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Display a warning message when turning a setting on for what you want.
- Check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Make a sound when turning a setting on or off for what you want.
D) Under Options, check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Lock modifier keys when pressed twice in a row for what you want.
E) Under Options, check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Turn off Sticky Keys when two keys are pressed at once for what you want.
F) Under Feedback, check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Play a sound when modifier keys are pressed for what you want.
G) Under Feedback, check (on- default) or uncheck (off) Display the Sticky Keys icon on the taskbar for what you want.
H) When finished, click/tap on OK, and go to step 6 below.
6 When finished, you can close the Ease of Access Center if you like.
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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