Windows 10/11: How to Turn On/Off Sticky Keys

If you need the Sticky Keys feature turned on or if it’s popping up unexpectedly or activating by mistake. This guide will walk you through how to enable/disable Sticky Keys on Windows 10 and 11 using simple steps in the settings menu. You’ll also learn how to activate/deactivate the Sticky Keys notification.

• TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • How to Turn On/Off Sticky Keys on Windows 10 and 11 – 4 Methods
    • 1. Use Settings to Turn On/Off Sticky Keys
    • 2. Turn On/Off Sticky Keys Using the Shift Key
    • 3. Turn On/Off Sticky Keys from the Control Panel
    • 4. Turn On/Off Sticky Keys through Accessibility
  • What are Sticky Keys?
  • When Should We Enable/Disable Sticky Key?
  • How to Turn On/Off Sticky Keys on Windows – FAQs

How to Turn On/Off Sticky Keys on Windows 10 and 11 – 4 Methods

You can easily activate/deactivate Sticky Keys on Windows 10 and 11 using five different methods. These methods include using Settings, Keyboard Shortcuts, Shift keys, Control Panel, and the Keyboard option under Accessibility. These methods are applicable for Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, you can choose the one that suits your system best.

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1. Use Settings to Turn On/Off Sticky Keys

Step 1: Go to Start and look for “Settings”

To turn on/off Sticky keys using Settings, navigate to the settings option from the Start button or simply press the Windows+i key to open up settings. A page will open up as shown below:

Step 2: Click on “Ease of Access”

In the Settings pane, choose the Ease of Access option.

Step 3: Select Keyboard option

Scroll down the menu bar of the Ease of Access Section and look for the Keyboard option.

Step 4: Click to Toggle Sticky keys

In the right next pane to the menu, there will be a Toggle Switch under Use Sticky Keys. Use it to either turn on or turn off the Sticky Keys as shown below:

Note: This method can be used to Turn on and also Turn off the Sticky Keys.

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2. Turn On/Off Sticky Keys Using the Shift Key

The easiest way to turn off Sticky Keys is to press the Shift Key for 5 times. This works both ways, either to turn on or turn off.

Note: This method can be used to Turn on and also Turn off the Sticky Keys.

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3. Turn On/Off Sticky Keys from the Control Panel

Step 1: Open Run Dialogue Box

To turn off Sticky keys from the Control Panel, navigate to the run box. You can either press Windows+R or go to the start button and press Run.

Step 2: Access to Control Panel

Now, once the Run Box is opened, type control panel and hit OK to open the Control Panel as shown below:

Step 3: Go to Ease of Access

Once you enter the in the control panel, go to Ease of Access and click on it to expand it.

Step 4: Click on Make Keyboard Easir to Use

Scroll down and look for Make Keyboard Easier to Use and select it.

Step 5: Choose “Turn on Sticky Keys” option

Now there will be various options, choose Turn on Sticky Keys. Here to turn on the sticky keys, make sure to check the checkbox and de-select the checkbox to Turn off the Sticky Keys as shown in the demonstration below. Select OK to apply the changes.

Note: This method can be used to Turn on and also Turn off the Sticky Keys.

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4. Turn On/Off Sticky Keys through Accessibility

This method is similar to Method-1 discussed above. To turn off Sticky Keys using the Accessibility feature available in Windows.

Step 1: Go to Windows Accessibility option

Go to Settings and click on the Accessibility option at the left panel as shown below:

Step 2: Go to Keyboard option.

On the right panel, scroll up a bit and look for the Keyboard option. Now, click on the Keyboard option.

Step 3: Toggle the option to Turn on/off Sticky keys.

The Accessibility>Keyboard window will display a list of settings options available. At the top, there would be a Sticky Keys toggle switch available as shown below. You can toggle the switch on or off as per your requirement.

Note: This method can be used to Turn on and also Turn off the Sticky Keys.

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What are Sticky Keys?

The main purpose of creating Sticky Keys was to help and let physically challenged people use the computer keyboard with ease.

Sticky Keys enable the modifier keys like Shift, Ctrl, Tab, and, Alt, etc, to stay active all the time without the need to press them again and again along with the other key.

Whenever a user presses a modifier key, it goes into the “keypress lock” state that comes into action when Sticky Keys are turned on. The pressed key remains active until another key is stroked. This simplifies the physically disabled people to access the functions involved using the modifier keys. This also has Auditory Feedback like a sound notification to let the user know that the Sticky Keys are turned on.

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When Should We Disable Sticky Keys?

Disable Sticky Keys to prevent accidental key presses. It avoids interruptions, especially during gaming or tasks requiring rapid keystrokes. Let us understand the scenarios where it becomes necessary to disable sticky keys:

1. Constant Pop-ups: When playing games pressing the modifier keys constantly for some actions is necessary. However, when Sticky Keys are turned on, they can cause constant pop-up dialogue boxes which can be irritative.
2. Speed Typing: People who are fast typers may find the Sticky Keys irritative as they can disturb the flow and reduce the efficiency of their typing speed.
3. Data Entry: When working with spreadsheets to enter data, there are situations where modifier keys are used to select or enter a series of data at once. In this scenario, it can be frustrating to a user.
4. Programming: For a programmer, it is crucial to use keyboard shortcuts to complete the coding tasks. If the Sticky Keys are not turned off it can be a serious turn-off in the programmer’s efficiency.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined, you can easily turn on/off Sticky Keys on Windows 10 and enable/disable Sticky Keys on Windows 11. Whether you’re using shortcuts or navigating through the Windows Sticky Keys settings, managing this accessibility feature is straightforward. Once you’ve deactivated it, you can enjoy a smoother experience without unwanted interruptions from Sticky Keys notifications.

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How to Turn On/Off Sticky Keys on Windows – FAQs

Why should I turn off Sticky Keys?

Sticky Keys feature in Windows is primarily designed for physically disabled people to press the keys one at a time. Turning it on would interven with your keyboard typing that can lead to errors or typos. This leads to frequent pop-ups, sound alerts and notifications that could be disturbing. So, it is advised to turn-off Sticky Keys when not necessary.

How to know if my sticky keys are turned on?

• To know if the Sticky Keys are turned on, look for its icon at the bottom right corner of your Windows’ Home Screen. Additionally, you might hear a sound or get a pop-up notification on your screen.
• Another way to know if the sticky keys are turned on by navigating to the Keyboard option available under Accessibility in Windows Settings.

How to avoid the automatic turn-on of the Sticky Keys?

• You can avoid Sticky keys getting turned-on automatically. Navigate to the Control Panel and select Ease of Access option. Now, select Make Keyboard Easier to Use option and deselect the Automatic Turn-On Sticky keys feature.
• Another way is to disable shortcut keys/modifier keys that automatically turn-on Sticky keys. Both the methods help in preventing the automatic turn-on of the Sticky Keys.

How do I turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 10?

To turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 10, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, and toggle off the Sticky Keys option. You can also press Shift five times to disable it quickly if it’s already turned on.