Last key pressed
--
--
- code
- --
- keyCode
- --
- on Windows
- --
Mac Keyboard Tester: Free Online Mac Keyboard Test
Choose your Apple keyboard, then press each key and watch it turn green. Hold command, option, control or shift and the indicator lights up; the readout shows the key's macOS name, its browser code and what the same key is called on a Windows PC. The keyboard test needs no install, account or sign-up, just open it and start.
⌘⌥⌃⇧fn⇪
Untested Tested Pressed Not reported by browsers
0 / 0 keys tested (0%)
Keys held right now
none
Total presses
0
Still untested
Match Mac key names to browser codes
Use this table when a key registers under an unexpected name, or when a Windows keyboard is plugged into your Mac.
| Mac key | Symbol | event.code | Windows equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| command | ⌘ | MetaLeft / MetaRight | Windows key |
| option | ⌥ | AltLeft / AltRight | Alt |
| control | ⌃ | ControlLeft / ControlRight | Ctrl |
| fn / globe | 🌐 | not reported | Fn (also not reported) |
| delete | ⌫ | Backspace | Backspace |
| forward delete (fn + delete) | ⌦ | Delete | Delete |
| return | ↩ | Enter | Enter |
| caps lock | ⇪ | CapsLock | Caps Lock |
Use this Mac keyboard test to find out whether every key on your MacBook or external Apple board still registers. Each press lights up the virtual keyboard, and a key that stays dark is the one to investigate. Think of this Mac keyboard tester as a keyboard checker for macOS that lives in your browser.
Mac Keyboard Tester: Press Every Key to Test Your Mac Keyboard Online
Open the page in Safari or Chrome. There are no downloads and no installation, so the online macOS keyboard test runs safely inside the browser. To test my macOS keyboard online, follow these steps: Run the keyboard latency test to see your result in seconds, right in your browser.
- Press every key, one by one, including the numpad on a full-size board.
- Watch each key press light up green; keys that work stay highlighted.
- Note any key that never lights up, then repeat the check once more.
This keyboard test online is the fastest way of testing your Mac keyboard before a repair booking.
Test Function Keys and the Fn Key on macOS
By default, F1 to F12 control brightness and volume. Hold the Fn key, that is, hold the Fn key, while you press a function key to send a standard function keys signal, unless you changed that option in System Settings. Also press Caps Lock, Num Lock and the emoji key; the globe key often cannot register in a browser, which is a hardware quirk, not a fault.
Run a Ghosting Check with a Full Layout Check
Press multiple keys at once for a ghosting check, then sweep the board for a full layout check. Any Apple keyboard, including a Bluetooth keyboard, a wireless keyboard or any external keyboard, can drop presses when too many are held.
Why Use a macOS Keyboard Test Tool Online
A free online macOS keyboard tester shows what the operating system really receives. The macOS keyboard test understands Command, Option and Control key codes that a Windows keyboard tool misses, and your shortcuts depend on them. It works with a Magic Keyboard, a MacBook, a laptop or a desktop setup, and it is free of charge. Run the keyboard ghosting test to see your result in seconds, right in your browser.
- Private: nothing is uploaded, and the page needs no system access, so privacy stays intact.
- Remap aware: a PC keyboard on a Mac swaps Alt and Win for Option and Command; you can remap them later.
- Good for IT: an online keyboard tester, or any keyboard testing tool, can feed a detailed report with an asset tag for asset management; suites that also check the microphone, webcam and speaker cover more than this keyboard testing tool does.
This online keyboard test tool also works with a Touch ID Magic Keyboard, an iPad, or a Windows keyboard, though the last needs the remap above.
Spot Faulty Keys and Typing Problems on Your Mac Keyboard
If keys light up instantly, the faulty keyboard suspicion is wrong; the fault lies with software. A delay or no response points to faulty keys. This keyboard diagnosis separates a system issue from a typing problems complaint, whether you game or only write. Wireless boards also drain batteries, so check them first.
Checking a Used MacBook Air with the Mac Keyboard Checker
You are about to pay $689 for a used US-layout MacBook Air, and the seller will not let you keep it for a week. The decision: buy at the asking price, haggle, or walk. Before handing over cash, you open this keyboard checker in Safari on the laptop itself. See how your keyboard handles javascript keycode with the free tool on this site.
You press the 78 keys in order, left to right, row by row: the function row first, then numbers, letters and the arrow keys. 77 of 78 keys light up green, which is 98.7%. The right Option key stays grey on the virtual keyboard. You press it six more times, harder, and nothing changes.
So you rule out the easy explanations. First, you tap it again after the Fn row; the keyboard tester still shows it dark. Then you check System Settings to see whether a remap is eating the key; the modifier list is clean. Last, you hold Right Option together with the arrow keys to see if it only fails alone. It fails in every combination, so the switch is dead rather than misconfigured.
| Step | Result |
|---|---|
| Keys tested | 78 |
| Keys lit green | 77 (98.7%) |
| Dead key | Right Option |
| Asking price after haggling | $629 |
You point at the grey key on screen and offer $629, $60 off, which roughly covers a keyboard replacement quote you would still want to confirm with a repair shop. The seller accepts. My judgement call: a single dead modifier on a laptop is worth a discount, but two dead keys in the same row would make me walk, because a failing row usually means a damaged flex cable rather than one worn switch.
One caveat: a browser test only proves the key sends a signal, so it cannot catch a key that sticks or feels mushy. Type a paragraph before you hand over the money.
Mac Keyboard Tester Specs: Rollover, Polling Rate and Input Lag
macOS parses USB HID protocol data strictly. Many NKRO boards drop to 6KRO unless their firmware supports Mac, and non-mechanical Mac keyboards often hit rollover limits at six keys.
| Spec | What macOS does | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Rollover | Often limits boards to 6KRO | Hold seven keys and count lights |
| Polling rate | Supports 1000Hz | Report interval of 1 ms |
| Input lag | Animations can feel slow | Raw signal latency |
Key Rollover on Mac
Six simultaneous keys is the usual Mac limit, so a gaming board may need Mac firmware to reach NKRO, which tests the keys without limit.
Polling Rate Support
At 1000Hz a keyboard reports every 1 ms; at 125Hz it reports every 8 ms. The tester cannot display polling rate directly, but a 1000Hz board responds faster on every key it lights.
Input Lag and Raw Signal Latency
The tester shows raw signal latency from key press to lit key, excluding smooth interface animations that can feel like input lag.
What to Do When the Keyboard Test Online Shows a Dead Key
Clean around the key, then retest. If the same key stays dark, diagnose it by running your keyboard diagnosis on a second Mac or use another keyboard checker to confirm. If the checker shows the key dark while accessibility settings or troubleshooting a swapped Command key seem to explain it, reset the modifier keys first; compatibility fixes rarely cure a truly dead switch, so plan a repair.
Rule Out Hardware Before You Blame Software
A key that works in the tester but not in an app is a software problem; one that fails everywhere is hardware.
Other Mac Keyboard Test Options: Inspect App and Display Check
The free Inspect app is another keyboard test option for macOS, a native keyboard checker; it also runs a dead pixel test on the screen.
Frequently asked questions
How do I test F1 to F12 on a Mac keyboard?
Mac uses the function row for brightness and volume by default. Hold the Fn key and press the function key to send a standard F-key signal to the tester.
Why are Command and Option swapped on my keyboard?
A Windows keyboard puts Alt next to the space bar, while a Mac puts Command there. macOS reads the Windows key as Command and Alt as Option; remap them in System Settings if you prefer.
Does the keyboard test work on an iPad?
Yes. Connect a Magic Keyboard or any Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad and open the page in Safari.
Why does the emoji or globe key not light up?
Browsers often cannot see the Globe/Fn key as a normal key press unless it acts as a modifier, so a dark globe key is not necessarily a fault.
How do I know my Mac keyboard is faulty?
If the virtual keyboard responds instantly to each press, the keyboard is fine. A delay or no response suggests a faulty key.
How do I check for ghosting?
Press several keys at once and see whether every one stays lit. Many Mac keyboards register about six keys at the same time.
Do I need to install anything?
No. The test runs in Safari or Chrome with no download or system permission.