Arrow keys stuck after changing input settings?

You release an arrow key, but the cursor or selection keeps moving. Or the problem started after you changed an input setting, and now the arrow keys behave as if one is still pressed. First check whether the browser receives the same problem outside the app where you noticed it.

The Keyboard Test shows which keys register when you press them. It can help you separate an app or setting issue from a key that is repeating or failing to release.

Test the arrow keys

1. Open the Keyboard Test on the computer with the problem. Click the test area if needed so it can receive keyboard input.
2. Press and release the Up, Down, Left, and Right arrow keys one at a time. Check that each key registers, then stops registering when you lift your finger.
3. Hold each arrow key briefly, then release it. This helps distinguish normal repeated input while held from input that continues after release.
4. Try the keyboard in the app where you first noticed the problem, then in another place such as a text field. If possible, repeat the test with a second keyboard.

Keep the test page focused while testing. If the page scrolls instead of showing a key response, click the test area and try again. Close or save any document before testing there, since arrow keys can move a cursor or selection.

What the result means

A key registers only while you hold it

The browser is receiving a press and release for that key. If movement continues in just one program, the keyboard is probably not stuck. Check that program's focus, key bindings, and input settings instead.

A key seems active after you release it

The browser may be seeing repeated input or may not be receiving the release event. This can come from an accessibility setting, a remapping utility, a connection problem, or a worn key. The test narrows down where to look, but it cannot identify the exact cause by itself.

The keys work in the test but not in one app

The keyboard can send arrow input to the browser. The app may have a changed control binding, a different input mode, or a selected text field or panel that handles arrows differently. Check its input settings and restore the default arrow key bindings if needed.

One arrow key does not register consistently

If the same key fails or repeats in the browser test and in other apps, focus on that key, its keyboard connection, or keyboard software. Testing with another keyboard helps tell whether the problem follows the computer or the physical keyboard.

How to fix it

1. Release the key and restore focus. Lift your hands from the keyboard, click the app or test area again, and press the arrow key once. If the behavior is limited to one window, close and reopen that app after saving your work.
2. Check accessibility keyboard settings. In Windows 11, open Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard and check whether Filter Keys or Sticky Keys was turned on or changed. On macOS, open System Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard and check Slow Keys and Sticky Keys. Turn off a setting only if you do not rely on it for accessibility.
3. Check whether Mouse Keys is on. This feature uses keyboard keys to move the pointer, which can make arrow input seem unusual. In Windows 11, check Settings › Accessibility › Mouse › Mouse keys. On macOS, check System Settings › Accessibility › Pointer Control › Alternate Control Methods › Mouse Keys.
4. Review key repeat settings. A faster repeat rate makes a held key send repeated input sooner, but it should stop when you release the key. On Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Keyboard if that page is available, or search Windows Settings for keyboard repeat options. On macOS, open System Settings › Keyboard and adjust Key repeat rate and Delay until repeat. Test again after changing one setting at a time.
5. Undo recent remapping or profile changes. If you changed settings in keyboard software, a gaming profile, or the affected app, switch back to the previous profile or restore the arrow key bindings. Close the utility temporarily and retest in the browser.
6. Reconnect the keyboard and restart. Unplug a wired keyboard, try another USB port, or reconnect a wireless keyboard. Replace or recharge its batteries if needed. Restarting can clear input that an app or driver has failed to release.

When it's the keyboard hardware

Test the keyboard on another computer, or connect a different keyboard to this one. If one arrow key keeps repeating or fails to release across devices, while the other keys behave normally, the key switch may be worn or contaminated. For a laptop keyboard, avoid pouring liquid or cleaner under the key. Check the warranty or ask a repair shop about replacing the keyboard. For an external keyboard, replacement may be simpler than repair.

Why a key can look stuck

When you hold a key, the operating system may send repeated input so a cursor keeps moving. That is different from a key that remains logically pressed after you let go. A browser test shows the key events that reach its page, but it cannot inspect every driver, keyboard firmware setting, or app-specific input layer. If the browser test is normal, use the app's own controls and settings to track down the remaining problem.

If the arrows scroll a web page instead of moving a text cursor, the page may not have focus in the place you expect. For that separate issue, see Why arrow keys scroll instead of moving the cursor.