How to check a 60 percent keyboard

A 60 percent keyboard saves desk space by leaving out dedicated keys found on a full-size board. Depending on its layout, you may need a function layer for arrows, function keys, or navigation keys. That can make it hard to tell whether a key is missing or simply on another layer.

Test the keys your browser can see, then check the keyboard's layers separately. The Keyboard Test can show whether keys register and how many can work at once.

Test the keyboard

1. Open the Keyboard Test and click in its test area if needed to give it focus.
2. Press each key that has its own keycap, one at a time. Include letters, numbers, punctuation, modifiers such as Shift and Ctrl, and any dedicated keys your board has. Check that each press registers once and stops registering when you release it.
3. Try the combinations printed on the keycaps or listed in your keyboard's manual. For example, hold Fn and press the key marked with an arrow or a function number. Check that the intended action occurs in a suitable app or system screen, not just in the test.
4. Test common combinations you use, such as holding Shift while typing or pressing several game keys together. The test can show how many keys register at the same time. Use ordinary keys first, then try combinations that include modifiers.

Write down the exact keys or combinations that fail. Testing the same key several times helps distinguish a consistent problem from a missed press.

What the result means

A key works by itself, but not with other keys

The keyboard may have a limit on how many keys it can report together, sometimes called rollover. Some combinations can also conflict with the board's firmware or a computer shortcut. If the same key works alone and only fails in one particular combination, that does not by itself prove the switch is broken.

A keycap has a secondary symbol, but the test shows no Fn key

That is expected. The Fn key is usually handled inside the keyboard and does not reach the browser as a normal key press. The browser may see the result of an Fn combination, such as an arrow key, but it cannot confirm that the Fn key itself registered. Test the combination by checking what it does in an app or system feature that uses that action.

A key has no separate keycap

It may be absent from the physical layout and available only through a layer, or it may not be supported by that model. Check the keyboard's layout diagram or manual before treating it as a fault. Compact keyboards do not all put arrows, function keys, or navigation controls on the same combinations.

One physical key does not register reliably

If it misses presses even when used alone, the issue may be the switch, key mechanism, connection, or software that remaps keys. Test it again in another browser or on another computer if possible. A browser test checks the input it receives, not the keyboard's internal electronics.

How to fix it

1. Check the keyboard's layout. Find the model's layer diagram and confirm which key combination produces the missing arrow, function key, or navigation action. Layouts vary, even among 60 percent keyboards.
2. Reconnect the keyboard. For a wired board, try another USB port and reconnect the cable at both ends if it is detachable. For a wireless board, charge it or replace its batteries, then check that the receiver or Bluetooth connection is active.
3. Check the selected keyboard layout. On Windows 11, open Settings › Time & language › Language & region, select the language's options, and check its keyboard layout. On macOS, open System Settings › Keyboard and review the input source under Text Input. A different layout can make punctuation and symbol keys produce unexpected characters.
4. Review accessibility settings. Filter or slow key settings can make brief presses behave differently. On Windows 11, check Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard. On macOS, check System Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard, including Slow Keys and Sticky Keys.
5. Close remapping software. Keyboard utilities, game profiles, or macros can change what a key sends. Temporarily exit those programs, test again, and review the active profile if the key starts working normally.
6. Test it on another computer. If the same physical key still fails there, check for debris around the key and follow the manufacturer's cleaning guidance. Do not pour liquid into the keyboard. If the fault persists, contact the seller or manufacturer about repair or replacement.

When the keyboard may be faulty

A single key that consistently fails on more than one computer is stronger evidence of a keyboard problem than a missing Fn-layer action in one browser. If the key works only when pressed hard, at an angle, or repeatedly, its switch or mechanism may be worn or damaged. If the keyboard is under warranty, document which keys fail and contact the manufacturer before opening it.

Why the browser cannot test every shortcut

Browsers receive ordinary key events, not every action handled by the operating system or keyboard firmware. The Fn key never reaches the browser. The Windows key, Print Screen, and laptop shortcut keys for brightness, volume, or Wi-Fi are also usually handled before the browser can see them. A test that does not react to those keys is not proof that the keyboard is broken.

The keyboard test runs in your browser and checks key input on your device. Avoid entering passwords or private text while diagnosing a key.