Check backslash and pipe keys on a refurbished PC

You press the key marked with a backslash, but the PC types something else, or nothing appears. The pipe character, a vertical line written as |, may need a key combination that depends on your keyboard layout. On a refurbished PC, the keyboard could also have a worn key or a layout setting left over from its previous owner.

Check whether the keys register before changing settings. The Keyboard Test checks key input in your browser. Then use a text editor to confirm that the PC produces the characters you expect.

Test backslash and pipe input

1. Open the Keyboard Test on the refurbished PC. Use the keyboard you plan to keep using, connected the same way you normally use it.
2. Press the key marked with a backslash, which looks like this: \. Check whether the test registers a key press. The key's position can vary between keyboard layouts.
3. Press the key combination that should produce a pipe on your layout. On a US keyboard, that is usually Shift + the backslash key. On other layouts, it may be a different combination, sometimes involving Alt or AltGr.
4. Open a plain text editor and type both characters. On Windows, use Notepad. On macOS, use TextEdit in plain-text mode. Check that the output is \ and |, not another symbol.
5. If a key press is missed, press it several times at a steady pace, then test nearby keys. This helps show whether one key is unreliable or several keys in the same area are affected.

The browser test checks whether input reaches the page. It does not change your keyboard layout or prove which character an app will type. The text editor check is what confirms the character output.

What the result means

The test registers both keys, and the characters look right

The keyboard and layout are working for these inputs. If the same keys behave differently in one program, check that program's text field, shortcut settings, or remote desktop settings. The problem may be limited to that app rather than the refurbished PC.

The test registers the key, but the editor types another character

The key is sending input, but the active keyboard layout may not match the labels on the keyboard. A layout can change which symbol a key or key combination produces. Check the selected layout before assuming the keyboard is damaged.

The backslash key does not register

The browser is not receiving an input from that key. It could be a faulty switch or keyboard connection, but first check that the test has focus and that you are pressing the intended physical key. Try another keyboard or another USB port if available.

Some nearby keys fail too

Several missed keys in one area may point to wear, dirt, liquid damage, or a keyboard matrix fault. A keyboard matrix is the wiring pattern that lets the PC read many keys. A test can show which keys fail, but it cannot identify the exact internal fault.

How to fix it

1. Check the active keyboard layout. On Windows 11, open Settings › Time & language › Language & region. Select the three-dot menu beside the language, choose Language options, and review the installed keyboards. On macOS, open System Settings › Keyboard › Text Input › Edit and check the listed input sources. Pick the layout that matches the keyboard you are using.
2. Switch to the intended layout. Windows 11 can change layouts with Windows + Space. Check the language indicator in the taskbar after switching. On a Mac, use the input menu in the menu bar to select the correct source. If the characters then match the key labels, the keyboard itself is likely fine.
3. Check the physical key labels. A refurbished PC may have a keyboard from another country or a replacement keyboard with different legends. Do not assume the US Shift + backslash combination applies to every layout. If needed, find the pipe combination for the selected layout and test that combination in a text editor.
4. Reconnect an external keyboard. Unplug a wired keyboard, wait a few seconds, then connect it directly to another USB port instead of a hub. For a wireless keyboard, check its power and receiver connection. Retest after reconnecting.
5. Check for remapping software. Keyboard utilities, macro tools, and accessibility settings can change what a key does. Close any keyboard customization software temporarily and retest. If a key was remapped by the previous owner, restore the default mapping in that utility.
6. Restart and test again. Save open work, restart the PC, and repeat the browser and text editor checks. If the problem remains, test a known-working keyboard on the PC, or test the suspect keyboard on another computer. This separates a PC setting from a keyboard fault.

If keyboard layouts are unfamiliar, conflicting keyboard layouts can also explain why the printed key and typed symbol do not match.

When the keyboard may be faulty

If the same key fails in the Keyboard Test on more than one computer, while nearby keys work, the keyboard is a likely cause. A key that works only when pressed hard, repeats unpredictably, or stops working after a short time may have a worn switch or damaged contact. Do not pry off a laptop keycap unless the manufacturer provides instructions, since small clips can break.

For an external keyboard still under warranty, contact the seller or manufacturer with the failed-key results. If it is an inexpensive keyboard and the fault follows it to another PC, replacement is usually more practical than repair. For a built-in laptop keyboard, ask a repair shop to inspect it, especially if more than one key is affected.

Why the test and text editor can disagree

A keyboard layout maps a physical key position to a character. The browser test is useful for checking whether a press registers, while the text editor shows the character produced by the active layout. A key can register normally and still type a different symbol because the selected layout differs from the keyboard labels.

Test the keyboard on the refurbished PC itself, since the same keyboard can produce different characters on another computer with a different layout selected.