How to test Home and End on a low-profile keyboard

On a low-profile keyboard, Home and End may be printed on smaller keys or hidden behind an Fn layer. You might press a key and scroll a page instead of moving a cursor, or get no response at all. That does not immediately mean the key is broken.

Use the Keyboard Test to check whether the keyboard sends a Home or End input. Then compare direct keys with any Fn combinations and try them in a text field, where their effect is easier to recognize.

Test the Home and End keys

1. Open the Keyboard Test on the computer connected to the keyboard.
2. Press the physical Home key once, release it, then press End once. Look for each key to register in the test. If the keys are printed as secondary functions, test the key combination shown on the keycap as well.
3. If Home or End appears to share a key with an arrow, hold the keyboard's Fn key and press that arrow. Test the Home and End combinations separately.
4. Press a few ordinary letter keys to confirm that the test is receiving input. Then test Home and End again, pressing and releasing each key fully.
5. Open a blank text field and type a short line, such as one two three. Click between the words, press Home or End, and check whether the cursor moves as expected for your operating system.

A web keyboard test can show whether it received a key event. The effect of Home and End in a document can differ between Windows, macOS, browsers, and apps, so use both the test and a text field to understand what is happening.

What the result means

Home and End register as separate keys

The keyboard is sending those inputs. If they behave differently in a particular app, check the app's shortcuts or the current focus. Some apps use Home and End to move within a line, while others may scroll or navigate in a different way.

Only the Fn combination registers

Your keyboard uses a layer for navigation. The direct key may send another function, or may not send Home or End unless you hold Fn. This is normal for many compact and low-profile layouts. Use the keycap legend or the keyboard's layout guide to confirm the intended combination.

The key registers, but the page moves

The browser may be acting on the key because a text field is not focused. Home and End can scroll a webpage when the page itself has focus. Click inside a text field before judging cursor behavior. On macOS, Home and End may move to the beginning or end of a document rather than the start or end of the current line.

One key does not register in the test

Check whether you are testing the actual key or a layer combination. A keyboard's Fn key usually never reaches the browser. The keyboard handles it internally and sends the resulting command, so a test cannot confirm that Fn itself works.

Neither the key nor its combination registers

If other keys register normally, the Home or End key, its layer, or a remapping setting may be the cause. Try the fixes below before deciding the keyboard needs repair.

How to fix it

1. Check the keycap and layout. Look for a smaller Home or End label on an arrow or another key. Try the printed combination, including Fn if shown. Some keyboards also have an Fn-lock setting that changes whether the primary or secondary function is sent by default.
2. Test in a focused text field. Click inside a plain text field before pressing Home or End. If the keyboard test detects the key but the text cursor does not move, test in another basic text editor or app. The behavior may belong to the original app, not the keyboard.
3. Review accessibility keyboard settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard and temporarily turn off Filter Keys or Sticky Keys if they are enabled. On macOS, open System Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard and review the keyboard accessibility options. Retest after changing one setting at a time.
4. Check for key remapping. If you use keyboard software or a remapping utility, look for a profile that changes Home, End, or the arrow keys. On Windows 11, check any installed keyboard utility or remapping app. On macOS, review System Settings › Keyboard › Keyboard Shortcuts for shortcuts that may use those keys, and check any keyboard manufacturer's app for a custom layout.
5. Reconnect the keyboard. Unplug a wired keyboard, wait a few seconds, and connect it directly to another USB port. For a wireless keyboard, check its battery and reconnect its receiver or Bluetooth connection.
6. Restart and test again. A restart can clear a temporary input problem or a stuck keyboard utility. Run the browser test before reopening the app where you first noticed the issue.

When the keyboard may be faulty

If Home or End still fails to register while other keys work, test the keyboard on another computer if possible. If the same key fails there too, but the Fn layer and other keys behave consistently, the switch or keyboard circuitry may be damaged. Check the keyboard's warranty or contact the manufacturer. For a low-cost keyboard, replacement may be more practical than repair.

If the keys register on another computer, the original computer's settings, remapping software, or app is a more likely cause. Keep the test results and note whether the direct key or only the Fn combination works before asking for support.

Why Fn is different from a regular key

Most browsers receive key events after the keyboard has processed its hardware layer. The Fn key often changes what the keyboard sends, but the browser does not receive Fn as a separate press. For example, holding Fn and pressing an arrow may send Home or End, even though the test never shows Fn as pressed.

For a reliable check, test the visible navigation result, the key event in the browser, and the cursor movement in a text field. Together, those checks can separate a missing key input from a layer shortcut or an operating-system behavior.