Dell Keyboard Test

How to use the Dell Keyboard Test

1. Choose your keyboard layout
2. Press every key — tested keys turn green
3. Keys that stay grey after pressing need fixing or replacing

About this tool

Test every key on your Dell laptop keyboard online — Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS and G series. Find dead, stuck or double-typing keys. Dell Keyboard Test is part of WebToolNest's collection of free web & device. It works instantly in your browser with no account and no installation.

Testing a Dell laptop keyboard

This page is set to the Windows laptop layout used by most Dell Inspiron, Vostro, Latitude, XPS and G-series laptops. If your Dell has a number pad, tick Numeric keypad. Press every key and check that each one turns green.

What the colours mean

• Green — the key sent a signal to your computer. It works.
• Blue — the key is being held down right now. A key that stays blue after you let go is stuck.
• Red outline — shown when you click “Highlight untested keys”: keys you have not pressed yet.
• Dashed — Fn and Touch ID are handled inside the laptop and are never visible to any website. Test Fn through its shortcuts instead (Fn + brightness or volume).

Function keys not working on your Dell laptop?

• On many Dell laptops Fn + Esc toggles Fn Lock, switching the top row between media keys and F1–F12.
• You can also set it permanently: restart, press F2 to open the BIOS setup, and look for Function Key Behavior.

Run Dell's own hardware test

Restart and tap F12 at the Dell logo, then choose Diagnostics. Dell's built-in test (ePSA / SupportAssist) checks the keyboard and other hardware without Windows. If it reports a keyboard fault and your laptop is under warranty, Dell can replace the keyboard.

A key does not light up — what next?

1. Rule out software first. Restart, then test again. Check that Filter Keys / Sticky Keys (Windows Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard) are off.
2. Plug in a USB keyboard and test it here. If the external keyboard works, the laptop keyboard hardware is at fault, not Windows.
3. Clean it. Turn the laptop off, tilt it, and blow compressed air under the dead key in short bursts. Crumbs and dust cause most “dead” or “sticky” keys.
4. Reinstall the driver. Device Manager → Keyboards → right-click the keyboard → Uninstall device, then restart. Windows reinstalls it automatically.
5. If one key or one whole row is still dead, the keyboard (or its ribbon cable) needs replacing. On most laptops the keyboard is a separate, inexpensive part.

Frequently asked questions