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How to turn off Sticky Keys in Windows 11

A pop-up asking if the user would like to turn on sticky keys on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature on Windows 11, making it easier to activate shortcuts that require multiple key presses. Most people discover the feature inadvertently after pressing the Shift key one too many times — and while it can be incredibly useful in some situations, it's downright bothersome in others.

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Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • PC with Windows 11

If you're looking to turn off Sticky Keys in Windows 11, here's everything you need to know. The process is simple and straightforward, and even novice users should have no problem disabling it in a matter of minutes.

How to turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 11

You can turn off Sticky Keys in the Windows Settings app. Follow the guide below on how to turn it off.

Step 1: Open the Windows Start menu, type "Settings," and hit Enter (you can also use the Windows shortcut method of Windows + I).

Screenshot of how to open Settings from Start menu on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2: Select Accessibility from the list of settings on the left, scroll to the bottom, and click Keyboard.

Screenshot of how to open Keyboard Accessibility settings on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3: You should see the option to enable or disable Sticky Keys right on top. Flip the Toggle to disable the feature.

Screenshot of Sticky Keys toggle settings on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4: Sticky Keys should now be turned off on your Windows 11 device.

Step 5: Additionally, you can enable or disable more settings by clicking on Sticky Keys or the Arrow pointer next to the toggle switch.

Step 6: There are a total of five settings for Sticky Keys:

  1. Keyboard shortcut for Sticky Keys: Enable or disable the right Shift key shortcut for Sticky Keys.
  2. Show the Sticky Keys icon on the taskbar: When active, an icon will be shown in your taskbar.
  3. Lock shortcut keys when pressed twice in a row: Windows, Shift, Alt, and Ctrl keys are locked when pressed twice in a row.
  4. Turn off Sticky Keys when two keys are pressed at the same time: This feature automatically turns off Sticky Keys when the user does not need them or is unaware if they are enabled.
  5. Play a sound when shortcut keys are pressed and released: Audio feedback is played whenever the Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and Windows keys are pressed.
Screenshot of additional Sticky Keys settings on Windows 11.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Disable Sticky Keys in Windows 11 using the searchbar

While the above method works, there's another way to disable Sticky Keys that takes about 30 seconds. With the searchbar enabled on Windows 11, type in "Sticky Keys." From the list that appears in the pop-up menu, click on Sticky Keys System Settings. This will pull up the same Sticky Keys menu found above, letting you quickly toggle all five of its settings.

Best of all, you'll now have a Sticky Keys shortcut available to you when clicking on the searchbar. Click on this shortcut, and you'll pull up the Sticky Keys menu again — which is great if you need to readjust your settings or toggle off additional features.

If this feature is useful, you might want to familarise yourself with other Windows 11 accessibility features.

Kunal Khullar
Kunal Khullar is a computing writer at Digital Trends who contributes to various topics, including CPUs, GPUs, monitors, and…
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