Keyboard testing guide
How to Properly Test a Keyboard Before You Trust It
Use this checklist with keyboardtesterhub to quickly validate a new, used, laptop, or mechanical keyboard before you rely on it every day.
1. Start with a full key scan
Open keyboardtesterhub in your browser and make sure the tab is focused. Slowly press every key once, including function keys, modifiers, number row, numpad, and arrow keys. Each key should light up on the on‑screen layout and appear in the activity log.
If a key does not light up, or only registers sometimes, you may be dealing with a failing switch or bad contact.
2. Check for stuck or bouncing keys
Press and release each key a few times while watching the tester. A healthy key should switch cleanly between "pressed" and "released" states in the visualizer and history panel.
- If a key appears stuck as pressed, the switch may be dirty or damaged.
- If the tester shows multiple fast presses when you tap once, the switch could be bouncing.
3. Test common gaming combos and ghosting
Hold down your usual gaming cluster, such as W + A + S + D + Space, and watch the combo panel and keyboard layout in keyboardtesterhub.
A good gaming keyboard should register all keys in the combo at once. If some keys stop registering when you hold others, that's a sign of limited anti‑ghosting or rollover.
4. Compare normal typing vs. heavy use
Type a short paragraph naturally and then check the statistics cards and key heatmap at the top of keyboardtesterhub. This gives you a quick sense of which keys you use most and whether any key is dropping presses.
5. Export a report for records
When you're done, open the detailed report in keyboardtesterhub and download the PDF. This is useful if you're:
- Documenting the state of a keyboard for resale.
- Capturing before/after results when cleaning or repairing.
- Sharing findings with support for warranty claims.
Final thoughts
A few minutes of testing can save you hours of frustration later. Use this checklist any time you buy a new keyboard, plug in a used one, or suspect that a key is starting to fail.
Ready to run through the steps? Open keyboardtesterhub in a new tab and follow this guide side by side.