Mac Keyboard Test Online
Test your Mac keyboard with a native macOS layout: Cmd, Option, Control, and function row included. Check dead or repeating keys on MacBook, Magic Keyboard, and external Apple keyboards.
Press any key. Listening now.
What the Mac test tells you
What it measures
Press every key with a macOS layout on screen: Cmd, Option, Control and the function row included. Detection uses physical key codes, so any Mac keyboard works, built-in or external.
What it reveals
Dead keys and stuck keys show up in seconds, which matters on the 2016-2019 butterfly keyboards known for keys that fail or repeat. It also shows which keys macOS shortcuts swallow before the browser sees them.
Who should test
MacBook owners documenting a failing key before a repair or trade-in, and buyers pressing every key on a used Mac. If you pair an external keyboard, this confirms it works.
How to test a Mac keyboard
- Press every key, one at a timeKeys light up while held and turn green once released. Work through letters, numbers, the spacebar and the modifier keys.
- Test the modifiersCmd, Option, Control and Shift each have two physical keys. Both should register. Caps Lock shows in the lock indicator at the top.
- Check the resultA key that never lights is likely dead. Amber (stuck) means a press without release, or the window lost focus mid-press.
Mac keyboard FAQ
Cmd keys, butterfly keyboards and used-Mac checks on macOS.
Why doesn't the Cmd key register in the test?
Cmd is a normal key to the browser and should light up. If it doesn't, a browser or OS shortcut may be swallowing it. Try switching your browser's shortcut layout, or hold Cmd alone without another key.
Can I test a MacBook keyboard with this tool?
Yes, this page is set to the macOS layout so the labels match, but detection uses physical key codes, so every key on your MacBook works either way.
My butterfly-keyboard Mac repeats keys. What now?
Run the Chatter test on the repeating key. If extra triggers appear, it matches the known butterfly-switch failure mode. Document it with this test before contacting Apple Support or a repair shop.
Does an external keyboard work on Mac?
Yes, press keys on any USB, Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz keyboard and they'll light up here. Windows-layout boards still work; the Mac layout just changes the printed labels on screen.
Should I test a used Mac before buying?
Definitely. Open this page on the machine, press every key, and check the battery-health and display separately. A dead key is a solid bargaining point, or a reason to walk away.