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Learn what to do when your computer is stuck in all caps mode
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Are you frustrated that your keyboard is typing in all capital letters even though Caps Lock is off? No worries. Follow this tutorial to find out why you can't stop typing in all caps and how to fix it.

How to Stop Tying in All Caps

  • Check your Caps Lock key to make sure it isn’t turned on.
  • Test your Shift key to see if it’s stuck or behaving in unexpected ways.
  • Disable keyboard settings that might be causing problems, like FilterKeys or Sticky Keys.
  • Make sure your computer is set to toggle off all caps with the Caps Lock key.
Section 1 of 4:

Checking the Caps Lock Key

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  1. The Caps Lock key is located on the left side of your keyboard. When it’s active, all your letter keys will type capitals, even if you aren’t holding down Shift.
    • Many keyboards have a light on the Caps Lock key to tell you when it’s on. Check if the key is lit up.
    • If the key is active, simply pressing it again should be enough to turn it off. If this doesn’t work, you might need to check your keyboard settings.
  2. If the key is stuck, sometimes tapping it a few times will help deactivate it. You can also try some of our methods for fixing a stuck key.
    • If the key is stuck, cleaning your keyboard might help. Cleaning expert Filip Boksa explains that it's important to disconnect your keyboard first. If you're using a built-in laptop keyboard, shut down your computer and unplug it.
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Section 2 of 4:

Checking the Shift Key

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  1. Normally, holding down the Shift key causes your letter keys to type upper-case, and displays alternate characters for other keys (like the number keys at the top of your keyboard). If this is happening even when you aren’t holding down Shift, it’s possible that the key is stuck.
    • Try tapping the key several times to get it unstuck, or wipe around it with a cotton swab moistened with rubbing alcohol.
    • If the key doesn’t seem to be stuck or damaged, there might be a problem with your keyboard settings.
    EXPERT TIP
    Luigi Oppido

    Luigi Oppido

    Computer & Tech Specialist
    Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.
    Luigi Oppido
    Luigi Oppido
    Computer & Tech Specialist

    Try cleaning around your sticky key with an ammonia-free glass cleaner. This is a good, gentle option for getting gunk and residue off your keyboard. Steer clear of anything that contains ammonia, which can eat through the plastic. And never spray any cleaning product directly on your keyboard.

Section 3 of 4:

Advanced Keyboard Settings

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  1. Sticky Keys are an accessibility feature on both Mac and Windows computers that are meant to make it easier to enable certain keyboard shortcuts.[1] While this feature can be helpful, it can also cause your keyboard to behave in unexpected ways, such as capitalizing letters when you didn’t mean to if you accidentally press Shift.
  2. Review your Caps Lock settings. By default, you should be able to turn all caps on or off by pressing the Caps Lock key. But if, for example, Caps Lock is set to be turned off with the Shift key instead of the Caps Lock key, you might accidentally turn Caps Lock on and have a hard time turning it off. Here’s how to check:
  3. FilterKeys is an accessibility setting, similar to Sticky Keys. When it’s enabled, your computer might ignore repeated key presses (making it harder to toggle caps on or off) or turn on a setting that ignores keystrokes if they don’t last a certain length of time. These settings can sometimes cause issues with unwanted capitalizations. The shortcut key for FilterKeys is the right Shift key, which allows you to toggle these features on and off by holding it down for a certain length of time. To turn this feature off altogether:[5]
    • Open the Control Panel on your PC and double-click Accessibility Options.
    • Click the Keyboard tab and select Settings in the FilterKeys section.
    • If the box next to Use Shortcut is checked, uncheck it. Click OK, then click OK again to confirm.
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Section 4 of 4:

Using a Keyboard Tester

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  1. If other fixes don’t work, it’s possible that your keyboard isn’t functioning properly. There are tons of free websites you can use to test your keyboard and uncover any issues. Some popular options include https://keyboardchecker.com/ and https://keyboardtester.co/keyboard-tester.
  2. If you discover a problem with your keyboard, you may be able to reset it. The best way to do this depends on the type of computer and keyboard you’re using. For detailed instructions on several methods for resetting a keyboard, check out this wikiHow article.
    • Make sure any drivers or other software associated with your keyboard are up to date.
  3. If there’s a physical problem with your keyboard that you can’t fix by cleaning it or repairing problem keys, then it might be time to get a new keyboard.
    • If you have a laptop with a built-in keyboard, you can always attach an external keyboard.
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Tips

  • Sometimes all you need to do is reboot your computer. If all your keyboard settings seem to be correct and your Shift and Caps Lock keys aren’t stuck or damaged, try restarting to see if it fixes the glitch.
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About This Article

Megaera Lorenz, PhD
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Megaera Lorenz is an Egyptologist and Writer with over 20 years of experience in public education. In 2017, she graduated with her PhD in Egyptology from The University of Chicago, where she served for several years as a content advisor and program facilitator for the Oriental Institute Museum’s Public Education office. She has also developed and taught Egyptology courses at The University of Chicago and Loyola University Chicago. This article has been viewed 92,665 times.
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Co-authors: 16
Updated: December 2, 2024
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