Sticky Keys lets you press modifier keys one at a time instead of holding them down — useful if you have limited hand mobility, but annoying if you don't need it and it keeps triggering by accident
Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature that registers key combinations when you press keys separately rather than simultaneously. For example, instead of holding Shift and pressing A at the same time, you press Shift once, release it, then press A. If you've never turned it on intentionally but it keeps activating, you're probably hitting the Shift key five times in a row — the default keyboard shortcut that toggles it on.
The steps to disable it differ between Windows and Mac, and the feature sits in different places depending on your operating system version. Both systems also let you change or remove the keyboard shortcut so it doesn't turn back on by accident.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, Sticky Keys is in Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, and you can turn it off there or disable the Shift+Shift keyboard shortcut.
- On Mac, Sticky Keys lives in System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, and you can toggle it off or change how it behaves.
- The default shortcut on both systems is pressing Shift five times, which is easy to trigger accidentally.
- Disabling the keyboard shortcut entirely prevents the feature from turning back on if you hit the keys by chance.
Disabling Sticky Keys on Windows 10 and 11
Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, or click the Start menu and search for "Settings". Once Settings opens, select Ease of Access from the left sidebar (on Windows 11, this may be labeled Accessibility).
Click Keyboard in the left menu. You'll see a toggle for Sticky Keys near the top of the page. Click it to turn the feature off. If the toggle is already off and Sticky Keys keeps activating, the keyboard shortcut is still enabled — scroll down to find Allow the shortcut key to start Sticky Keys and turn that toggle off as well. This prevents the Shift+Shift+Shift+Shift+Shift combination from reactivating it.
If you want to keep Sticky Keys available but just remove the keyboard shortcut, leave the main toggle on and disable only the shortcut toggle. This way the feature stays in Settings if you need it later, but won't turn on accidentally.
Disabling Sticky Keys on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). In the sidebar, click Accessibility. Then select Keyboard from the list on the left.
Look for Sticky Keys and click the toggle to turn it off. Unlike Windows, macOS doesn't have a separate toggle for the keyboard shortcut — turning off Sticky Keys disables both the feature and its shortcut at once. If you want to re-enable it later, you can turn the toggle back on from the same location.
What to do if you can't find the setting
On Windows, if you don't see Ease of Access or Accessibility in Settings, your version may be older. Try pressing Windows key + U, which opens the Ease of Access Center directly on Windows 7 and earlier versions. Look for Make the keyboard easier to use and click it, then check the box next to Turn on Sticky Keys to toggle it off.
On Mac, if Accessibility doesn't appear in System Settings, make sure you're logged in with an account that has admin rights. If you're on a very old macOS version, the setting may be under System Preferences > Universal Access instead of Accessibility.
Changing what triggers Sticky Keys instead of disabling it
If you want to keep Sticky Keys but change the keyboard shortcut so it doesn't activate by accident, Windows lets you customize this. In the Sticky Keys settings (Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard > Sticky Keys), look for Choose your keyboard shortcut. You can select a different combination or disable the shortcut entirely.
Mac doesn't offer a way to change the Sticky Keys shortcut — you can only turn the feature on or off. If you need a different shortcut, your best option is to disable Sticky Keys and use a third-party accessibility app that lets you set custom shortcuts.
Why Sticky Keys keeps turning back on
The most common reason is the Shift key shortcut. If you're typing quickly or your keyboard is sticking, pressing Shift five times in succession will activate Sticky Keys even if you didn't mean to. Disabling the shortcut toggle (on Windows) or turning off the feature entirely (on Mac) stops this from happening.
Another possibility is that a program or game you're using has its own accessibility settings that override your system settings. Some games disable Windows accessibility features while running, then re-enable them when you close the game. If Sticky Keys turns back on only in certain programs, check that program's settings or accessibility options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling Sticky Keys affect other accessibility features?
No. Sticky Keys is independent from other accessibility features like High Contrast, Magnifier, or Narrator. Turning it off won't change any other settings on your computer.
Can I disable Sticky Keys if I'm not the admin on this computer?
On Windows, you can turn Sticky Keys off from your own user account — you don't need admin rights. On Mac, you may need admin rights to access Accessibility settings, depending on how the computer is set up. If you can't access the settings, ask the person who manages the computer.
What if I need Sticky Keys sometimes but not always?
Leave the feature on in Settings but disable the keyboard shortcut. This way it won't turn on by accident, but you can still open Settings and toggle it on manually whenever you need it. On Windows, you can do this by turning off only the shortcut toggle while leaving Sticky Keys itself on.
Does Sticky Keys work the same way on all keyboards?
Yes, the feature works the same regardless of keyboard type. However, if your keyboard has keys that stick or repeat, that can trigger the Shift shortcut more easily. If this is happening, disabling the shortcut is the fastest fix.
Can I turn Sticky Keys off from the keyboard instead of going into Settings?
Only if the keyboard shortcut is still enabled. Press Shift five times to toggle it off. Once you disable the shortcut in Settings, you'll need to go back to Settings to turn the feature off — there's no keyboard command for it.