How to use the Keyboard Ghosting Test
- Hold all the keys in one row of the Ghosting check at the same time, for example W, A, D and Space.
- The row turns green when every key registered together. The number shows how many did.
- Try your own combinations too, and watch held now and most at once.
- Click Reset to clear the results.
Ghosting, blocking and rollover
Most keyboards wire their keys in a grid. With cheap wiring, some combinations of 3 or more keys confuse the keyboard. It may block a key (it simply doesn't register) or, on older designs, ghost one (a key you didn't press appears). Today both are usually called ghosting.
Rollover is how many keys a keyboard can register at once. NKRO (n-key rollover) means every key, and many gaming keyboards offer it. 6KRO means 6 normal keys plus the modifiers, the limit of the standard USB keyboard mode many keyboards use.
Why it matters in games
Moving diagonally (W + A), sprinting (Shift) and jumping (Space) at the same time is 4 keys. If your keyboard blocks one, your character stops or doesn't jump. Test the combinations your games actually use.
What to do about ghosting
- Check your keyboard software for an NKRO or gaming mode, and try a different USB port.
- Rebind actions to keys that don't clash.
- Look for "anti-ghosting" or "NKRO" when buying. Anti-ghosting on budget models often covers only the gaming keys.
Frequently asked questions
My keyboard registers 6 keys and then stops. Is it broken?
No. That's 6-key rollover, the limit of the standard USB keyboard mode. Some keyboards switch to NKRO in their settings or with a key combination.
Do laptop keyboards ghost?
Often, yes. Many laptop keyboards register only 2 or 3 keys in some combinations.
Can the browser cause missed keys?
Rarely. If keys are missed here and in games, the keyboard is the cause.