Keyboard Shortcut Tester.
Verify if multi-key combinations register correctly on your computer. Modifiers and complex shortcuts are recorded and displayed in real-time.
Click here to start recording shortcut combinations
All browser keyboard overrides (like Ctrl+P, Ctrl+S) are temporarily blocked so you can test them.
Modifier Keys Held
Combination History
No shortcuts recorded yet.
Common Shortcuts Table
| Combination | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + C⌘ + C | Copy selected content to clipboard |
| Ctrl + V⌘ + V | Paste content from clipboard |
| Ctrl + X⌘ + X | Cut selected content |
| Ctrl + Z⌘ + Z | Undo last action |
| Ctrl + Shift + Z⌘ + Shift + Z | Redo last undone action |
| Ctrl + S⌘ + S | Save current document or page |
| Ctrl + F⌘ + F | Search text within page / Find |
| Ctrl + T⌘ + T | Open a new browser tab |
| Ctrl + W⌘ + W | Close current tab |
| Ctrl + R / F5⌘ + R | Reload page |
| Ctrl + Shift + T⌘ + Shift + T | Reopen last closed tab |
The table follows the selected keyboard OS. On macOS, ⌘ Command replaces Ctrl and ⌥ Option replaces Alt for these shortcuts.
Check these before you test
- Focus the capture boxClick it first — combinations only register while the box is focused.
- Know the reserved onesOS combos like Alt+Tab, Ctrl+W and Cmd+Q are caught by the system and can't appear here.
- Set the right OSUse the Windows/macOS toggle so modifier names match the keyboard in front of you.
How the keyboard shortcut tester works
- 1
Click the capture box to focus it. Once focused, the box waits for you to press key combinations. The instruction text will disappear and you're ready to test.
- 2
Press a key combination. Try Ctrl+Shift+K (or ⌘+Shift+K on macOS). The live keys display shows each key as you press them, including modifier state (Control, Shift, Alt, Meta).
- 3
Watch the history grow. Each complete key combination is automatically added to the history list with a timestamp. Press the Clear History button anytime to reset and start fresh.
How keyboard combinations are captured
The tester listens to keydown events in your browser and tracks which keys are pressed simultaneously. It records the modifier state (Ctrl, Shift, Alt, Meta) alongside regular keys, so Ctrl+C and C are shown as different combinations.
Some combinations cannot be tested because the operating system or browser handles them first. For example, Ctrl+W, Ctrl+T, Alt+F4 (Windows), Cmd+Q, and Cmd+W (macOS) are intercepted at the OS level before the browser sees them. This is expected and not a fault — it's a security feature.
On Windows, the modifier keys are Ctrl, Alt, and Win. On macOS, they are ⌘ Command, ⌥ Option, and ⌃ Control — this tester displays the OS-specific names so you test exactly what you see on your keyboard.
Why test keyboard shortcuts
Verify a custom remap or macro
Changed your keyboard layout or programmed a macro in AutoHotkey, Karabiner, or similar? Test that your custom combination actually fires and registers correctly.
Check gaming keybinds
Ensure your gaming shortcuts (e.g., ability casts, item hotkeys) register without conflicts, and that no unexpected keys are being captured.
Confirm modifier keys work
Verify that Ctrl, Shift, Alt, and Meta keys register correctly — especially useful for testing left vs. right modifier behavior on mechanical keyboards.
Troubleshoot a stuck modifier
If a modifier key seems stuck (always reporting as pressed), the live modifier indicator will show it immediately, helping you diagnose hardware or driver issues.
Keyboard shortcut glossary
- Modifier key
- A key (Ctrl, Shift, Alt, Meta/Win, or ⌘/⌥/⌃ on macOS) that changes the behavior of another key when pressed together. Modifiers are usually not functional on their own.
- Chord / Combo
- Pressing two or more keys at the same time, such as Ctrl+C or Shift+Alt+Delete. Also called a "key combination."
- Keybind
- A keyboard shortcut that's configured to perform a specific action — for example, Ctrl+S bound to "save," or Ctrl+Shift+K bound to a custom command.
- Reserved (system) shortcut
- A key combination claimed by the operating system or browser for its own use, before any application or web page can see it. Examples: Alt+Tab (window switching), Ctrl+W (close tab), Cmd+Q (quit app). These cannot be tested in a browser.
Keyboard shortcuts FAQ
Why can't I test Ctrl+W or Alt+F4?
These combinations are reserved by the operating system or browser for system functions (closing tabs or windows). They're intercepted before any web page receives the keydown event — this is expected and a security feature. Same applies to Ctrl+T (new tab), Ctrl+N (new window), and other system shortcuts.
Why does Alt+Tab switch windows instead of showing up?
Alt+Tab (and Cmd+Tab on macOS) is handled by the operating system for window switching before the browser sees the keydown event. It's an OS-level interrupt, not a browser override, so no web page can capture it.
Can I test operating-system shortcuts?
No. System shortcuts like Alt+F4, Cmd+Q, Alt+Tab, and Cmd+Tab are handled at the OS level before the browser (or any application) can capture them. This tool can only test combinations that the browser is allowed to receive — anything else is blocked by your operating system.
Does this tester save or upload my keystrokes?
No. All testing happens locally in your browser — nothing is uploaded, logged, or stored anywhere. Refreshing the page clears the history immediately. Your keystrokes never leave your device.
Can I use this to test shortcuts for a specific app like VS Code or Photoshop?
You can confirm that the combination itself reaches the browser and registers cleanly, which rules out a stuck or dead modifier key. What this tool can't do is run another program's action — if a combo appears correctly here but does nothing in your app, the keyboard is fine and the issue is that app's own keybinding or a conflict with other software. Re-check the shortcut in the app's own settings.