Filter Keys is a way to ignore brief or accidentally-repeated keystrokes. Eight seconds later, Windows thinks you’ve asked for something called “Filter Keys”. Perhaps you’re just lost in thought as your finger slowly descends on the Shift key. Windows does present a confirmation dialog, but that’s easy to miss if you’re still pounding your keys and happen to hit Return.

When the Shift key is pressed five times in a row, Windows assumes you’re asking for Sticky Keys. Let’s say you’re frustrated with your computer and start hitting the Shift key (or in my case, alternately pounding on both Shift keys). Sticky Keys is enabled in two ways: in the settings app, or by pressing and releasing the Shift key five times in a row. It can seem like it’s “stuck” if you don’t realize what’s happening. Press and release it again, Shift is off. Press and release the Shift key, and Shift is on. Sticky Keys is a feature that makes the Shift, Alt, Ctrl, and Windows keys toggle instead of needing to be held down. Several of those options relate to the keyboard, and are fairly easily enabled.įor example, hitting the Shift key five times in a row. Windows includes what are known as “accessibility options” - also referred to as “ease of access” settings - designed to make the computer more usable by those with various physical challenges.

You can disable this possibility by changing the corresponding “Allow the shortcut key” options in the Settings app. They all have corresponding shortcut sequences to turn on - which can be done accidentally. Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys are Windows features that modify keyboard behavior.

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