How to Remove Sticky Keys in Windows 11 (A Step-by-Step Guide)

By / September 12, 2025

Have you ever pressed the Shift key five times in a row and suddenly seen a pop-up asking about Sticky Keys? That’s Sticky Keys in action — an accessibility feature in Windows 11 that lets users press one key at a time for shortcuts instead of holding them down. While it’s helpful for some, it can be pretty annoying if you triggered it by mistake.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through different ways to turn off or remove Sticky Keys in Windows 11, plus tips to make sure it doesn’t accidentally turn on again.

What Are Sticky Keys in Windows 11?

Sticky Keys is part of Windows’ Ease of Access features, designed to make the system more usable for people with mobility challenges. For example, instead of pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del at the same time, you could press each key one after the other.

But if you don’t need it, it can interfere with gaming, fast typing, or using keyboard shortcuts.

Method 1: Turn Off Sticky Keys from the Pop-Up Prompt

If you accidentally activated Sticky Keys by pressing Shift five times, you’ll see a pop-up.

Steps:

  1. When the Sticky Keys prompt appears, click No.

  2. If it’s already enabled, uncheck the box that says Turn on Sticky Keys.

  3. Click OK to save changes.

Method 2: Disable Sticky Keys in Settings

The most reliable way to turn it off permanently is through Windows Settings.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.

  2. Go to Accessibility from the left sidebar.

  3. Select Keyboard under Interaction.

  4. Toggle Sticky Keys Off.

  5. Click Sticky Keys (the text itself, not the switch).

  6. Turn off options like:

    • Keyboard shortcut for Sticky Keys (prevents activation by pressing Shift five times).

    • Show the Sticky Keys icon on the taskbar.

Method 3: Turn Off Sticky Keys via Control Panel

Windows still has old-school ways to manage accessibility settings.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter.

  2. Go to Ease of Access → Ease of Access Center.

  3. Click Make the keyboard easier to use.

  4. Uncheck Turn on Sticky Keys.

  5. Click Apply, then OK.

Method 4: Disable Sticky Keys Using the Registry (Advanced Users)

If Sticky Keys keeps coming back, you can disable it at the registry level.

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Be careful.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\StickyKeys

  3. Double-click the entry Flags.

  4. Change its value to 506 (disables Sticky Keys).

  5. Click OK and restart your PC.

Method 5: Disable Sticky Keys Using Group Policy (Windows 11 Pro)

If you’re on Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise, you can use Group Policy to prevent Sticky Keys entirely.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.

  2. Navigate to:

    • User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Control Panel → Accessibility → Sticky Keys

  3. Double-click Turn off Sticky Keys.

  4. Set it to Enabled → Apply → OK.

Tips to Stop Sticky Keys from Coming Back

  • Always disable the shortcut option (Shift key five times) in Settings.

  • If you use gaming keyboards or custom key remapping software, check their accessibility settings.

  • Restart after changes to make sure Sticky Keys doesn’t reset.

Conclusion

Sticky Keys can be a life-saver for accessibility, but for most users, it’s just a frustrating pop-up. The good news is that Windows 11 gives you multiple ways to remove Sticky Keys completely — whether from Settings, Control Panel, Registry, or Group Policy. If you want a quick fix, just go to Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard and toggle it off.

FAQs

1. Why does Sticky Keys keep turning on by itself?
Because the Shift key shortcut is enabled. Turn it off in Settings to stop accidental activation.

2. Can I completely remove Sticky Keys from Windows 11?
You can’t uninstall it, but you can disable it permanently using Registry or Group Policy.

3. Does turning off Sticky Keys affect other accessibility features?
No, it only disables Sticky Keys. Features like Filter Keys and Toggle Keys remain available.

4. Will Sticky Keys affect gaming performance?
Yes, it can interfere with keyboard shortcuts in games. That’s why gamers usually disable it.

5. Do I need admin rights to disable Sticky Keys?
No, a standard user can disable it in Settings. But Registry or Group Policy edits need admin rights.

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