Lenovo laptop keyboard test – press the keys to check every key

Lenovo laptop keyboard problems – how to use this test

This page is designed for owners of Lenovo laptops – including Lenovo ThinkPad, IdeaPad,
Legion, Yoga and ThinkBook models – who want to check whether their built-in keyboard
is still working correctly. Press every key on your Lenovo keyboard and watch if the
corresponding key on the layout above lights up.

1. Some keys on your Lenovo laptop keyboard are not responding

If only one or two keys on your Lenovo keyboard do not light up in this test, the most common
causes are:

• A worn-out switch under the key after years of daily typing.
• Dust or debris stuck under the keycap, especially on older IdeaPad and ThinkPad models.
• A key that has been hit too hard or damaged when cleaning or replacing keycaps.

Try gently cleaning around the key and repeat the test. If the key still does not register,
the internal Lenovo keyboard assembly is likely defective and should be replaced.

2. A whole row or block of keys does not work on your Lenovo keyboard

When an entire row (for example Q–P) or a block of keys fails the test, this often indicates:

• A partially disconnected keyboard ribbon cable inside the laptop.
• Damage to the keyboard matrix on the Lenovo keyboard PCB.

Software fixes usually cannot repair this type of damage. On many Lenovo ThinkPad and
ThinkBook models, the keyboard is a separate field-replaceable unit that can be swapped
without replacing the whole laptop.

3. Wrong characters or “ghost typing” on Lenovo laptops

If you press one key and another character appears on the screen, or your Lenovo laptop starts
typing by itself, the internal circuits of the keyboard may be damaged. This is very common
after a liquid spill or heavy impact and usually means the keyboard needs to be replaced.

4. Keys that repeat by themselves

A key that prints the same character several times, even though you only press it once,
is a typical symptom of a worn Lenovo keyboard switch. You can try adjusting the key repeat
settings in Windows, but if the issue shows up in this online test as well, it is almost
certainly a hardware problem.

5. Backlit Lenovo keyboard issues

Many newer Lenovo laptops (for example Legion gaming laptops and premium ThinkPad / Yoga models)
come with backlit keyboards. This tool only tests whether the keys register correctly – it does
not test the backlight. If the keys work but the backlight does not turn on, the LED backlight
circuit or the backlight cable may be faulty. In that case, replacing the keyboard with a new
backlit Lenovo keyboard is usually the cleanest fix.

6. After liquid damage on Lenovo keyboards

Coffee, tea or water spills are a very common reason for Lenovo laptop keyboard failure.
The keyboard may work for a few days or weeks and then more and more keys start to fail.
If your Lenovo keyboard shows several dead or unstable keys in this test after a spill,
it is strongly recommended to replace the entire keyboard to avoid further problems.

If this Lenovo keyboard test shows that your keys are faulty, you can

order a compatible replacement laptop keyboard here
. We offer replacement keyboards for many Lenovo models, including ThinkPad, IdeaPad,
Legion, Yoga and ThinkBook series.