MSI laptop keyboard test – check every key on your gaming laptop

MSI laptop keyboard issues – quick guide for gaming laptops

This tool is built for MSI gaming laptop owners – including MSI GF, GL, GP, GE, GS, GT,
Katana, Pulse, Raider, Stealth, Creator, Modern and Summit series. It helps you check
whether every key on your built-in MSI keyboard still works as it should.

How to use this MSI keyboard tester

1. Sit in front of your MSI laptop and make sure this page is active (click anywhere inside it).
2. Press every key on your MSI keyboard one by one, including the number pad and arrow keys.
3. Each working key will light up on the on-screen keyboard and be counted as “tested”.
4. If a key does not light up, or the wrong key lights up, note it down – that key has a problem.

Common MSI keyboard problems this test can reveal

1. Dead or unresponsive gaming keys (WASD, space, arrows)

On MSI gaming laptops the WASD area, spacebar and arrow keys are used most heavily.
If one of these keys does not light up in the test, the switch is usually worn or
damaged from intensive gaming. Cleaning can help if dust is the cause, but most of
the time the only reliable fix is to replace the keyboard module.

2. Whole zones not working (for example number pad or function row)

If an entire block – such as the F-keys, the right-side number pad or a full row of
letters – fails in this test, this often points to:

• A loose or partially unplugged keyboard ribbon cable inside the MSI chassis.
• Damage to the keyboard matrix PCB, sometimes caused by flexing or heatsink pressure.

Software settings or driver updates rarely fix this. In most cases, the internal MSI
keyboard assembly needs to be replaced.

3. Ghost typing or wrong characters on MSI laptops

If you press one key and see a different character on screen, or your MSI laptop starts
“ghost typing” by itself, the internal circuits of the keyboard have probably been
damaged – very often after a drink spill. This cannot be solved by software. A new
keyboard is the safest way to restore stable input.

4. Keys that double-type or stick

Double-typing (for example pressing W once and getting “WW”) is a classic
sign of a worn switch. On gaming-focused MSI laptops this usually affects WASD or spacebar
first. You can try:

• Adjusting Windows key repeat delay and repeat rate.
• Cleaning under the keycap if it can be safely removed.

If the problem shows up in this tester as well, the keyboard hardware is the root cause
and should be replaced.

5. RGB / backlight problems on MSI SteelSeries keyboards

Many MSI gaming laptops use RGB backlit SteelSeries keyboards. This online test checks
if the keys register – it does not check RGB lighting effects. If the keys
light up here but the backlight does not work, then:

• The backlight cable or LED driver may be damaged.
• RGB control software might have been removed or corrupted.

When only certain color zones or rows fail and the keys themselves still register in this test,
it is usually a hardware backlight issue that requires a replacement keyboard.

6. After liquid damage on MSI gaming laptops

Liquid damage is very common on gaming setups. Coffee, energy drinks and water can leak
through the keycaps and cause:

• Sticky or slow keys.
• Random characters appearing on screen.
• Rows or whole sections that stop responding.

If your MSI keyboard behaves like this and fails this test on multiple keys, replacing
the complete keyboard assembly is strongly recommended.

Need a replacement MSI laptop keyboard?

If this MSI keyboard test shows faulty keys, you can

order a compatible replacement laptop keyboard here
.
We supply replacement keyboards for a wide range of MSI models, including GF, GL, GP, GE,
GS, GT, Katana, Raider, Stealth, Creator, Modern and Summit series.