Adjusting How Quickly Your Keyboard Responds

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated February 24, 2020)

One of the primary input devices used for most desktop computers is the keyboard. (I know when I'm writing these tips, I'd have a very hard time doing it without a keyboard!) Like any other device connected to your computer, Windows allows you to adjust how it interacts with your system.

The biggest way you can adjust your keyboard is to change the speed at which it reacts to you. Specifically, you can adjust how long you have to hold down keys in order to have them start repeating and, once they start repeating, how quickly the repeating occurs. This adjustment comes in handy if you tend to rest your fingers "heavily" on keys or if you tend to leave keys depressed longer than you want. Here's how to make the adjustments:

  1. Display the Control Panel.
  2. In the search box (upper-right corner of the Control Panel window) type "keyboard" (without the quotes). Windows displays several matching options.
  3. Click the Keyboard link. Windows displays the Keyboard Properties dialog box with the Speed tab selected. (See Figure 1.)
  4. Figure 1. The Keyboard Properties dialog box.

  5. Use the Repeat Delay slider to adjust how long a key needs to be held down before it starts repeating.
  6. Use the Repeat Rate slider to adjust how quickly a key repeats while you're holding it down.
  7. Click on OK to close the Keyboard Properties dialog box.
  8. Close the Control Panel.

There is no "proper" setting for these controls; you should simply set them so that you can comfortably use the keyboard and have it react as you expect.

 This tip (13420) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Squeezing Everything In

Do you have just a line or two of text that "spills over" onto another printed page? Here are some ways you can compress ...

Discover More

Protecting an Entire Workbook

Want to stop other people from making unauthorized changes to your workbook? Excel provides a way that you can protect ...

Discover More

Adding Area Codes to Phone Numbers

If you keep phone numbers in an Excel worksheet, you may need a way to add an area code to the beginning of all of the ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Improve Performance by Turning Off 3D Effects

Windows does a lot of nuancing to provide the user with a pleasing visual experience. All this attention to detail, ...

Discover More

Changing Time Settings

As you no doubt know, Windows has a built-in clock that is used for a variety of purposes. This tip covers the various ...

Discover More

Using Random Hardware Addresses

Random Hardware Addresses helps hide your computer from others tracking you on a Wi-Fi network. Turn Random Hardware ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is seven more than 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


Newest Tips