Sticky Keys on a Mac: press shortcuts one key at a time

Sticky Keys lets you press Command, Option, Control and Shift one after another instead of together. How to turn it on, use it, and turn it off when it appears.

Guide · Updated 22 October 2026

What is Sticky Keys?

An Accessibility setting that makes modifier keys stay pressed after you let go. Tap ⌘, then tap C, and the Mac treats it as ⌘ C. The held keys show as symbols in the corner of the screen.

How do I turn on Sticky Keys?

  1. Open System Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.
  2. Turn on Sticky Keys.
  3. Click the info button beside it for options, such as Press the Shift key five times to toggle Sticky Keys and Beep when a modifier key is set.

How do I use it?

  • Tap a modifier once to hold it for the next key.
  • Tap it twice to lock it on until you tap it a third time.
  • Tap the modifiers in any order, then the final key.

How do I turn off Sticky Keys?

Press ⇧ five times, if that option is on, or turn it off in Accessibility, Keyboard. If symbols suddenly appeared in your screen's corner after resting a finger on Shift, this is why.

Other ways to make keys easier: change modifier keys and the hyper key. The pointer from the keyboard: Mouse Keys.

Checked on 22 October 2026 on a MacBook Air (M1) running macOS 27.0.1: Sticky Keys and its options were read from System Settings, Accessibility.

Questions

How do I turn off Sticky Keys on a Mac?

Press Shift five times, or turn it off in System Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.

Why are symbols showing in the corner of my Mac screen?

Sticky Keys is on and showing which modifier keys are held.

What does Sticky Keys do?

It lets you press modifier keys one at a time instead of holding them together.

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