Why Is My Keyboard Typing Double Letters?

It is not unusual for computer users to complain about their keyboard typing double letters. It is one of the most common problems people have with keyboards. It renders the keyboard useless because you can neither use it for typing nor gaming. 

This article will discuss possible reasons why your keyboard is typing double letters. Also, we will provide a list of viable solutions to help you fix the problem.

What’s Causing the Double-Typing Issue?

Before we can fix the keyboard’s double-typing issue, we must know what caused it. We’ve seen this issue among several computer users, and we’ve come up with a list of the most likely causes we’ve experienced. 

If you’re living in a dusty area, dust could have accumulated inside your keyboard, causing it to malfunction. You could also be dealing with a computer virus or an outdated keyboard driver.

The most likely causes include the following.

• Outdated keyboard driver.
• Dust or dirt within the keyboard.
• Virus on the computer.
• Fast keyboard repeat delay.
• Faulty keyboard switch.
• Corrupted keyboard driver.

How To Fix Your Keyboard’s Double-Typing Problem

There is no sure-fire way to fix a keyboard typing double letters. It may be a common problem, but it is usually a symptom of several causes. From experience, we’ve come across several solutions that have worked for different people with similar issues, and we believe one of these solutions will work for you.

We’ve come up with seven simple ways to fix your keyboard.

Restart Your Computer

This is an underrated fix that seems to work more often than not. Whenever you’re experiencing technical issues on your computer, your first solution must be to restart your device. 

If the issue is caused by a program taking too much RAM and slowing down your device, restarting your computer shuts down all programs and starts afresh. If this method doesn’t work, move on to the next one.

Adjust Keyboard Repeat Delay

The keyboard repeat delay determines the time your computer’s operating system would wait before repeating a keystroke when the key is held down. Adjusting this setting to prolong the delay may work if the double-typing issue is minor. Follow the steps below to change your keyboard repeat delay settings.

1. Click the Start icon.
2. Open the Control Panel on your computer.
3. Click the drop-down beside the “View by” menu and select large or small icons.
4. Click the “Keyboard” tab to open the keyboard settings.
5. Change the keyboard repeat delay and click “Apply”. 
6. Click “OK” to confirm changes.

Scan Your PC With Windows Security

The Windows Security software helps to protect your computer from viruses and malware. Scanning your PC with Windows Security might help you locate what is causing the double-typing issue if it is a software problem. Follow the steps below to scan your device.

1. Open Settings on your computer.
2. Open “Update and Security”.
3. Click “Windows Security” on the left sidebar.
4. Under the “Windows Security” section, click “Open Windows Security”.
5. Select “Virus and Threat Protection” from the left sidebar.
6. Run a “Quick Scan”.
7. If any harmful file is found, remove the files.

Update Keyboard Driver

When your keyboard driver is outdated, your keyboard begins to malfunction. Your keyboard may be typing double letters because of an outdated keyboard drive. To update your keyboard drive, follow the steps below.

1. Open Control Panel on your computer.
2. Click the drop-down beside the “View by” menu and select large or small icons.
3. Select “Device Manager”.
4. Double-click on the “Keyboard” tab to open a drop-down menu.
5. Right-click on the first option in the drop-down menu and select “Update Driver”.
6. Click “Search automatically for drivers”.
7. Install the new keyboard driver.

Clean the Keyboard

One of the most common causes of a malfunctioning keyboard is dust. If too much dust inside your keyboard interferes with the controls, your keyboard will malfunction. You can clean your keyboard with compressed air or 99.9% electronic cleaner grade isopropyl alcohol. 

You might be tempted to use 50% or 70% grade alcohol common in local stores. However, for the safety of your electronic device, only use the recommended grade as other grades contain a high level of impurities that can damage electronics.

To clean your keyboard, follow the steps below.

1. Unplug your keyboard from your computer.
2. If you’re using a mechanical keyboard, remove the keycap of the affected keys and the surrounding keys to create space for your work.
3. Blow air into the keyboard using compressed air can or blower. If this fixes your issue, then you can stop here. If not, try the next step.
4. Pour some 99.9% electronic cleaner grade isopropyl alcohol on the key switch and wait for it to dry completely.
5. Test the keyboard.

Run Keyboard Troubleshooter

If you’re having a hardware issue, Windows Troubleshooter can help you solve it. Follow the steps below.

1. Open Settings on your computer.
2. Go to “Update and Security”.
3. Select “Troubleshoot”.
4. Click to open “Additional Troubleshooters”.
5. Under the “Find and fix other problems” section, choose “Keyboard”.
6. Run the troubleshooter and follow the on-screen prompts.

Replace Keyboard

If your keyboard has a warranty and you haven’t done anything to void the warranty, this should be your first and only step. Reach out to the manufacturer and have them replace it for you. 

If you don’t have a valid warranty, you should try to contact a skilled technician to fix it for you. Due to the nature of keyboards, it might be better to buy a new one.

Conclusion

Two keyboards can have similar symptoms but have different causes and solutions. Therefore, the solution for one person may not work for another. This is why we advise you to try all the solutions we provided and go with the one that solves your problem.