Sticky Keys is a Windows accessibility feature designed to help users who have difficulty holding down multiple keys simultaneously. When enabled, Sticky Keys allows users to press keys such as Shift, Ctrl, Alt, or the Windows key one at a time instead of pressing them simultaneously. This can be particularly useful for individuals with motor impairments or those who find it challenging to use both hands for keyboard shortcuts.

Enabling Sticky Keys via the Control Panel

1. Open Control Panel:

   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
   • Type control and press Enter.

2. Navigate to Ease of Access Center:

   • Click on "Ease of Access".
   • Click on "Ease of Access Center".

3. Set Up Sticky Keys:

   • Click on "Make the keyboard easier to use".
   • Under "Make it easier to type", check the box that says "Turn on Sticky Keys".
   • Click "Apply" and then "OK".

Enabling Sticky Keys via Keyboard Shortcut

1. Press the Shift Key Five Times:
   • Simply press the Shift key five times in quick succession.
   • A dialog box will appear asking if you want to turn on Sticky Keys.
   • Click "Yes" to enable Sticky Keys.

Enabling Sticky Keys via CMD (Command Prompt)

Although Sticky Keys is primarily an accessibility feature managed through the Control Panel or Settings, you can enable it using the Registry Editor via Command Prompt. Here’s how:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Press Win + X and select "Command Prompt (Admin)" or "Windows PowerShell (Admin)".

2. Enable Sticky Keys via Registry:

   • Type the following command and press Enter:

     reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\StickyKeys" /v Flags /t REG_SZ /d 506 /f

   • This command modifies the registry to enable Sticky Keys.

3. Log Off and Log Back In:

   • For the changes to take effect, you may need to log off and log back in or restart your computer.

Using Sticky Keys

Once Sticky Keys is enabled, you can use it as follows:

• Press a modifier key (Shift, Ctrl, Alt, or Windows key), and it will remain active until another key is pressed.
• For example, to perform the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + Del, you can press Ctrl, release it, press Alt, release it, and then press Del.

Disabling Sticky Keys

To disable Sticky Keys, follow these steps:

1. Via Control Panel:

   • Go back to the Ease of Access Center in the Control Panel.
   • Uncheck the box that says "Turn on Sticky Keys".
   • Click "Apply" and then "OK".

2. Via Keyboard Shortcut:

   • Press the Shift key five times again.
   • In the dialog box that appears, click "No" to turn off Sticky Keys.

3. Via CMD (Command Prompt):

   • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
   • Type the following command and press Enter:

     reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\StickyKeys" /v Flags /t REG_SZ /d 510 /f

   • Log off and log back in or restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Conclusion

Sticky Keys is a valuable accessibility feature in Windows that can make keyboard use easier for many users. Whether you enable it via the Control Panel, a keyboard shortcut, or the Command Prompt, it provides a simple way to manage complex key combinations.