Lock the modifier key

In windows, CTRL, Alt, Shift and Windows logo key are known as the Modifier Keys. Turning on this option, will allow the modifier key to remain active when pressed twice until the user presses the same key again. In order to lock the modifier key, you need to turn on the Press modifier key twice to lock option.

To turn on the Press modifier key twice to lock option, do the following:

1. Click on the Start button and select Control Panel. The Control Panel window appears.
2. In Control Panel, ensure that Classic view is selected. (All Control Panel icons are visible.) To switch to Classic view, click on Switch to Classic View from the left pane of the Control Panel window.
3. Double-click the Accessibility Options icon. The Accessibility Options dialog box appears.
4. On the Keyboard tab, in the StickyKeys section, click on the Settings button. The Settings for StickyKeys dialog box appears.
5. Under the Options section, select the Press modifier key twice to lock check box.
   
   Enlarge Settings for StickyKeys dialog box image (Opens in a New Window)
6. Click on the OK button to close the Settings for StickyKeys dialog box.
7. Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button to close the Accessibility Options dialog box.
8. Close the Control Panel window.

Try It Yourself

Do you want to find out, how the press modifier key twice to lock option works? Let’s perform a small exercise:

1. Click on the Start button and press the R key to activate the Run dialog box.
2. In the Open: edit combo field type notepad and click on the OK button.
3. Type some text in the Notepad document that you just opened.
4. Press the CTRL key twice and then press the A key to carry out the Select All function.

Did you notice that, even upon pressing the CTRL key twice it carried out the Select All function? This was due to the Press modifier key twice to lock option being selected. It would not work if the same was not selected.

Related links

Windows XP allows users to adjust different StickyKeys settings including:

• Page 1: Activate StickyKeys
• Page 2: Use keyboard shortcut to turn on StickyKeys
• Page 3: Lock the modifier keys
• Page 4: Turn off StickyKeys, when two keys are pressed together
• Page 5: Display StickyKeys status on screen
• Page 6: Make sound when modifier key is pressed