Set the key repeat rate

Using the FilterKeys option in Windows XP, one can instruct the computer, not to repeat the keystrokes when a key is held down. Alternatively one can slow down the keyboard repeat rate when a key is held down. This feature is helpful for users with mobility disabilities and senior citizens who require to adjust the keyboard repeat rate in order to effectively work on the computer.

To set the key repeat rate in Windows XP, 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 FilterKeys section, select the Use FilterKeys check box and then click on the Settings button. The Settings for FilterKeys dialog box appears.
5. Under the Filter options section, select the Ignore quick keystrokes and slow down the repeat rate radio button option.
   
   Enlarge Settings for FilterKeys dialog box image (Opens in a New Window)
6. Click on the Settings button under the Filter options section. The Advance settings for FilterKeys dialog box appears.
7. Under the RepeatKeys section, select the No keyboard repeat radio button option, if you want the computer not to repeat the keystroke when a key is held down.
   
   Enlarge Advance settings for FilterKeys dialog box image (Opens in a New Window)
8. Alternatively select the Slow down keyboard repeat rates radio button option, if you want to adjust the rate at which the computer repeats a key press when a key is held down. There are two options available for adjusting the keyboard repeat rate, including:
   1. Select the time that the computer delays before a character repeats, when a key is held down from the Repeat delay: combo box.
   2. Select the speed at which a character is repeated when a key is held down from the Repeat rate: combo box.
9. Click on the OK button to close the Advance settings for FilterKeys dialog box.
10. Click on the OK button to close the Settings for FilterKeys dialog box.
11. Click on the Apply button and then click on the OK button to close the Accessibility options dialog box.

Note: When FilterKeys is turned on, adjusting the character repeat delay and character repeat rate settings will override the character repeat delay and character repeat rate set in the Keyboard Properties dialog box.

Try it yourself

To find out, how this works, let’s perform a small exercise:

1. Turn on FilterKeys and set the character repeat delay to 1.0 seconds using the Advance settings for FilterKeys dialog box.
2. Open a Notepad file.
3. Press and Hold down the A key.

Did you notice the delay in time when the computer started repeating the key press?

Related links

Windows XP allows users to adjust different FilterKeys settings including:

• Page 1: Activate FilterKeys
• Page 2: Use keyboard shortcut to turn on FilterKeys
• Page 3: Ignore repeated keystrokes
• Page 4: Set the key repeat rate
• Page 5: Set the key acceptance rate
• Page 6: Make sound when a key is pressed or accepted
• Page 7: Display FilterKeys status on screen