How to Disable Caps Lock In Windows 11

Disabling the Caps Lock key in Windows 11 stops accidental uppercase typing. You either turn the key off or change it so nothing happens when you press it. You can still type capital letters by holding Shift while you press a letter.

The main Settings app ⚙️ has no on-and-off switch for Caps Lock. You have two options. One is a free tool, Microsoft PowerToys. The other is a change in the Registry Editor, a tool for viewing and changing low-level Windows settings ⚙️. Both work on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

How to Disable Caps Lock Using the Windows Registry Editor

The registry method is the one that needs no extra software. You add one value in the Windows Registry, restart, and Windows ignores the Caps Lock key. Because the change is stored in the local machine part of the registry, it affects everyone who uses the PC. You also need an administrator account to make it.

Other Ways to Disable Caps Lock

The other options are Microsoft PowerToys or a third-party keyboard remapping tool. These let you turn the key off, or give it a new job, without editing system settings. The PowerToys steps are at the end of this guide.

Changing the wrong setting can cause problems. Follow the steps exactly and change only the value described here. If you want a safety net, back up first: in the Registry Editor, click the key you are about to change, then choose File › Export and save the .reg file somewhere you can find it.

If you want help opening the Registry Editor first, check this guide: How to Open the Registry in Windows 11.

For this method you add one new value in the Registry. The path is HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout. Inside that path you create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named Scancode Map and set its value data to 00000000000000000200000000003A0000000000. This tells Windows to ignore the Caps Lock key.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Using Microsoft PowerToys

Using Microsoft PowerToys to disable caps lock gives you a safe way to turn off or change key functions without touching system files. The Keyboard Manager tool inside this free app lets you remap keys through a simple menu.

1. Download and install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or GitHub.

2. Open PowerToys and select 'Keyboard Manager' from the left-hand menu.

3. Click on 'Remap a key'.

4. Click the '+' button to add a new mapping.

5. Under 'Select:' choose 'Caps Lock' (or its scancode 0x3A).

6. Under 'To send:' choose 'Disable' or select another key like 'Shift' if you want to remap it.

7. Click 'OK' to save the changes. PowerToys will prompt you to confirm.

This method is reversible and doesn't require a system restart.

The steps below open the Registry Editor, add the value, and restart the computer so the key is turned off completely.

1. Press Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run box. A small window appears at the bottom-left of the screen with a text field.
2. Type regedit and press Enter. This opens the Registry Editor.
3. If a security prompt appears, click Yes to continue. The prompt is User Account Control. If it asks for an administrator password, you are signed in with a standard account and need an administrator to do this for you.
4. In the left pane, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout. Click the small arrow next to each folder to expand it, or paste the path into the address bar at the top of the window. The right pane shows any values already in the System key. Leave them alone.
5. Right-click an empty area in the right pane and choose New › DWORD (32-bit) Value. A new entry appears with its name highlighted for editing.
6. Type Scancode Map as the name and press Enter.
7. Double-click the new value. The Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window opens.
8. In the Value data box, enter 00000000000000000200000000003A0000000000, then click OK. The value now appears in the right pane with the data you entered.
9. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
10. After you sign back in, open Notepad and press Caps Lock. Nothing should happen, and no capital letters should appear.

Registry method requires a restart. Registry changes take effect only after a restart. A sign-out and sign-in may not be enough. If Caps Lock still works after restarting, go back to the Registry Editor and check the key path, the value name and the value data for typos. Also confirm the value sits in the System key and not in a neighbouring one.

Why Disable Caps Lock?

• It prevents accidentally typing in all caps, especially when entering passwords.
• It makes typing easier and reduces mistakes.
• You can still capitalize letters with the Shift key.

Turning off this key stops you from typing in all uppercase letters by mistake. That helps avoid frustrating login errors and speeds up everyday typing. It is a common change on shared PCs and on laptops where the key sits too close to the Shift or Tab keys.

To re-enable Caps Lock, go back into the Registry Editor and undo the change:

1. Open the Registry Editor the same way as before and click Yes on the security prompt.
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout.
3. Right-click the Scancode Map value you created earlier and choose Delete. Confirm when asked.
4. Restart your computer. Caps Lock should then work normally again.

If you exported the key as a backup, you can also double-click the saved .reg file to restore it. A restart is still needed.

That's it! You now know how to disable the Caps Lock key on your Windows 11 computer.

Registry vs. PowerToys

Choosing between the registry and PowerToys comes down to risk and features. The registry method turns the key off through a system setting. PowerToys uses a normal menu to let you turn the key off or remap it.

Registry method:

• Requires direct editing of the Windows Registry, which can be risky.
• Disables Caps Lock completely.
• Requires a computer restart.
• Changes stay in place until you manually reverse them.

PowerToys Keyboard Manager:

• Uses a dedicated utility, which is safer for most users.
• Can disable Caps Lock or remap it to another function (like Shift).
• Often does not require a restart.
• Mappings can be easily enabled or disabled within PowerToys.

Using Microsoft PowerToys

PowerToys is a safe way to turn off or change key functions without touching system files. The Keyboard Manager tool inside this free app lets you remap keys through a simple menu.

1. Download and install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or GitHub.
2. Open PowerToys and select Keyboard Manager from the left-hand menu.
3. Make sure the Enable Keyboard Manager switch at the top of the page is turned on. The remapping options are unavailable while it is off.
4. Click Remap a key. A new window opens with a list of mappings.
5. Click the + button to add a new mapping. A new row appears with two columns.
6. Under Select:, choose Caps Lock (or its scancode 0x3A).
7. Under To send:, choose Disable. If you would rather remap the key, select another key like Shift instead.
8. Click OK to save the changes. PowerToys will prompt you to confirm. Confirm, and the mapping appears in the list on the Keyboard Manager page.
9. Open Notepad and press Caps Lock to test it. The key should now do nothing, or whatever you remapped it to.

This method is reversible and doesn't require a system restart. To undo it, open Keyboard Manager › Remap a key, select the mapping row, and click the delete icon next to it. Then click OK. PowerToys has to be running in the background for the mapping to work, so if you close it completely, Caps Lock will work again until you reopen it.