What is keyboard ghosting?

Keyboard ghosting is a limitation of keyboards that fail to register multiple keys at a time.

Here, ghosting refers to keystrokes lost due to the inability of a keyboard due to simultaneous signals that come naturally from editors and gamers as they press more than 2 and 3 keystrokes at a time in their workflow.

This generally happens with cheaper keyboards only, which are only made for normal users who are not going to use it more than just simple shortcuts (less than 3 keystrokes).

For example, if a user registers Ctrl + C in a Windows-based computer, it copies the file/s.

Similarly, Ctrl + Alt + Del gives you quick access to Lock, Switch User, Sign Out and Task Manager.

These special keystroke combinations will not work if the keyboard has a major ghosting issue.

Gamers tend to press more than 3 keystrokes at a time like W, A, S, D — for movement, Ctrl and Shift with W, A, S, D and many more which vary from game to game.

Mostly, any keyboard, including cheaper one, does support keystroke combinations up to 2/3 levels. But when it comes to gaming, those all fail, so better you invest in a high-end keyboard for gaming.

Is there any fix to keyboard ghosting?

Unfortunately, there is no fix to keyboard ghosting, as this is a hardware-level issue. So the ultimate solution would be buying a new keyboard which is more advance or made for professional work.

Fortunately, there is a trick (but it is not a solution), try “On-Screen Keyboard” in Windows OS. It allows you a virtual keyboard to work around. But it is not a reliable fix. Just works for very simple operations.