The Mac Caps Lock delay, explained and fixed
Everything worth knowing about the deliberate ~75 ms delay macOS puts on Caps Lock — why it's there, how to remove it for free, and how every available fix compares. Accurate, sourced, and free of fluff.
The macOS Caps Lock delay is a deliberate ~75 ms activation delay — the constant kCapsLockDelayMS = 75 in Apple's keyboard filter. You can remove it free with one hidutil command, or permanently on every keyboard with FastKey.
Why is your Mac's Caps Lock so slow?
The hidden 75 ms delay, straight from Apple's own keyboard source — what it is, why it exists, and who it hurts.
Read the explainer →How to fix the Caps Lock delay on macOS
The exact free Terminal command, its catch (it resets on reboot), and the one-click way to make it permanent on every keyboard.
Read the how-to →FastKey vs. hidutil vs. Karabiner
Every way to remove the delay, compared honestly in one table — the free command, the DIY route, the apps, and FastKey.
Compare the options →The one-click fix
FastKey removes the 75 ms Caps Lock delay and keeps it removed — across restarts, sleep, and every keyboard. 14-day free trial, then £4.99 once.
Download the free trial