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Fix Shift+6 Typing a Question Mark Instead of a Caret

Anum Mushtaq Oct 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to type a caret symbol (^) using the Shift+6 shortcut, but a question mark (?) appears instead.

How to Fix Shift+6 Typing a Question Mark Instead of a Caret

Product: Windows Keyboard Settings
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Typing documents or entering text using the standard physical keyboard layout.
Observed behavior: Pressing the Shift and 6 keys together inputs a question mark instead of the standard caret character, typically due to an accidental keyboard layout switch.

Before you start

Open a basic text editor like Notepad to test your keyboard output. This helps determine if the issue is isolated to a specific application or affects your entire system.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Keyboard Shortcut to Switch Layouts

Quickly revert to your primary keyboard layout using the default Windows shortcut.

Windows uses standard shortcuts to toggle between installed keyboard languages. If you accidentally pressed one of these combinations, your layout may have changed, mapping different symbols to your keys.

Press Left Alt + Shift

Press and hold the Left Alt and Shift keys together for approximately four seconds.

Test the Shortcut

Release the keys and try typing Shift+6 in Notepad or your word processor to see if the caret (^) appears.

Cycle Through Layouts

If the question mark still appears, repeat the Left Alt + Shift shortcut to continue cycling through your installed keyboard layouts until normal functionality is restored.

Use the Keyboard Shortcut to Switch Layouts

Alternative Shortcut: You can also hold the Windows key and press the Spacebar to quickly cycle through and visually select your available input languages.

Solution 2

Manually Remove or Select the Correct Keyboard Layout

Adjust your Windows language settings to remove conflicting keyboard layouts.

Insert Symbols Easily

Seamlessly Insert Special Characters with WPS Office

If your physical keyboard layout is acting up, you can easily insert carets and other special characters directly through the WPS Office interface. WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible environment for all your document editing needs.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your document in WPS Writer.
2. Navigate to Insert: Click on the Insert tab located in the top ribbon menu.
3. Open Symbol Menu: Click the Symbol option and select More Symbols from the dropdown menu.
4. Insert the Caret: Locate the caret (^) symbol from the character map, select it, and click the Insert button to add it to your document.

Directly insert special symbols without relying on physical keyboard shortcuts.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight and fast, ensuring a smooth typing and editing experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my keyboard layout suddenly change on its own?

You likely pressed Left Alt + Shift or Windows + Spacebar accidentally while typing. These are the default Windows keyboard shortcuts designed for quickly switching between installed input languages and keyboard layouts.

How do I prevent my keyboard layout from switching accidentally?

You can disable the Alt + Shift shortcut in Windows Settings. Go to Time & Language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings > Input language hot keys, select 'Between input languages,' and click 'Change Key Sequence' to assign it to 'Not Assigned'.

Does this keyboard issue only happen in specific office applications?

No, an altered keyboard layout affects all applications on your system, including web browsers, basic text editors, and other software. Testing your typing in Notepad is a reliable way to confirm if it is a system-wide layout issue.

What should I do if the Shift key doesn't work at all?

If both Shift keys fail to capitalize letters or type any secondary symbols, you might have a hardware issue, or the Sticky Keys feature might be enabled. Check your Windows Accessibility settings to ensure Sticky Keys and Filter Keys are turned off.

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