This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Why do scrambled letters and numbers appear as I type?

  • 2 majibu
  • 2 wana tatizo hili
  • 27 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Whatever I type, the letters and numbers do not show up correctly, i.e., as I have typed them. Instead, what appears are strange letters, numbers, and symbols that have no correlation to anything. Right now, as I type, I am forced to utilize the onscreen keyboard in order for letters to show up as letters instead of =kl;wrxw=p6`16q, for example. This only happens using Firefox, by the way, so I know it is neither a keyboard nor computer issue.

Thank you.

Whatever I type, the letters and numbers do not show up correctly, i.e., as I have typed them. Instead, what appears are strange letters, numbers, and symbols that have no correlation to anything. Right now, as I type, I am forced to utilize the onscreen keyboard in order for letters to show up as letters instead of =kl;wrxw=p6`16q, for example. This only happens using Firefox, by the way, so I know it is neither a keyboard nor computer issue. Thank you.

All Replies (2)

more options

What's your computer system and Firefox version?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac=Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh).

Is the problem still there?

more options

It is possible that the font is corrupted.

What font is Firefox using to display these letters?

You can right-click and select "Inspect Element" to open the Inspector ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Web Developer) with this element selected. You can check the font used for selected text in the Font tab in the right pane of the Inspector. Set devtools.fontinspector.enabled to true on the about:config page to enable the Font tab.