Disabling the "keep pressed" function of OS X sticky keys

Solution 1:

You can't turn off the "key lock" functionality (last checked on OS X 10.8.2). You can however install KeyRemap4MacBook, which allows you to make modifier keys sticky without this "key lock".

Solution 2:

I believe you have to press it 3 times to release it.

• First Press - Locks the modifier key, and unlocks it after the next key press
• Second Press - Locks the modifier key for multiple other key presses.
• Third Press - Unlocks the modifier.

Exmaple:

Pressing Shift twice while sticky keys is on would be the same result as turning on CAPS lock.

Solution 3:

I've seen this behavior even when "sticky keys" is turned off in system settings, by unchecking the "enable sticky keys" checkbox. I was seeing shift stuck "on" only for OS actions (not for normal typing) after coming back from a lock screen.

To resolve this, I turned sticky keys on (Mac Settings) and then toggled them off again using the shortcuts above.