[FIXED] Windows Keyboard Not Working

[FIXED] Windows Keyboard Not Working

/ Sed Galope

When your keyboard malfunctions, it can be frustrating, especially when it is a laptop keyboard. Your computer’s principal input device is the keyboard. The most fundamental computer operations, such as booting into the operating system or entering the BIOS configuration, are impossible without a functional keyboard.

Because of this, you are strongly advised always to have a backup keyboard at your disposal. Although a wireless keyboard is a convenient option, a USB keyboard is an excellent accessory for a desktop or laptop computer. Typically, a new keyboard costs around $15 at your local electronics store. Try to keep an extra working keyboard close by at all times!

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If your keyboard doesn’t work, it’s hard to figure out what’s wrong. The following steps may require a different keyboard to identify the issue correctly.

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Windows 10
System Information
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If you do not already have one, we strongly suggest that you complete as many of the steps that follow as you possibly can. If your computer’s keyboard stops working, you’ll be forced to operate it with significant impairment, and this article can help you get your keyboard back in working order.

What Causes Keyboards to Stop Working

A wide variety of factors can contribute to peripheral device failure. You may be having problems with the hardware, but there’s also possibly something fundamentally broken with your system.

We gathered the most often cited reasons given by Windows 10 users. We have also compiled a list from which you may be able to determine a cause that relates to you.

Outdated Drivers

Even if Microsoft doesn’t natively support the components of your computer, you still need to keep your drivers up to date. Keeping updated drivers ensures that all your parts work correctly with the rest of your computer. Your device might not function properly if the keyboard drivers are missing, corrupted, or outdated.

Defective Keyboard

A defective keyboard can cause many problems when you try to use it. It may exhibit odd issues such as ghost typing, keyboard keys not registering when typing, and some keys not working. The problem may come from different sources within the keyboard, such as the USB port.

Misconfigured Power Settings

There are numerous power-saving features in Windows 10. Your computer can turn off idle devices using one of these features, which may include your keyboard.

Low-battery (Wireless Keyboard)

If you’re using a wireless keyboard, check to see that its battery is fully charged. If necessary, replace the battery.

Bug in a Windows Update

There are instances when new updates from Windows can cause issues with some drivers in a computer. If this happens, we suggest uninstalling the update and reinstalling it.

Misconfigured Filter Keys

There is a known issue in the Filter Key function of Windows 10, which creates problems with the typing experience on the start screen. At the time this article was written, it appears that recent updates to Windows 10 published by Microsoft had resolved this issue.

Keyboard Not Working Troubleshooting Guide

Now that we have discussed the possible causes as to why keyboards stop working, we will now discuss the several troubleshooting steps you can follow to fix this. However, before we start, we strongly suggest turning on the on-screen keyboard. With the on-screen keyboard enabled, you’ll be able to follow along with the steps and even type in anything and use it like a regular keyboard.

Follow these steps to turn on your on-screen keyboard:

  1. Click the Windows button and click on “Settings.”
windows settings 2
  1. Click “Ease of Access.”
ease of access 2
  1. On the left pane, click “Keyboard.”
  2. Turn on the “Use the On-screen Keyboard.”
enable on screen keyboard 1
  1. You should now see a virtual keyboard floating on your screen; it may not have the entire keyboard layout, but it will work.

Now that we have turned on your on-screen keyboard let’s move on to the troubleshooting steps.

First Method – Disable Filter Keys

  1. Click the Windows button and click on “Settings” to open Control Panel.
windows settings 3
  1. Click “Ease of Access.”
ease of access 3
  1. On the left pane, click “Keyboard” and turn off “Use Filter Keys.”
disable filter keys 2
  1. Close the window and restart your computer to see if the keyboard works.

Second Method – Run the Windows Troubleshooter

Several built-in troubleshooters in Windows 10 can help you identify and fix various problems. The good news is that a troubleshooter was developed expressly to detect issues linked to the keyboard, which your system may automatically address.

Here’s how to use Windows keyboard troubleshooter.

  1. Press the “Windows” key on your keyboard and press “R.” This will open a small window where you can type “control update” in the run command window.
control update
  1. When a new window opens, click “Troubleshoot” and “Additional Troubleshooters.”
additional troubleshooters 1
  1. Next, click “Keyboard” and “Run the Troubleshooter.”
keyboard troubleshooter 1
  1. Restart your computer, unplug and replug your external keyboard; if you have a laptop, check if your laptop’s keyboard is working correctly.

Third Method – Update Keyboard Drivers

Your system may experience a variety of problems as a result of outdated drivers. Keep them up-to-date in case you’re having problems with your keyboard in Windows 10.

  1. Hold down the “Windows” and “R” keys and type in “devmgmt.msc” in the run command line, and press enter to open device manager.
device management
  1. In the list of devices, expand “Keyboards,” right-click on your keyboard, click “Update Driver,” and select “Search automatically for drivers.”
update keyboard driver automatically 1
  1. Once your keyboard driver has been updated, restart your computer, unplug and replug your keyboard device, check your keyboard settings, and see if it is working.

Fourth Method – Uninstall Device Driver

If the above method does not work for you, you can uninstall the keyboard driver. After you restart your computer, it will automatically download and install the keyboard driver.

  1. Hold down the “Windows” and “R” keys and type in “devmgmt.msc” in the run command line, and press enter to open device manager.
device management 1
  1. In the list of devices, expand “Keyboards,” right-click on your keyboard, click “Uninstall Device,” and click “Uninstall” to confirm.”
uninstall keyboard driver
  1. If you see multiple laptop keyboards in the keyboard section, remove all of them.
  2. Restart your computer, and check if this fixes the problem.

Fifth Method – Disable Fast Startup

Reports have surfaced that enabling Fast Startup can wreak havoc on your system, particularly with drivers and external hardware. You may verify this by using the procedure below and turning off Fast Startup.

  1. Hold down the “Windows” key and press the letter “R,” type in “control” in the Run dialog box, and press enter to open Control Panel.
control panel
  1. In the Control Panel window, click on “Hardware and Sound.”
hardware and sound
  1. Click on “Power Options.”
power options
  1. Click “Choose what the power buttons do in the Power Options menu.”
power buttons do
  1. Select “Change settings that are currently unavailable in the next window.”
change settings that are currently unavailable
  1. Uncheck the “Turn on fast startup” and click “Save changes.”
disable fast startup
  1. Restart your computer and confirm if this fixed the problem.

Final Words

If the troubleshooting steps outlined above do not fix the issue, and if you do not have an extra keyboard, we advise you to replace the keyboard. Most of the time, it’s more cost-efficient to replace the keyboard than to have it repaired simply.

On the other hand, we wish you successfully fixed your keyboard with this tutorial’s help. Feel free to refer to our website and try a different solution if your keyboard develops problems!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my laptop keyboard not working?

There can be two reasons why your keyboard is not working, software issues could cause it, or the keyboard itself is already damaged. Whatever the reason, you can follow the steps provided in this article to try and fix the problem.

Will cleaning my keyboard fix my problem?

You can try cleaning your keyboard by removing the keycaps, using a brush or compressed air to draw out the dust, and wiping it with a clean cloth. By doing this, you might be able to remove some debris that is stopping your keys from working.

Are wireless keyboards better than wired keyboards?

The connection you use on your computer depends on your preference. A wired keyboard is ideal if you have a desktop PC and don’t move much. On the other hand, if you have a laptop and are always on the go, you can consider using a wireless keyboard.

Can I use a wireless keyboard on my desktop that doesn’t have Bluetooth?

Yes, you can certainly can. Most modern keyboards have a wireless adapter that you can plug into the USB Ports on your comp, and thisThis will serve as the connection for your wireless keyboard and your computer.

Sed Galope
Meet the author

Sedfrey is an experienced writer and editor. He's also a PC hardware and gaming enthusiast. In his spare time, he enjoys reading about the latest innovations in the PC market and finding fixes to hardware and software errors.