A keyboard that stops working can mean no keys respond at all, some keys work but others do not, or the keyboard types the wrong characters. Each points to a different cause. The most common are connection problems, driver issues, Windows accessibility settings that accidentally got turned on, and physical damage. This guide covers desktops with external keyboards and laptops with built-in keyboards.
External keyboard: check the connection
Wired USB keyboard
Unplug the keyboard and plug it into a different USB port. Try a port directly on the computer rather than a hub or dock
If the keyboard has a detachable USB cable, swap the cable
Look inside the USB connector for bent pins, lint, or damage
Try the keyboard on a different computer. If it does not work there either, the keyboard is the problem
Wireless keyboard
Check the batteries. Replace them or recharge the keyboard. Low batteries are the number one cause of wireless keyboard failure
If the keyboard uses a USB receiver (dongle), unplug the receiver, wait five seconds, and plug it back in. Try a different USB port. Make sure the receiver is not hidden behind the PC where metal or other electronics can block the signal
If the keyboard uses Bluetooth, check Settings, Bluetooth & devices. If the keyboard shows as disconnected, remove it from the list and re-pair it from scratch
Check for interference. Other wireless devices, USB 3.0 devices, and microwave ovens can interfere with 2.4 GHz wireless keyboards. Move the receiver closer to the keyboard
Check if the keyboard works before Windows loads
This test determines whether the problem is hardware or software:
Restart the computer
As it boots, press the key to enter BIOS or UEFI setup (usually F2, Del, F10, or Esc, shown briefly on the boot screen)
If you can navigate the BIOS menus with the keyboard, the hardware is fine and the problem is in Windows
If the keyboard does not work in BIOS either, the problem is hardware (the keyboard itself, the cable, the USB port, or the USB controller)
Disable Filter Keys and Sticky Keys
Windows has accessibility features that change how the keyboard behaves. These can be turned on accidentally by pressing certain key combinations:
Filter Keys ignores brief or repeated keystrokes. When enabled, it can feel like the keyboard is not responding because you have to hold each key for a minimum time. It is activated by holding the right Shift key for 8 seconds
Sticky Keys makes modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt) toggle instead of requiring you to hold them. It is activated by pressing Shift 5 times rapidly
Toggle Keys plays a sound when you press Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock. Not harmful, but can indicate that accessibility features were accidentally triggered
To check and disable these:
Go to Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard
Make sure Filter keys, Sticky keys, and Toggle keys are all turned Off
On older Windows: Control Panel, Ease of Access, Ease of Access Center, Make the keyboard easier to use. Uncheck all options
Update or reinstall the keyboard driver
Standard keyboards
Open Device Manager (right-click Start, Device Manager)
Expand Keyboards
Right-click your keyboard (usually HID Keyboard Device or Standard PS/2 Keyboard) and choose Uninstall device
Restart the computer. Windows will reinstall the driver automatically
Laptop keyboards
Laptop keyboards typically use a PS/2 or I2C driver. The same uninstall-and-restart process applies. If the keyboard still does not work after reinstalling, download the latest keyboard or chipset driver from your laptop manufacturer's support page for your exact model.
Gaming and specialty keyboards
Keyboards from Razer, Corsair, Logitech, SteelSeries, and others often require manufacturer software (Razer Synapse, iCUE, Logitech G HUB). If the keyboard stops working, try uninstalling the manufacturer software, restarting, and seeing if the keyboard works with basic Windows drivers. If it does, reinstall the latest version of the manufacturer software.
Check for Windows Update interference
Windows updates occasionally break keyboard drivers, especially on laptops:
Go to Settings, Windows Update, Update history. Check if a recent update was installed around the time the keyboard stopped working
If so, you can uninstall the update: go to Installed updates and click Uninstall next to the recent update
If the keyboard does not work well enough to navigate settings, use a USB mouse to navigate, or plug in an external USB keyboard temporarily
Laptop keyboard specific issues
Some keys do not work
If specific keys do not respond but others work fine:
Debris under the key. Crumbs, dust, and hair can get under keys and prevent them from making contact. Turn the laptop upside down and gently shake it, or use compressed air blown at an angle under the keycaps
Liquid damage. Even a small spill can corrode the membrane traces under the keys. Liquid damage may affect a group of keys in the same row or column rather than random individual keys. If you recently spilled on the keyboard, turn the laptop off immediately and upside down. The keyboard membrane may need replacement
Flex cable connection. The keyboard connects to the motherboard via a thin ribbon cable. If the laptop was recently serviced, dropped, or the cable has worked loose, the connection may be intermittent. This requires opening the laptop to check
Keyboard types wrong characters
If the keyboard types different letters than what is printed on the keys:
Check the input language. Go to Settings, Time & language, Language & region. Make sure the correct language is at the top of the list. Then check the keyboard layout: click the language, Options, and make sure the layout matches your physical keyboard (usually US QWERTY). Windows + Space switches between installed keyboard layouts; you may have accidentally switched to a different one
Num Lock on a laptop. Many laptops have a Num Lock function that turns a section of the letter keys into a numeric keypad. If pressing U, I, O, J, K, L types numbers instead of letters, press Fn + Num Lock (or just Num Lock if your laptop has a dedicated key) to turn it off
Entire laptop keyboard does not respond
If no keys work at all on a laptop keyboard but an external USB keyboard works fine:
Driver problem. Follow the uninstall-and-restart process above. If the keyboard uses an I2C connection, look for I2C HID Device in Device Manager under Human Interface Devices and reinstall that driver as well
Keyboard disabled in BIOS. Some business laptops have a BIOS option to disable the internal keyboard. Enter BIOS and check
Hardware failure. If the keyboard does not work in BIOS and has no physical damage, the keyboard ribbon cable or the keyboard itself may have failed. Laptop keyboards are replaceable components, usually held in by screws or clips under the bezel
Use the On-Screen Keyboard as a workaround
While troubleshooting, you can type using the Windows On-Screen Keyboard. Press Windows + R (if that key works), type osk, and press Enter. Or go to Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard, and turn on On-Screen Keyboard. This lets you log in, navigate settings, and run diagnostic tools while the physical keyboard is not working.
Keyboard repair in Marion
LuxuriousComputers in Marion fixes keyboard problems on desktops and laptops. Whether it is a driver issue, a spill, a broken key, or a failed keyboard that needs replacement, we diagnose the cause and handle the repair. We stock replacement keyboards for common laptop models and can replace them same-day in most cases.