12 Ways to Fix a Laptop Keyboard Not Working

Hey guys, picture yourself about to submit your application and your enter key malfunctions. Or perhaps a full row of keys is taking forever to respond. Even worse, the keyboard completely quits.

Before you take your laptop to a repair shop or call customer service, make sure to run through this list of troubleshooting techniques, regardless of whether you have an Apple MacBook or a Windows laptop. You usually can.

Let’s figure out if the problem lies with hardware or Software:

Try restarting your machine and entering the UEFI or BIOS to try and work out what’s causing the problem. Your computer should have provided instructions on which key to press at the bottom of the screen.

If you are unable to enter the BIOS or navigate it using your keyboard, there is a significant chance that you have a hardware problem. The problem is with Windows if you can access the BIOS and the troublesome key(s) work normally there.

Windows laptop

For Software Issues:

RESTART YOUR LAPTOP

Restarting the computer and turning it off and back on again is typically the first thing you should attempt when you run into a computer issue that is significant enough to prevent you from finishing your work. This resets all of your software, drivers, and utilities and clears the computer’s memory, which might be enough to restore your laptop to its pre-accident speed.

Read: 6 Ways to Turn on Laptop Without Power Button

REINSTALL YOUR KEYBOARD DRIVER

If you routinely install third-party software or shut down your computer without using the Shut Down command, the driver in charge of your keyboard may occasionally have problems. Select Device manager from the start menu this will help to expand the keyboards section.

Any of the things in this section that have a yellow exclamation point next to them might indicate a concern. I still suggest selecting Uninstall Driver from the context menu when you right-click your keyboard even if you don’t get an exclamation point. Windows should automatically download the generic drivers when it resumes.

TURN OFF YOUR FILTER AND STICKY KEYS

Find “Ease of Access Keyboard” in the Start menu and go to that option. Toggle Use Filter Keys off to check if it makes a difference if it is selected. Similarly, make sure to Use Sticky Keys is off in this option if your keyboard is acting weirdly.

ALTER THE KEYBOARD LAYOUT

It’s possible that your language or keyboard layout was changed accidentally if your keyboard keys function but output different letters than the keys imply.

The Language settings panel for Windows can be found by opening the Start menu and typing “Language.” Go down to your list of languages after clicking it. The English (United States) option will be selected for the majority of US customers. Then click the Options button and select the QWERTY keyboard.

MAINTAIN OS UPDATES

From settings, you can select Update & Security option and can further check for updates. If your Windows OS is outdated, this may help you to resolve your issue.

RESTORE SYSTEM

If your laptop has any saved restore points, you can utilize them to try to make your keyboard functional once more.

Select “System Restores” from the System Protection menu. Choose a restore point that occurred on a day when your keyboard was functional. When any pop-ups appear, click “Finish.” Restart your computer.

RESET YOUR LAPTOP

You might need to restart your laptop if everything else fails and the worst comes to worst. Select “Reset this PC” from the system settings by checking the option of Keep Files and wait till the system gets reset.

For Hardware Issues:

VERIFY FOR DUST

Utilize a soft cloth and a can of compressed air to clean off any buildup or grime from your keyboard. To clean rid of dust, you can also gently shake your laptop upside down. But before doing so, be careful to unplug and switch off your laptop.

DISCONNECT THE BATTERY

If your laptop battery is removable, remove it and connect your device to the charger instead. Because the battery is situated right underneath the keys, it occasionally contributes to keyboard problems. This is particularly true when the laptop battery is overheated.

SET UP THE MOTHERBOARD AGAIN

Sometimes the electrical connection between the keyboard and the motherboard of the laptop breaks, leaving you with a keyboard that only seldom or never functions. Removing the outer shell and reattaching the ribbon wire at the keyboard’s base should be easy work if you are an IT professional. If you’re not confident enough to do it by yourself just go after the expert’s advice.

INOPERATIVE KEYBOARD

If you still have time left on your warranty, call the tech support line for your laptop’s maker if your keyboard is broken. If it turns out you’re using a faulty keyboard, you ought to have little trouble getting a new one installed at a service center.

However, it’s always a good idea to make a backup of your hard drive or completely remove it and keep it before giving your laptop to a service technician or sending it in for repair. In this manner, your data, which is the most crucial component of your laptop, would still be available.

CONNECT TO THE EXTERNAL KEYBOARD

Try connecting an external keyboard to your laptop if your laptop’s keyboard is still not responding properly. Whether your built-in keyboard has hardware or software problems. In most cases, this keyboard will work properly regardless of whether your built-in keyboard has hardware or software issues. You can use this keyboard while you work on fixing the laptop or while you wait for service.

We hope, these tweaks would prove helpful for fixing the malfunctioning keyboard.

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