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Saturday, 22 March 2025

How to Fix Laptop Keyboard Not Working – Step-by-Step Guide

 How to Fix a Laptop Keyboard That’s Not Working – Easy Solutions


Is your laptop keyboard not working? Learn how to fix unresponsive, stuck, or malfunctioning keys using simple troubleshooting steps for Windows and Mac.


A non-working keyboard can be frustrating, especially if you rely on your laptop for work or study. Whether the entire keyboard is unresponsive, some keys are not working, or the keyboard types wrong characters, this guide will help you diagnose and fix the problem.

1. Check for Basic Issues

Before diving into complex solutions, check for simple issues that might be causing your keyboard to stop working.

🔹 Restart Your Laptop

  1. Save your work.

  2. Press and hold the power button until your laptop shuts down.

  3. Turn it back on and check if the keyboard is working.

🔹 Check for Physical Damage

  • Look for visible damage like cracked keys or spills.

  • If liquid spilled, immediately turn off the laptop and let it dry completely for at least 24-48 hours.

🔹 Disconnect External Devices

  • Sometimes, USB devices (mouse, external keyboard, game controllers) interfere with your laptop’s keyboard.

  • Unplug all USB devices and restart your laptop.

Tip: If an external keyboard works fine but the laptop’s keyboard doesn’t, the issue might be hardware-related.

2. Enable the Keyboard (Windows & Mac)

Your laptop’s keyboard might be disabled due to software settings.

🔹 Windows Users – Enable the Keyboard

  1. Open Device Manager (Press Windows + X → Select Device Manager).

  2. Expand Keyboards.

  3. Right-click your keyboard and select Enable (if available).

🔹 Mac Users – Reset Keyboard Settings

  1. Go to System Settings → Keyboard.

  2. Click Modify Keys and reset to default.

  3. Restart your Mac.

Tip: If the keyboard is already enabled, try updating the keyboard driver.

3. Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers (Windows Only)

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause keyboard malfunctions.

🔹 How to Update Keyboard Drivers

  1. Open Device Manager (Press Windows + X → Select Device Manager).

  2. Expand Keyboards.

  3. Right-click your keyboard and select Update driver → Search automatically for drivers.

  4. Restart your laptop.

🔹 How to Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

  1. In Device Manager, right-click your keyboard and select Uninstall device.

  2. Restart your laptop to let Windows reinstall the driver automatically.

Tip: If your laptop keyboard still doesn’t work, use an external USB keyboard to install the latest drivers from your laptop manufacturer’s website.

4. Check for Keyboard Shortcuts & Accessibility Settings

Certain keyboard shortcuts and accessibility settings can disable keys or change their function.

🔹 Disable Sticky & Filter Keys (Windows Users)

  1. Open Settings (Press Windows + I).

  2. Go to Ease of Access → Keyboard.

  3. Turn OFF Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys.

🔹 Check Input Language & Layout

  1. Open Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region.

  2. Make sure the correct keyboard layout is selected.

Tip: If your keyboard types wrong characters, switching to the correct layout might fix it.

5. Run Windows Keyboard Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can detect and fix keyboard issues.

🔹 How to Use the Keyboard Troubleshooter

  1. Open Settings (Press Windows + I).

  2. Go to Update & Security → Troubleshoot.

  3. Click Additional troubleshooters → Keyboard.

  4. Click Run the troubleshooter and follow the instructions.

Tip: If the troubleshooter doesn’t find a problem, try using Safe Mode to check if a third-party app is causing the issue.

6. Boot into Safe Mode (Windows Users)

If your keyboard works in Safe Mode, then a third-party program is causing the issue.

🔹 How to Start in Safe Mode

  1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.

  2. Go to the Boot tab and check Safe boot → Click Apply.

  3. Restart your laptop and test the keyboard.

Tip: If your keyboard works in Safe Mode, uninstall any recent software or updates that may be interfering.

7. Reset NVRAM/PRAM & SMC (Mac Users)

Mac users can fix unresponsive keyboards by resetting the system management controller (SMC) and PRAM/NVRAM.

🔹 Reset PRAM/NVRAM (Intel Macs)

  1. Shut down your Mac.

  2. Turn it on and immediately hold Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds.

  3. Release the keys and let the Mac restart.

🔹 Reset SMC (MacBooks with Intel Chips)

  1. Shut down your Mac.

  2. Press Shift + Control + Option + Power button together for 10 seconds.

  3. Release the keys and turn your Mac back on.

Tip: For M1/M2 Macs, a simple restart resets these settings.

8. Check for Malware & Viruses

Malware infections can disable keyboard functions or cause strange typing behavior.

🔹 Scan Your Laptop for Malware

  1. Download and install Malwarebytes or use Windows Defender.

  2. Run a full system scan and remove any detected threats.

  3. Restart your laptop and test the keyboard.

Tip: If the keyboard works fine in Safe Mode, malware might be the cause.

9. Perform a System Restore (Windows) or Reinstall macOS (Mac)

If the problem started after an update or software change, restoring your system might help.

🔹 Windows – Perform a System Restore

  1. Open Control Panel → Recovery.

  2. Click Open System Restore and follow the instructions.

  3. Choose a restore point before the issue started.

🔹 Mac – Reinstall macOS

  1. Restart your Mac and hold Command + R until the Apple logo appears.

  2. Select Reinstall macOS and follow the instructions.

Tip: This method doesn’t erase personal files but always back up important data before proceeding.

10. Consider Hardware Issues & Repairs

If none of the above fixes work, the problem could be hardware-related.

🔹 Check if the keyboard works in BIOS – Restart your laptop and press F2/F12/Delete to enter BIOS. If the keyboard doesn’t work in BIOS, it’s likely a hardware failure.
🔹 Replace the keyboard – If your laptop is out of warranty, consider a keyboard replacement from a repair shop.
🔹 Use an external keyboard – If repairs are costly, a USB or Bluetooth keyboard is a budget-friendly alternative.

Conclusion

A non-working laptop keyboard can be caused by software settings, driver issues, or hardware problems. This guide provides step-by-step solutions to troubleshoot and fix unresponsive keys. If the issue persists, consider using an external keyboard or visiting a repair technician.


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