Laptop keyboards won’t necessarily last forever, but they don’t frequently break with regular use. When yours stops working, it’s probably something you can fix pretty quickly.

Most laptop keyboards are only connected to the laptop itself by a single cable, so as long as you’re comfortable removing a few screws and panels, you can make a lot of changes if necessary.

There are a few things that can stop your keyboard from working. It can be something as simple as a toggle being flipped or something as tricky as the keyboard breaking. The problem might also be the settings on your laptop. 

When your laptop keyboard stops working, all you can do is take it one step at a time to figure out what the problem is and correct it. 

To figure out what’s wrong with your laptop keyboard, pinpoint precisely when it isn’t working. If it isn’t working at all, you can focus on problems with the hardware itself. It’s also important to check your settings and make sure they’re correct. 

Hooking up a spare keyboard in via USB or Bluetooth can help since doing so will let you know whether the keyboard itself is functional with relatively little difficulty. 

You can also try to enter BIOS to see whether the laptop is even registering the hardware. If Windows settings are the issue, you should still be able to enter BIOS. 

Start by examining the keyboard itself. If that appears to be working, try adjusting the settings on your laptop. Finally, focus on potential issues with your laptop’s hardware. 

Problems with the keyboard itself include connection problems, power source issues, damaged components, and dirt. You might have a problem with the keyboard if pressing a key feels wrong, only specific keys aren’t responding, or the keyboard is active, but the output doesn’t look right. 

You can always use compressed air and a soft cloth to blow out debris and then wipe down your keyboard. However, a more thorough cleaning might solve problems that a simple wipe down won’t. 

Check your manual before removing the keycaps. You can often remove them with the flat end of a screwdriver or even your fingernail. 

In general, you don’t want to disassemble a laptop keyboard unless you’re very comfortable taking apart your laptop. Unlike standard keyboards, they’re interconnected to the hardware of your machine. You can easily damage your laptop by taking apart the keyboard. 

Remember to remove batteries and unplug your laptop before cleaning your keyboard or removing keycaps.

Make sure you’ve restarted your laptop. Check to make sure your laptop keyboard is turned on, too. Sometimes the button to keep it active will accidentally slide off without you even realizing it. 

Check to ensure the number lock key isn’t restricting what keys are active on your keyboard. 

To address settings problems, identify when the problem is occurring. If it’s only happening in specific applications, those programs might have a problem. If it isn’t working at all, then you need to focus on solutions with Windows itself.

Check the settings in the programs you’re using. Look to see if they have an option for an input device. If so, make sure your keyboard is selected. Another device like a controller being selected might prevent the keyboard from activating. 

Sometimes a problem in a program just stops it from detecting the keyboard. An example of this is gamers who have trouble in World of Warcraft or League of Legends. Every few weeks, their keyboards stop responding in-game. They have to turn off the program and turn it back on to make it start working again. 

If the fix is simple, it’s probably a program issue that will be fixed when the company releases a patch. You can always try to validate your files or download a fresh copy of the program in the meantime to see if that fixes it. 

An excellent way to start troubleshooting your Windows settings is to check in the Device Manager to see whether the keyboard is present. If it’s there, try uninstalling it and then restarting your laptop. Windows should reinstall the drivers for the keyboard when it detects it.

You may want to disable the password for your Windows account before doing this so that you don’t have to type it in when you reload. 

Getting a driver straight from the manufacturer of your keyboard might also help. Sometimes the drivers Windows uses might not be installed correctly or might not be ideal. Simply search the manufacturer’s site for the correct drivers, download them, and choose “Update driver” after right-clicking the keyboard in Device Manager. You can manually search for what you downloaded to install them. 

Also, check the settings for your keyboard in Windows.

You can turn the on-screen keyboard on to use while troubleshooting your keyboard if you prefer.

Some users have reported luck fixing their keyboards by disabling the Intel Integrated Sensor Solutions driver. 

If this doesn’t work, enable the driver again. Not all laptops will use this driver, so disregard this step if you can’t find it under System Devices. 

You can always roll back the laptop with Windows System Restore. Some people have had to reinstall Windows as well, but it’s unlikely to come to that. 

To see whether the keyboard itself is working, try to enter BIOS. If you’re able to, the keyboard is likely active and functioning. Your problem is a setting or toggle. If you can’t enter BIOS, you likely have a problem with your laptop.

The final thing that might be preventing your keyboard from working is problems with your actual laptop. It simply won’t work if the computer can’t register the connection.

In order to check whether the connection between the keyboard and laptop is active, you’ll have to take apart the laptop and try to plug an extra keyboard in with the same hardware. If that one won’t work, then the connection is faulty. 

If you’re using your laptop in tablet mode with a Bluetooth keyboard, turning the module off and back on might help you reconnect it. 

If that doesn’t work, try enabling and disabling the Bluetooth device in Device Manager if that doesn’t work. 

You can also click Uninstall instead of disabling it. If you do, restart the laptop and wait for Windows to locate the device and install fresh drivers. If it doesn’t, find the drivers on the website of your Bluetooth manufacturer and install them yourself.

Sometimes a hard reset can fix software issues that have no apparent cause. 

Some laptops also have a reset button or pinhole on the bottom of the machine. If you find one, use that as well to make sure everything is well and truly reset. 

Remember that the laptop’s keyboard is covered with most warranties. Any damage, wear and tear, or problems with your keyboard could be covered.

If you’re having problems with a single key, you might not have to replace the entire keyboard. Fixing an individual key isn’t that difficult. Most people with basic hardware skills should be able to do it in just a few minutes.

One of the best things about being able to remove keycaps and repair parts is that it enables you to replace broken parts and clean out any gunk preventing it from performing correctly.

The method will vary a bit depending on the model of the laptop you’re using. Check your model to see what parts you might need, especially if you’re replacing broken parts. Always buy compatible pieces.

If your keyboard isn’t working at all – whether it’s broken externally or the connections inside are damaged – you can replace it with a compatible keyboard.

You should consider testing the new keyboard before you lock it into place and put all the panels back on the laptop. Turn it on and just type in a blank Notepad document to make sure it’s functioning correctly.

Doing this can save you a little time if you need to make adjustments or plug in the keyboard cable again. 

Some people have a Ctrl + Shift hotkey that changes the keyboard layout. If you’re noticing that your keyboard is experiencing difficulties, try pressing Ctrl + Shift again to see whether you can make it work normally again. Some laptop models also have specific keybinds to change functions, so check your manual for that as well. 

Keys often stop working when they’re damaged or obstructed. If something gets under the lip of the key, it won’t be able to work smoothly and you might actually feel the obstruction when you press on it. Sometimes the keyboard just experiences a hardware error and fails, too. In that case, the entire thing might need to be replaced. 

Any number of things can cause the keyboard to freeze. For example, an error in a program you’re using might make the computer lag so that you’re unable to type. Keep an eye on your memory and CPU usage in Task Manager to make sure you have enough resources for the programs you’re running. 

I'm a computer enthusiast who enjoys building new systems, troubleshooting software for my friends, and playing everything from Apex Legends to Golf with Friends. I used to work as a social media manager and love finding new ways to connect with people.

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