How to Get My Keyboard to Type Again
You lot're working on your laptop, and all of a sudden, the "I" fundamental stops working. Or possibly a whole department of keys is taking forever to respond. Worse even so, the keyboard cuts out entirely. While this can be a hassle, especially when y'all accept piece of work due, there are a few things you can try yourself to get dorsum to the job at hand.
Is the Problem Hardware or Software?
BIOS card
Before you effort random fixes, try to narrow downwardly your problem. Is there something wrong with the keyboard hardware itself, or is a software glitch preventing Windows from recognizing keystrokes? Figuring this out can save you a lot of fourth dimension afterward on.
Reboot your computer and try to enter the UEFI or BIOS. Typically, y'all demand to press Delete, Esc, or another key as your computer boots. Your calculator should tell y'all which fundamental to printing forth the bottom of the screen.
If you lot're unable to enter the BIOS and navigate information technology with your keyboard, there's a practiced gamble you have a hardware problem. If yous can enter the BIOS, and the problem key(s) work fine within that menu, your problem lies within Windows.
Exit the BIOS without saving your changes and continue to some of the fixes below. You lot may have to hook upwards a USB keyboard to troubleshoot.
Reboot Your PC
If you followed the above advice, yous'll take already washed this, but just in case, have you tried turning it off and on again? A reboot corrects a thousand ails, as my onetime IT manager used to say. If you tin't use the trackpad or mouse to reboot the PC, just hold down the power button for near 10-fifteen seconds to turn the PC off, then turn it dorsum on.
If that doesn't fix the problem, try booting into Safe Style and meet if that works—it won't set the trouble permanently, but information technology will help y'all decide whether your keyboard is faulty or not.
Reinstall Your Keyboard Driver
Sometimes the driver managing your keyboard can run into bug, specially if you lot install third-party software frequently and/or y'all turn your machine off all the time without using the Close Down control. Open the Commencement bill of fare and type "Device Manager." Press Enter, and expand the Keyboards section.
If any of the items in this section accept a xanthous exclamation signal next to them, it can indicate a problem. Even if you don't see an exclamation point, though, I recommend correct-clicking your keyboard in this menu and choosing Uninstall Commuter. Reboot your PC, and Windows should automatically grab the generic drivers for your keyboard, which may cause information technology to work again.
If that doesn't bring the keys dorsum to life, or if the Keyboard icon isn't even visible in the Device Managing director, head to the laptop manufacturer's support page and install the latest drivers for the keyboard. (If there's no keyboard driver, try reinstalling the chipset and/or USB drivers.) Yous can read more virtually downloading and updating drivers in this guide.
Adjust Your Keyboard Settings
Certain software settings can cause your keyboard to behave erratically, fifty-fifty if they were intended to exist beneficial. For example, if your keyboard'southward Echo Filibuster setting is too short, pressing a key might blazon two or more characters. Head to your keyboard'southward settings by opening the Outset menu, typing "Control Panel," and searching for "Keyboard" in the upper-right corner of the Command Console window.
If, on the other paw, you lot notice a delay betwixt pressing a primal and that character appearing on screen, you may want to adjust the Filter Keys setting. From the Starting time menu, search for "Ease of Admission Keyboard," and enter that menu. If Use Filter Keys is turned on, toggle information technology off to see if it helps. Similarly, if your keyboard is behaving strangely, brand certain Utilise Mucilaginous Keys is also turned off in this bill of fare.
Alter Your Keyboard Layout
If your keyboard keys work only produce different messages than the keys indicate, it's possible your language or keyboard layout got inverse accidentally (or someone in your firm pulled a decades-old prank).
Open the Start carte and type "Language" to find Windows' Language settings panel. Click on information technology, then head downward to your list of languages. Click on the one yous want to use—for most US users it'll exist English (United States)—and click the Options button. Brand sure The states QWERTY is bachelor under Keyboards on the next folio, and remove any keyboard layouts you aren't using.
Get Viral
If none of the above solutions solve the problem, it'due south possible that your keyboard is the victim of a virus. Run a malware browse by using i of our acme antivirus protection picks.
Check for Crumbs
The in a higher place solutions are all software-based, but if you followed our initial instructions and suspect your problem is hardware-related, you'll need to get your hands dirty...literally. You may have to clean your keyboard.
Agree your keyboard (or laptop) upside down, or at the very to the lowest degree at a 45- to 75-degree bending from horizontal and give it a expert shake. Sometimes crumbs from working lunches or your last snack suspension can get stuck under the keys. This is more than of a trouble for older laptops, but information technology's worth a shot even on a new one.
If you have a keyboard vacuum or a can of compressed air, requite the nooks and crannies of your keyboard a quick cleaning. If one or two keys are stuck because of soda spillage, pop the offending cardinal cap off the keyboard (if that'southward an selection) and try to clean as much stale liquid from the key switch equally possible.
Dab some rubbing alcohol or soapy water on a rag—not onto the keyboard—and make clean away the sticky residue. A cotton fiber swab can also come in handy here, just exist careful and don't detach the fundamental switch unless you know what yous're doing.
If an extensive department of the keyboard is stuck considering of liquid impairment, similar a spilled cup of soda or coffee, your best recourse may be to have the keyboard assembly replaced.
Remove the Bombardment (If You Tin can)
Occasionally, a laptop's battery—which resides under the keyboard—can crusade problems. If your laptop has a removable battery, shut down the laptop, remove the battery, then plug in the ability cable. Try to boot the laptop without the battery installed, using only AC power.
If the keyboard merely works when the battery is removed, you may need your battery replaced. (Only be sure to become an official battery from the laptop'southward manufacturer—nosotros do not recommend tertiary-party laptop batteries for safety reasons).
Reseat Bad Connections
Sometimes the keyboard loses connection with the laptop'southward motherboard, and you have a keyboard that either works intermittently or non at all. If you're an IT pro, removing the outer case and reconnecting the ribbon cable on the lesser of the keyboard should be child's play.
If not, cheque your laptop manufacturer'due south site for instructions on disassembling your laptop then you can reconnect that ribbon cablevision. If you aren't comfortable disassembling your laptop, bring it to a service depot and so a professional can accept a wait at information technology.
Defective Keyboard
If you're still in your warranty period, try your laptop manufacturer's tech back up line. If they decide you're using a lacking keyboard, you should exist able to get it replaced at a service depot without too much hassle.
Before you send your laptop in or surrender information technology to a service tech, however, it's always advisable to back up your hard drive or remove it entirely and hold onto it. That fashion y'all'll withal have your data, which is the nigh important role of your laptop.
Having a central on why your keyboard stopped working doesn't mean you have to chuck your laptop altogether. Our fixes above should address the bulk of possible bug, but if yous can't go it to piece of work, utilise a USB keyboard for now and get your laptop looked at by a professional person when you lot accept time.
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How to Get My Keyboard to Type Again
Source: https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-do-i-fix-my-laptop-keyboard