Laptop keyboard stopped working? Here are 9 ways to fix the issue (2023)

A dysfunctional keyboard is one of the most annoying issues you can face while working on your laptop. It is almost impossible to get any work done if the keyboard on your laptop stops working. Getting your laptop keyboard fixed can cost you significantly more than a routine PC keyboard repair. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to fix it yourself. In this article, we bring you 9 simple ways to fix your laptop keyboard if it stops working.

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Restart your laptop

Restarting your computer should be the first step in diagnosing or resolving any issue you’re faced with. Any background issues are cleared out with a restart. If your keyboard has stopped working entirely, you can use the touchpad or a mouse to restart your laptop. Simply click on the Windows icon at the bottom left corner of the screen and select the Power option. Click on Restart to reboot your laptop. If the touchpad isn’t working either, you can perform a hard reset by pressing the power key of your laptop until it shuts down. Press the power key again to restart your computer.

Clean your keyboard

It is common for dirt and dust particles to accumulate between the keys and prevent them from functioning properly. While you cannot pull out the keys of a laptop, you can certainly reach the small crevices with a brush. Try to take out as much dirt as you can and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. In order to make sure you don’t face any keyboard issues in the future, clean your keyboard once a week. PC users can read our guide to cleaning a keyboard here.

Use an external keyboard

Try using an external USB keyboard. Most keyboards these days are plug-n-play, meaning, you won’t need to install the drivers before using them. Using an external keyboard also helps you figure out whether the issue with your laptop’s keyboard is related to the hardware or the software. If the external keyboard works fine then the issue most likely lies with the hardware of your laptop’s keyboard.

Update or reinstall the laptop keyboard drivers

It is not uncommon for keyboard drivers to malfunction from time to time. Luckily, updating a driver is pretty straightforward and easy. Here’s how you can do it.

Step 1: Type in ‘Device Manager’ in the search bar at the bottom left corner of your screen and select it.

Step 2: Click on ‘Keyboard’ to expand the section.

Step 3: Right-click on the keyboard listed on the list and select ‘Update driver’. Follow the onscreen instructions and the driver will be updated.

If your keyboard still doesn’t work, try uninstalling the driver by clicking on ‘Uninstall device’ instead of ‘Update driver’. Restart your laptop. The operating system will automatically download the necessary driver for your keyboard. 

Run the troubleshooter for the keyboard

Windows troubleshooter can figure out what’s wrong with your keyboard and fix the issue on certain occasions. Here’s how you can run the keyboard troubleshooter.

Step 1: Launch Settings and select ‘Update & Security’.

Step 2: Select ‘Troubleshoot’ from the side menu and click on ‘Additional troubleshooters’.

Step 3: Click on ‘Keyboard’ and select ‘Run the troubleshooter’.

Windows will take a few minutes to troubleshoot any issues with your keyboard.

Turn off Filter Keys

Step 1: Open Control Panel and select Ease of Access.

Step 2: Click on ‘Change how your keyboard works’.

Step 3: De-select ‘Turn on Filter keys’.

Step 4: Click on ‘Apply’ and then save your changes by clicking on ‘Ok’.

Check your keyboard’s language layout settings

If a particular key is not working or typing a different letter from what it’s supposed to, it is a good idea to check the language settings. Use this fix if your laptop keyboard is typing the wrong characters Here’s how you can do that.

Step 1: Click on the Windows icon and select Settings.

Step 2: Click on Time & Language and select Language from the side menu.

Step 3: Make sure the ‘Preferred Languages’ section contains the relevant languages.

Step 4: Click on Keyboard and choose your desired input language.

Perform an SFC scan

If your keyboard stopped working due to a system file corruption, it can be fixed with an SFC scan. Here’s how you can perform it.

Step 1: Right-click on Command Prompt and select ‘Run as administrator’.

Step 2: Type the following command: sfc /scannow. Hit Enter.

Step 3: Restart your laptop once the scan is complete.

Enter BIOS while your laptop is booting up

A quick way to figure out whether the issue is hardware or software related is by entering the BIOS while your laptop is booting up. To enter BIOS, you need to press the F2 or Delete key repeatedly while your laptop is booting. The key to enter BIOS is different for different laptops. Check which key gets you into BIOS for your laptop by performing a simple Google search. If you cannot get into BIOS, you are facing a hardware issue. Otherwise, it is a software-related issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my laptop keyboard not working?

The most common reasons behind keyboard malfunction are outdated drivers, hardware issues, or an unclean keyboard.

Can you accidentally lock your keyboard?

You can accidentally lock your keyboard by pressing a certain key combination without knowing. Your keyboard may also get locked if its power chord isn’t attached properly or if it is running out of battery. Turn off the filter keys and restart your computer to fix this issue. Make sure that your keyboard is charged before using it.

How do I fix my laptop keyboard?

If your laptop keyboard is not working, try reinstalling its drivers and run the Windows troubleshooter.

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Conclusion

These are 9 simple ways to fix the keyboard on your laptop if it stops working. Go through these fixes one by one to figure out where the problem lies. If you found these fixes helpful, let us know in the comments! If you tried all of the methods mentioned above and still cannot fix your laptop, the issue is most likely related to the hardware and you will need to take your laptop to a repair centre for any further diagnosis.