Laptop Keyboard Not Typing Letters: Here’s How to Fix It in Minutes!
Updated: 26, Nov 2024
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A laptop keyboard that’s not working can be irritating, especially when you depend on it for daily tasks like work, gaming, or writing emails. If some keys on the keyboard aren’t working or the keyboard isn’t responding, don’t worry—there are a few steps to fix the problem.
In this guide, we’ll talk about the common causes of keyboards not working and offer solutions you can try step by step.
Why Is Your Laptop Keyboard Not Working?
Before finding solutions, it’s important to understand why your keyboard is not working laptop. Here are the most common reasons:
1. Dirt and Dust Build-Up
Most of the time, particles of dust, dirt, or crumbs get stuck under the keys. Over time, this dirt can get in the way of the connection between the keyboard and the laptop, stopping it from working. It’s a simple fix that lots of people forget to do, so check it first.
2. Outdated or Corrupted Drivers
Sometimes your keyboard is not working, it could be because the drivers are out of date or cracked. Drivers are parts of software that let your keyboard talk to your laptop. They often need to be updated to work with the latest software or hardware.
3. Physical Damage
If your laptop has been dropped or spilled on, the hardware inside the keyboard could be broken. In cases of physical damage, the keyboard may not work at all, and you will need to get it changed.
4. Software or System Conflicts
Third-party applications or Windows updates can occasionally cause problems with keyboard functioning. Some system options may also cause the keyboard to act incorrectly or stop working.
5. Battery or Power Issues
When a laptop’s battery gets low or the power connections fail, external parts such as the keyboard may malfunction. In these situations, you may find that the keyboard functions occasionally or stops working completely when the battery level falls.
How to Fix a Non-Working Laptop Keyboard
Let’s explore step-by-step solutions to get your laptop keyboard back in action.
1. Restart Your Laptop
One of the simplest treatments is to restart your laptop. Small system malfunctions can frequently cause components, such as the keyboard, to stop working. A restart can assist in resolving these issues.
Why this Works:
Restarting the system refreshes all drivers and software, removing any minor glitches that were keeping your keyboard from working properly.
2. Clean Your Keyboard
Cleaning your keyboard might help restore its function.
How To Do It?
1. Switch off your laptop before cleaning.
2. Turn your laptop upside down and shake lightly to remove any debris particles.
3. Use a bottle of compressed air to remove any particles that have become present between the keys.
4. You can also clean the keyboard’s surface with a soft brush or cloth.
5. Cleaning your keyboard is a quick and efficient solution, especially if you notice that only a few keys are not responding.
3. Check Your Keyboard Connections
If your laptop has detachable keyboards, make sure the keyboard is correctly attached to the laptop. If the keyboard is built-in, look for visible signs of physical damage.
Why is this Important?
A loose or unplugged keyboard can cause it to stop working. Physical damage to internal keyboard components may also result in issues with functioning.
4. Disable Sticky Keys or Filter Keys
Sticky Keys and Filter Keys are accessibility tools in Windows designed to assist users with movement disabilities. However, these functionalities can occasionally produce unexpected keyboard behavior, such as the keyboard failing to respond to normal typing.
How To Disable Them?
1. Click the Settings menu on the laptop.
2. Navigate to Ease of Access >, then click on the Keyboard option.
3. Toggle the switch under the Sticky Keys section to turn it off.
4. Do the same with filter keys.
Why Does it Help?
These features, if enabled by mistake, may cause the keyboard to behave abnormally. Disabling them may resolve problems with the keyboard not functioning properly.
5. Update or Reinstall Your Keyboard Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers are frequently the cause of keyboard issues. Updating or reinstalling the drivers may help restore complete keyboard operation.
Update Your Drivers
1. Press the Windows ” key + X “ to open Device Manager.
2. Expand the Keyboards portion, right-click your keyboard, and select Update Driver.
3. If updating doesn’t work, choose Uninstall Device. After restarting the laptop, the system will automatically reinstall the required drivers.
6. Perform a System Update
Occasionally the problem isn’t with the keyboard but with missing Windows updates or patches. Ensure that your system is up to date, as updates frequently address issues that can damage peripheral devices such as your keyboard.
Update Windows
1. Open the Settings menu on your Windows device.
2. Select Update & Security from the list of options.
3. Click on Windows Update in the sidebar.
4. Click Check for Updates and install any pending updates.
When Should You Seek Professional Help?
If none of the above steps work, it might be time to consider professional help. Here’s when you should contact a technician:
1. If you’ve accidentally spilled water, coffee, or any other liquid, expert cleaning or replacement is required.
2. If a large portion of the keyboard or individual keys remain unresponsive, it could indicate internal hardware failure. In such cases, a repair or replacement is typically required.
3. Physical damage to keys, connectors, or circuits might need expert repair.
How to unlock laptop when keyboard not working?
Use an external USB or wireless keyboard to type your password and unlock the laptop. Alternatively, you can enable the on-screen keyboard from the login screen by clicking the accessibility symbol. If your laptop has fingerprint or facial recognition, use it as a quick solution.
How to use laptop when keyboard not working?
You can use an external keyboard or the on-screen keyboard in the Accessibility settings. Voice typing or touchscreen input (if your laptop has one) can also be useful. If it’s a temporary issue, try restarting your laptop to see if the keyboard functions properly again.
Why laptop keyboard not working properly?
This could be caused by dust, physical damage, out-of-date drivers, or software issues. Clean the keyboard and restart your laptop. If the problem continues, try updating the keyboard driver or checking for hardware defects.
Laptop keyboard not working after update?
Updates may occasionally cause compatibility problems with the keyboard driver. Check for new updates or try rolling back the keyboard driver using Device Manager. Restarting your laptop or reinstalling the driver may also resolve the issue.
How to activate the Fn key?
The Fn key is normally constantly active, but its functionality depends on the laptop’s settings. You can adjust its behavior in the BIOS or by holding down the Fn key and a function key (for example, Fn + F1). Some laptops have a dedicated “Fn Lock” key to switch between functions.
Why is my laptop keyboard not typing letters but typing numbers?
This happens as the Num Lock function is enabled on keyboards with a numeric pad layout. To disable it, press the “Num Lock” key. If you can’t see the Num Lock key, use the on-screen keyboard to disable it.
How do I reset my keyboard?
To reset your keyboard, unplug and reconnect it (if external), or restart your laptop. You can alternatively go to Device Manager, delete the keyboard driver, and restart your laptop to have it reinstalled automatically. Resetting your system’s language or keyboard layout may also help.
Conclusion
A variety of issues can cause a non-working laptop keyboard, but the good part is that the majority of problems can be resolved without the need for a complete replacement. You can troubleshoot and fix the issue yourself by following the steps in this article. If everything else fails, you can seek expert help.
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