Keyboard Not Working? How to Fix Windows 10 Keyboard Not Typing Problem (2024)

Have you ever sat down to write some code or browse the internet, only to discover that your keyboard isn't working?

When your keyboard fails to work, it could be due to:

  • Physical damage
  • Dirt
  • Filter keys
  • Outdated or corrupt driver
  • Low battery (if you're using an external keyboard).

You can check the USB port your keyboard is inserted into and make sure it is properly connected to make it work again. You can also clean your keyboard. But those quick fixes still might not resolve the issue.

If you keep hitting your keyboard keys and nothing is showing up on your screen, you've come to the right place. Because in this guide, I'm going to show you 3 ways you can fix it.

Note that if you're having problems with your external or built-in keyboard, you'll need to turn on the onscreen keyboard to fix it with the solutions provided in this guide.

How to turn on the onscreen keyboard

Go to settings and select Ease of Access.
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Under interaction, select Keyboards.
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Toggle on "Use the Onscreen Keyboard".
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How to Fix Your Keyboard Not Working by Turning off Filter Keys

Filter keys help people who cannot press 2 buttons together at a time run functionalities that can only be accessed that way. But sometimes, this can cause your keyboard to stop working.

To turn off filter keys, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Click Start and search for "control panel", then hit ENTER to open up the first search result - which is always Control Panel.
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Step 2: Make sure you're viewing by Category and not small icons or large icons, then choose “Ease of Access”.
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Step 3: Click the "Change how your keyboard works" link.
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Step 4: Uncheck the "Turn on Filter Keys" checkbox.

Step 5: Click "Apply", and then "Ok".
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How to Fix Your Keyboard Not Typing by Disabling Fast Startup

Fast Startup is an option that lets Windows 10 computers boot quickly.

If you're using an external keyboard, the Fast Startup feature could be the reason why it's not working.

**Follow the recommendations below to disable the Fast Startup feature.
**
Step 1: Click on Start and search for "control panel". Click on the Control Panel search result or hit ENTER on your keyboard.
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Step 2: Make sure you're viewing by Category, then select "Hardware and Sound".
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Step 3: Select Power Options.
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Step 4: Click the link that says "Choose what the power buttons do".
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Step 5: Click the "Change Settings that are currently unavailable" link.
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Step 6: Uncheck "Turn on fast startup" and click the “Save changes” button.
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How to Fix Your Keyboard Not Working by Updating the Keyboard Driver

An outdated or corrupt driver could be the reason your keyboard isn't working.

**You can update your keyboard driver by following the steps explained below:
**
Step 1: Right-click on Start and select Device Manager.
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Step 2: Expand Keyboards.
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Step 3: Right-click on the affected keyboard and select Update driver.
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Step 4: Select search automatically for updated driver software.
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Your computer will now search the internet for recent drivers and install it.
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I hope the solutions discussed in this article help you fix your keyboard.

Thank you for reading.

Keyboard Not Working? How to Fix Windows 10 Keyboard Not Typing Problem (2024)

FAQs

Keyboard Not Working? How to Fix Windows 10 Keyboard Not Typing Problem? ›

Did you change the keyboard layout setting in Windows to get the special characters? The question mark key on QWERTY keyboard is mapped to the accented E if the keyboard layout is changed to French Canadian.

How do I fix my keyboard not typing in Windows 10? ›

How do I fix my keyboard not typing?
  1. Set up the on-screen keyboard. ...
  2. Restart your device. ...
  3. Turn off power saving. ...
  4. Clean your keyboard. ...
  5. Turn off filter and sticky keys. ...
  6. Update drivers. ...
  7. Disable fast start-up (Windows 10 only)
Apr 12, 2024

Why is my keyboard not letting me type a question mark? ›

Did you change the keyboard layout setting in Windows to get the special characters? The question mark key on QWERTY keyboard is mapped to the accented E if the keyboard layout is changed to French Canadian.

How do I unlock my keyboard not typing? ›

The first key to try is the 'FN' key, which is typically located at the bottom left of the keyboard. While pressing down this key, try pressing 'Scroll Lock', 'Num Lock', or any other key on your keyboard - this should reset the lock allowing you to use your device again.

What to press when your keyboard won't type? ›

8 Ways to Fix The Problem
  • Make sure you have the correct text field selected. ...
  • Check your keyboard connection. ...
  • Restart your computer. ...
  • Disable sticky and filter keys. ...
  • Try selecting a different text field. ...
  • Check the wireless connection, if your keyboard is wireless. ...
  • Clean the keyboard. ...
  • Update your drivers.
May 20, 2024

How do I reset my keyboard typing? ›

Reset your wired keyboard
  1. Unplug the keyboard.
  2. With the keyboard unplugged, hold down the ESC key.
  3. While holding down the ESC key, plug the keyboard back into the computer.
  4. Keep holding the ESC key until the keyboard begins to flash.
  5. Unplug the keyboard again, then plug it back in.

How do I get my keyboard keys back to normal? ›

Resetting Your Keyboard to Default
  1. Click the Windows logo key + R simultaneously, and type “devmgmt. ...
  2. Click “Keyboards” and select the one that needs to be reset.
  3. Uninstall the device by hitting the red X at the top.
  4. Choose the “Scan for hardware changes” button.
Dec 1, 2022

Why does my keyboard not type some letters? ›

Make sure nothing is stuck in the keyboard keys. If some keys on your laptop keyboard are not working, restart your device. If you have a keyboard manager app running on your device, shut it down or, if possible, delete it temporarily. If your keyboard keys have dust on them, wipe them off with a dry cloth.

Why are keyboard keys not working? ›

Restart your computer: Sometimes, a simple restart can fix temporary glitches. Restart your computer and check if the keyboard starts working again. 2. Check the connection: If you are using a wired keyboard, ensure that the cable is securely plugged into the appropriate port on your computer.

How do I hard reset my computer keyboard? ›

For Windows OS

It brings up a screen with several options. Step 2: Press Alt + R. Once the Ctrl + Alt + Delete screen is displayed, this selects the 'Restart' option. Note: This method works across most versions of Windows and is a reliable way to restart your computer without a mouse.

Is there a keyboard lock button? ›

The lock keys are scattered around the keyboard. Most styles of keyboards have three LEDs indicating which locks are enabled, in the upper right corner above the numpad. Some ergonomic keyboards instead place the lock indicators in between the key split.

How do I fix my keyboard key not pressing? ›

The best way to fix it when one key isn't working is to focus on that key. Pop off the keycap and look for debris. If you see anything, clean it out with canned air. If that doesn't work, you can try cleaning the key with canned air or contact cleaner and replace the switch if nothing else works.

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