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Written by Clarissa Joshua
Published on January 24, 2025
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This article contains

    Why has my keyboard stopped working?

    The reasons your computer or laptop keyboard might suddenly stop working can range from software issues, such as buggy updates or corrupted drivers, to physical problems, like a damaged motherboard or keyboard. For wireless keyboards, the issue could be as simple as a drained battery.

    Depleted battery

    Like any other wireless device, wireless keyboards will eventually run out of battery. To check if it’s a battery issue, try connecting the keyboard to your computer with a cable to charge it. If it works, then it’s likely a battery problem. For keyboards with replaceable batteries, simply insert fresh ones.

    Bluetooth issues

    In some cases, your wireless keyboard may not automatically reconnect with your Mac or PC due to Bluetooth issues. Try turning Bluetooth off and on again, and check for reconnection.

    Faulty USB port or cable

    USB keyboards may not work if the USB port is incompatible or faulty. To check, unplug the keyboard and try connecting it to other USB ports on your device. If the keyboard works in a different port, the issue was likely with the original USB port.

    It’s also possible the keyboard cable is damaged. To test this, try connecting the keyboard to another device. If it doesn’t work there, the problem may be with the cable.

    Physical damage

    Over time, your keyboard may experience natural wear and tear. Which keys are affected often depends on usage patterns, but common issues often involve the space bar, shift key, or any other keys you use more than others. In addition to not producing a response, “dead keys” can become stuck, loose, uneven, or even produce the wrong character.

    Sometimes, keyboards can be damaged by crumbs or liquid that fall between the keys. This can often be resolved by holding the keyboard upside down and gently shaking it to dislodge debris. For more stubborn debris, use a can of compressed air. If a liquid spill occurs, gently clean between the keys with a cotton swab or a thin cloth.

    Physically cleaning your computer every so often is recommended so that issues such as damaged keyboards don’t appear in the first place.

    Power saving features

    If an external keyboard suddenly stops working, it might be due to your device’s power-saving settings. These features help save your battery life by performing actions like dimming the screen. They may also disconnect peripheral devices, such as wireless keyboards, if they remain inactive for too long.

    Missing or corrupted drivers

    A driver is a set of software files that allow hardware to communicate with a computer’s operating system, letting the hardware function. They are needed for wireless keyboards, although some specialist USB keyboards also require them. For your computer to function effectively, all its drivers — graphics drivers, sound drivers, or any other kind — must work.

    Drivers can become outdated or even be missing altogether. This is a common problem when switching keyboards, as the driver for your old keyboard may still be in place, potentially disabling your new keyboard.

    The easiest way to check if drivers are up to date is with automatic software, such as AVG Driver Updater. Not only will this help keep your keyboard running optimally, but it will also streamline driver updates for other devices, like graphics cards and headphones. Get dedicated driver updater software to automatically scan for the latest drivers so all your devices remain optimized.

    Incompatible updates

    System updates are important for maintaining your computer’s performance and security, but they can occasionally cause issues. Sometimes, these updates disrupt existing settings or introduce bugs that can make your keyboard unresponsive. If your keyboard stopped working right after an update, this is likely the cause.

    Faulty motherboard

    Over time, a computer's motherboard may become faulty. A motherboard is a computer's main circuit board; it functions like its brain, connecting the rest of its internal hardware. Since the motherboard handles numerous functions, including the keyboard, a malfunctioning motherboard can cause partial or complete keyboard failure.

    A damaged motherboard may also cause issues in other areas of your computer. If your PC is experiencing symptoms such as random freezing or shutdowns, overheating, or a failure to boot up, the motherboard may be responsible. Because of the complexity of motherboard issues, it’s best to consult an IT professional if you suspect this might be the problem. They can examine your computer in detail, diagnose the issue, and hopefully repair it.

    How do I fix my keyboard not working?

    You can fix a keyboard that won’t type by restarting your device, updating drivers, and cleaning your keyboard, among other solutions.

    Turn on the on-screen keyboard

    Before you begin, set up an on-screen keyboard so you’ll still have access to typing while troubleshooting issues with your physical keyboard.

    Both Windows and Mac have an on-screen keyboard function to help you troubleshoot these exact issues.

    How to set up the on-screen keyboard on Windows 11


    1. From the Windows Start menu go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.

      A screenshot showing how to set up your on-screen keyboard on Windows 11: go to Settings, Accessibility, then Keyboard.
    2. Toggle the On-screen keyboard on.

      A screenshot showing the process for toggling on the on-screen keyboard if your regular keyboard isn't working.

    How to set up the on-screen keyboard on Windows 10


    1. From the Windows Start menu go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard.

    2. Toggle on Use the On-Screen Keyboard.

    3. Alternatively, press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + O.

    How to set up the on-screen keyboard on a Mac


    1. Open System Settings and navigate to Accessibility > Keyboard.

      A screenshot showing how to set up your on-screen keyboard on a Mac: go to System Settings, Accessibility, then Keyboard.
    2. Toggle the Accessibility Keyboard on.

      A screenshot showing how to toggle on the Accessibility Keyboard if your regular keyboard isn't working.

    Restart your keyboard and computer

    Now that you have your on-screen keyboard set up, the next step to troubleshoot your keyboard issue is to restart your computer.

    If this doesn’t resolve the problem, try resetting your keyboard. For wired keyboards, unplug the keyboard from your computer; for wireless ones, turn it off. After a few seconds, press and hold the Esc key as you reconnect the keyboard or switch it back on. Keep holding the Esc key for five seconds, then release it.

    If the reset is successful, the keyboard light should start flashing. At this point, check if your keyboard is functioning again.

    You can also reset your keyboard directly from your computer.

    How to reset your keyboard on a Windows device


    1. In the Windows Start menu, search for Device Manager and launch it.

    2. Expand Keyboards and select which keyboard needs resetting. Press the red X at the top to uninstall the chosen keyboard.

      A screenshot showing Device Manager settings on Windows with a keyboard selected.
    3. Now select Scan for hardware changes, which will be at the top.

    4. Click your keyboard and then Update device driver.

    5. If prompted, click Search automatically for drivers > Install the newest drivers and then restart your computer once they’ve been installed.

    How to reset your keyboard on a Mac


    1. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard shortcuts.

    2. Click Modifier Keys > Restore Defaults > Done.

      A screenshot of the Modifier Keys settings on a Mac.

    Switch off power saving

    To determine if your computer’s power-saving feature is causing your keyboard to become unresponsive, try turning it off. If your keyboard and other peripheral devices start working again, it’s likely that the power-saving setting was responsible.

    How to switch off power saving on Windows 11


    1. From the Windows Start menu go to Settings > System > Power & battery.

    2. If the Battery saver is in use click Turn off now.

      A screenshot showing how to turn off battery-saver mode on Windows 11.
    3. You can also ensure the Battery saver is never turned on automatically by clicking the option next to Turn battery saver on automatically at and selecting Never.

      A screenshot showing how to configure Windows 11 so that battery-saver mode never starts automatically.

    How to switch off power saving on Windows 10


    1. Select the Battery icon on the Taskbar and click Battery settings.

    2. Toggle the Battery saver setting off.

      A screenshot showing how to turn off battery-saver mode on Windows 10.

    How to switch off power saving on a Mac


    1. Go to System Settings, then Battery.

    2. Click Low Power Mode and select Never.

      Disabling a Mac's Low Power Mode.

    Clean your keyboard

    Cleaning dirt, dust, and spills from your keyboard can help keep it functioning properly. Follow the methods below to effectively clean your keyboard.

    Before you begin, ensure that your computer is unplugged and powered off. If you have an external USB keyboard, disconnect it from the computer.

    1. Turn the keyboard upside down and give it a gentle shake to remove loose debris.

    2. Use a soft brush to dislodge any additional particles.

    3. For dust removal, use a can of compressed air. Hold the can at least six inches away from the keyboard to avoid accidental damage.

    4. If needed, use a mini vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining debris.

    5. Finish by polishing the keyboard with a lint-free cloth.

    While it’s important to clean the exterior of your device and peripherals, it’s equally essential to ensure everything inside your PC or Mac is running smoothly. By taking care of the internal components of your computer with AVG’s TuneUp tool, you’ll help your device work better and last longer.

    Switch off filter and sticky keys

    If specific keys, such as the Ctrl key, aren’t working, it might be due to accessibility features like Filter Keys or Sticky Keys being accidentally enabled.

    How to switch off filter and sticky keys on Windows 11


    1. From the Windows Start menu go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.

    2. Toggle off Sticky Keys and Filter Keys.

      A screenshot showing how to toggle off Sticky Keys and Filter Keys.

    How to switch off filter and sticky keys on Windows 10


    1. Type Control Panel into the Windows Start menu search bar and launch it, then choose Ease of Access.

    2. Select Change how your keyboard works.

      A screenshot showing the Ease of Access Center with "Change how your keyboard works" highlighted.
    3. Uncheck both Turn on Sticky Keys and Turn on Filter Keys, followed by Apply, then OK.

      A screenshot showing how to turn Sticky and Filter Keys on and off.

    How to switch off sticky keys on a Mac

    Macs don’t have a direct filter keys setting, but they do have sticky keys, which can be disabled with these simple steps:

    1. Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.

    2. Toggle off Sticky keys.

      A screenshot showing how to turn Sticky Keys on and off on a Mac.

    Update your drivers

    If you have a Mac, there’s no way to manually update your drivers, but you don’t need to. When you perform a system update, macOS makes sure you have the latest drivers installed.

    Although it is possible to manually update audio drivers and other drivers individually on Windows, the easiest way to do so is with automatic driver updater software.

    It’s worth noting that Windows drivers also typically update automatically when you update your system. However, it’s still a good idea to check for updates manually from time to time or use an automatic driver updater in case there’s an issue with the Windows update process or a driver is missing from the Windows database.

    Disable fast start-up for Windows

    The fast start-up feature on Windows devices can sometimes cause keyboards, computer mice, and other peripheral hardware to stop working. You can turn off fast start-up in Windows 10 and 11 by following these instructions:

    1. Launch Control Panel from the Windows Start menu.

    2. Select Hardware and Sound.

      A screenshot of a Windows computer's control panel with Hardware and Sound highlighted.
    3. Click Power Options.

      A screenshot showing Power Options on a Windows computer.
    4. Select Choose what the power buttons do.

      A screenshot showing how to choose or customize a power plan on a Windows computer.
    5. Unlock the settings at the bottom of the screen by clicking Change settings that are currently unavailable. Uncheck Turn on fast startup and then click Save Changes.

      A screenshot illustrating how to turn off fast startup on a Windows computer.
    6. Restart your computer and see if your keyboard now works.

    How do I change my keyboard layout?

    If you or someone else has changed the keyboard layout on your device, it can lead to frustrating errors where you press one key but another character appears. You can easily revert to your preferred layout or switch to a different one.

    This process can be done on a Windows device by holding the Windows key + spacebar simultaneously to cycle through all available keyboards.

    To install a new keyboard on Windows:

    1. Go to Windows Start > Settings > Time & language > Language & region.

      Time & language section in Windows 11.
    2. Click Add a language to select the language that has the keyboard you want.

      Adding a language to a keyboard in Windows 11.
    3. Click Options > Add a keyboard, and choose the keyboard you want to install.

    To change the layout on a Mac’s keyboard:

    1. Go to System Settings > Keyboard.

    2. From here, you can choose either Change Keyboard Type or Set Up Keyboard.

      Changing the language settings on a Mac keyboard

    Keep your device in top shape

    Keeping your keyboard and computer clean inside and out can help ensure peak performance. A dedicated cleaning and optimization tool like AVG TuneUp will help you spend less time manually clearing out old files and data and more time enjoying your device. Try AVG TuneUp for free today for a smoother computer experience.

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    Clarissa Joshua
    24-01-2025