Sometimes a perfectly normal and working Keyboard can stop working on a Windows Laptop. If this is what you are dealing with, you can try the methods as provided below to Fix the issue of Laptop Keyboard not working in Windows 10.
Laptop Keyboard Not Working in Windows 10
Since your Laptop Keyboard is not working, you can either connect an External USB Keyboard to your computer or enable On-screen keyboard on your computer for a temporary period of time.
Once your makeshift or temporary keyboard is ready, you should be able to fix the problem of Laptop Keyboard not working in Windows 10 using one of the following methods.
1. Power OFF and Restart
The problem of Keyboard not working on your Windows Laptop might be related to minor software glitches.
1. Power OFF your computer.
2. Wait for 2 minutes and Restart your computer.
If your laptop keyboard is not working due to a software issue, you’ll likely be able to get it back up and running in no time at all. There are a few things you should try out. The first one is.
- Power OFF and Restart. The problem of Keyboard not working on your Windows Laptop might be.
- Press the Fn key which is located on the bottom left hand side of the keyboard between the control and the Windows key press and hold it down and on the top where you have the Function keys F1 to F12 you will see a light or brightness key most probably the F11 key hit Fn + F11 together the backlight should work.
- Att: This is a Backlit keyboard, the backlit may not work if your original keyboard is not a Backlilt keyboard. Compatible with laptop models or part numbers: Toshiba Satellite E45t-AST2N01 (PSUB2U-00G00K) E45T-AST2N02.
You might be pleasantly surprised see the Keyboard of your Laptop magically back to its working condition.
2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
Sometimes, unknowingly pressing certain key combinations can result in the Keyboard becoming inaccessible or locked out.
Users have reported fixing this problem and unlocking the keyboard by pressing the following key combinations
1. Press Windows + Space keys on the keyboard of your computer
2. Press the key with Lock Icon on the keyboard of your Laptop. Depending on the manufacturer, the key with the Lock Icon could be the Escape Key, F10 Key or another key.
3. Press and Hold down the Shift key and press the Lock Icon Key.
3. Disable Filter Keys
The Filter Keys setting in Windows 10 allows the computer to control how it deals with accidental repeated keystrokes. However, this setting can sometimes cause problems with certain Keyboards.
1. Open Settings on your computer and click on Ease of Access.
2. On the next screen, select Keyboard in the left-pane. In the right-pane, turn-off Filter Keys option.
Restart your computer and see if the USB Keyboard is now working
4. Update Keyboard Driver
The problem could be due to the Keyboard Driver being outdated.
1. Right-Click on the Start button and click on Device Manager option.
2. On Device Manager Screen, expand the entry for Keyboards > right-click on your Keyboard and select Update Driver option in the contextual menu.
3. On the next screen, select Search Automatically for updated driver software option.
After installing updated driver, see if the Keyboard is working on your computer.
5. Reinstall Keyboard Device
Another fix is to Uninstall the Keyboard Device and allow Windows 10 to automatically reinstall the device back on your Laptop.
1. Right-click on the Start button and then click on Device Manager.
2. On the Device Manager screen, expand Keyboards entry > right-click on your Keyboard and select Uninstall device option.
3. After Uninstalling the device, make sure that you Restart your computer.
When your computer Restarts, Windows should automatically reinstall the device back on your computer.
6. Check for Updates
Follow the steps below to see if an update is available for your computer.
1. Go to Settings > Updates & Security > click on Windows Update in the left-pane. In the right-pane, click on Check for Updates button.
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3. Allow Windows to check for available updates and install them onto your computer
In case an update is available, the latest available device drivers will also be installed on your computer.
There are a few things you can do if your laptop keyboard is not working — some are relatively easy, others are a bit more complicated. In any case, your keyboard-related problems can definitely be fixed, it’s just a matter of how fast, and whether or not you’ll have to pay to get the job done.
Restart your computer
Whenever you’re having PC problems, this is the first thing to try before troubleshooting any further. Restarting the computer is fast, easy, and just might solve the issues you’re experiencing with your keyboard.
The good news is you don’t need a functioning keyboard to restart your laptop. All you have to do is open the Start menu on Windows 10, click Power, and then select the Restart option. In case you’re experiencing problems with your mouse and touchpad as well, press and hold the power button on your PC for a few seconds, after which the device will turn off. Then just turn it back on with the press of a button and see if that solved the problem.
Is it a hardware or software issue?
This step is going to narrow down your problem, revealing if your laptop keyboard is not working because of a hardware or a software issue.
Here’s how to do it: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS. You can do that by pressing a specific key repeatedly while the computer is booting up. Which key to press depends on the laptop you own — it’s usually F2 or Delete. The exact key to use will be displayed at the bottom of the screen while your PC is booting up.
If you can enter the BIOS, software is to blame for your keyboard-related problem. But if you can’t enter BIOS, you’re most likely dealing with a hardware problem.
What to do if it’s a hardware issue
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In case of a hardware issue, the first thing to do is to try and clean the keyboard. Before you get started, make sure to turn off the laptop and unplug it for safety reasons. Once that’s done, turn the laptop upside down and then gently shake it and tap it on the bottom. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get rid of some dust and other dirt that found its way under the keyboard. You can also blow into the keyboard, or better yet use a can of compressed air.
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If that doesn’t do the trick, you can also remove the battery from your laptop and then plug in the device to power it on. Sometimes the battery can cause keyboard-related problems, especially if it overheats.
There’s also a chance the keyboard has been damaged or disconnected from the motherboard. In these two cases, you’ll have to open up the laptop and connect the keyboard or replace it if it’s faulty. If the laptop is still under warranty, just send it in to get it repaired. If it isn’t, we strongly advise you to pay a professional to fix the problem instead of doing it yourself, unless you really know what you’re doing.
What to do if it’s a software issue
If your laptop keyboard is not working due to a software issue, you’ll likely be able to get it back up and running in no time at all. There are a few things you should try out.
The first one is to update your keyboard driver. Open Device manager on your Windows laptop, find the Keyboards option, expand the list, and right-click Standard PS/2 Keyboard, followed by Update driver. After the update is finished, test to see if your keyboard works. If it’s not, the next step is to delete and reinstall the driver.
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Right-click on the Standard PS/2 Keyboard again and then select the Uninstall device option. Once the driver is deleted, reboot your device, and the driver should reinstall automatically. Test out the keyboard again to see if the problem is solved.
If all things fail, the last option is to run a malware scan with a tool like Malwarebytes. It’s possible that your laptop keyboard is not working because of some sort of a virus, which a malware scan should hopefully get rid off.
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There you have it — these are a few things you can try out if your laptop keyboard is not working. Did any of them fix your problem? Let us know which one in the comments below.