How to Fix a Keyboard That Isn't Working in Windows 11

Quickly troubleshoot keyboard issues in Windows 11

Co-authored by Megaera Lorenz, PhD Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: May 7, 2026 Fact Checked

If your keyboard is malfunctioning, turning off unexpectedly, or not responding at all, it can make it all but impossible to use your computer. In this article, we’ll go over the most common reasons a keyboard might malfunction in Windows 11 and explain how to fix it. If basic troubleshooting fixes don’t work, we’ll talk you through more advanced solutions like editing the registry. We’ll also explain how to turn on the onscreen keyboard to make troubleshooting easier in the meantime.

Quick Fixes for a Keyboard That's Not Working

Disconnect and reconnect your keyboard.
Rule out a hardware problem by connecting it to a different computer, and/or connecting a different keyboard to your computer.
Update Windows and your keyboard’s driver.
Make sure settings like Fast Startup or your keyboard’s power management profile aren’t causing problems.

1

Enable the onscreen keyboard so you can troubleshoot.

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This allows you to "type" with your mouse until you get your keyboard working. The onscreen keyboard is a virtual keyboard that you can use with your mouse, touchpad, or touchscreen. To turn on the onscreen keyboard in Windows 11:^{[1]
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- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Go to Accessibility > Keyboard.
- Toggle on the On-Screen Keyboard switch.

2

Check a wired keyboard’s physical connection.

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Make sure everything is plugged in securely. If you have a wired external keyboard, unplug the cable(s) connecting it to your computer. Wait a few minutes, then plug it back in. Check the cable for any obvious damage. If there’s more than one USB port on your computer, try plugging the cable into a different port.^{[2]
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- Unplugging your keyboard and plugging it back in should force Windows to reload the device driver, which can resolve potential glitches.
- If possible, plug the keyboard directly into a USB port on your computer rather than a USB hub or dongle. If you are using a hub, make sure the hub is receiving power.
- Try using a different USB cable. Not all USB cables are created equal, so make sure you’re using a high-quality one (ideally, it should be the cable that came with your keyboard).

3

Test your wireless keyboard connection.

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If your keyboard is wireless, there might be a connection issue. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your computer and that the keyboard is connected. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices to see your current Bluetooth status and what devices are connected.
- If you don’t see your keyboard in the list of connected devices, make sure it’s turned on, receiving power, and in pairing mode. You might need to press a button or use a switch to enable pairing.
- If your keyboard is connected, you might need to unpair it and re-pair it with your computer.
- Make sure your keyboard isn’t currently connected to another device (such as a different computer or a tablet), since that could interfere with your connection.
- If you have multiple Bluetooth devices connected to your computer, disconnect and turn off any that you don’t need. They might be interfering with your keyboard.
- Some wireless keyboards have a reset button. Try resetting the keyboard (or the USB receiver, if it uses one) and see if that resolves the problem.^{[3]
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- For keyboards that connect with a USB receiver, try unplugging the receiver, waiting about 10 seconds, and plugging it back in.^{[4]
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4

Check the keyboard’s batteries if it has them.

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If your keyboard uses replaceable batteries, put in fresh ones. If it’s rechargeable, charge it for a while and try connecting again. Even if the battery isn’t fully drained, a low charge might cause your keyboard to work incorrectly or interfere with a wireless connection.

5

Restart your computer and keyboard.

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Reboot your computer and see if the issue goes away. If your keyboard has a physical on/off switch, turn it off, wait a minute or two, and turn it back on again.

6

Rule out physical damage.

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Your keyboard might need to be repaired or replaced. One quick way to identify a hardware issue is to test the keyboard with a different computer. If it doesn’t work on any computer, the problem is likely with the keyboard itself and not your computer’s software or settings. If you have access to a different keyboard, connect it to your computer. If that one works, your original keyboard may need to be replaced.
- If individual keys aren’t working as opposed to the entire keyboard, check for damage or dirt around those keys. Sometimes cleaning your keyboard is enough to fix individual keys that aren’t working right.
- You can also remove individual problem keys to clean under them or replace them altogether. Check out our guide to fixing jammed or sticky keys.
- If your keyboard is physically broken, your best option might be to replace it. If it’s a built-in laptop keyboard that can’t be replaced or easily fixed, you can get around the issue by using an external wired or wireless keyboard instead.

7

Adjust your keyboard’s power management settings.

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Your computer might be set to turn off your keyboard to save power. If your keyboard tends to shut off suddenly, this could be the reason. To fix this issue:
- Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
- Expand the Keyboards section of the menu.
- Right-click your keyboard and select Properties from the popup menu.
- Click the Power Management tab at the top of the Properties window.
- Uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”

8

Update Windows.

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An outdated OS can cause problems with keyboards and other accessories. To update your Windows 11 computer:^{[5]
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- Open the Start menu and go to Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for Windows updates.
- If an update is available, select Download & install. Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the process.

9

Reinstall or update your keyboard driver.

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Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of keyboard issues. This is an especially common problem after Windows updates. To fix your driver:^{[6]
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- Reinstall the driver:
  - Right-click the Start menu icon and click Device Manager.
  - Expand the Keyboards category.
  - Right-click your keyboard driver and select Uninstall device.
  - Restart your computer. This should force Windows to reinstall the driver for the keyboard.
- Update the driver:
  - Right-click the Start menu icon and click Device Manager.
  - Expand the Keyboards category.
  - Right-click the driver for your keyboard and click Update driver.
  - Select Search automatically for updated driver software. If Windows finds an update, it will automatically install it.
  - If Windows doesn’t find an update, visit the keyboard manufacturer’s website and see if a newer driver is available for download. If so, download it, then right-click your keyboard in Device Manager and select Update drivers > Browse my computer for drivers. Locate the driver, click OK > Next, and follow the prompts on screen.

10

Disable Filter Keys.

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This setting can cause individual keys to stop working. If your keyboard is on and connected, but some of the keys aren’t working right, Filter Keys might be to blame. Here’s how to turn off this setting:
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Select Accessibility > Keyboard.
- Toggle the switch under Use Filter Keys to the off position. If you think you might be toggling this setting on accidentally with a keyboard shortcut, uncheck the box next to “Allow the shortcut key to start Filter Keys.”

11

Turn off Fast Startup.

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This setting can interfere with keyboards and other peripherals. While Fast Startup can help your computer boot up more efficiently, it can also cause a variety of problems. Here’s how to turn it off:^{[7]
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- Use the onscreen keyboard to type choose a power plan into the Windows search bar. Click Open on the top result.
- Click Choose what the power button does in the left-hand menu.
- Uncheck the box next to “Turn on fast startup (recommended).”
  - If this option is greyed out, click Change settings that are currently unavailable near the top of the window.
- Click Save changes at the bottom of the window.

12

Check the keyboard’s layout and language settings.

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If your keyboard is behaving in unexpected ways, it might be a layout issue. For example, your keyboard might be set to the wrong language. To quickly change the keyboard layout:^{[8]
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- Click the input language icon in the Taskbar system tray.
- Select the correct layout from the popout menu.
- Alternatively, hold down the Windows key and press Spacebar to cycle through your installed keyboard layouts (if those keys are working for you).

13

Run a troubleshooter.

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The Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter may be able to find and fix the problem. To run this troubleshooter, take the following steps:
- Right-click the Start menu icon and select Run.
- Copy and paste msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic into the Run window. Click OK.
- Click Next on the troubleshooter window. Follow the onscreen instructions to resolve any issues that the troubleshooter finds.

14

Run the System File Checker.

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This utility can find and fix corrupted system files. Before you run the SFC, you’ll want to run DISM to download any files you might need to repair your system. To run DISM and SFC:^{[9]
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- Use the onscreen keyboard to type cmd into the Start menu search bar.
- Click Run as administrator under the Command Prompt result. Click Allow or log in with an administrator account if prompted.
- Enter the command DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter. Wait a few minutes for the command to run.
- Once the DISM process is complete, enter the command sfc /scannow into the command prompt and press Enter.
- If the SFC finds a problem, it might be able to repair it automatically. If not, view the scan log and replace the faulty files manually. Check out this guide from Microsoft Support for detailed instructions.

15

Edit the registry.

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A faulty registry entry might be causing keyboard issues. Before you start, keep in mind that editing the registry can be risky. Always back up the registry before you start in case something goes wrong. To fix keyboard issues in the registry:^{[10]
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- Use the onscreen keyboard to search for “registry editor” in the Windows taskbar search bar. Click Registry Editor in the results, and select Yes in the security popup.
- In the left panel, expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and then expand SYSTEM.
- Expand CurrentControlSet > Services.
- Scroll down in Services and click i8042prt.
- Right-click Start in the right-hand pane. Select Modify from the popup menu.
- Change the number in the Value data field to 1. Click OK.
- Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer. See if the keyboard issue has been resolved.

16

Reinstall Windows.

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Try this option as a last resort. Sometimes system corruption or a bad Windows update can cause your keyboard to stop working. If all else fails, you might need to completely reinstall Windows or restore your system from a backup. There are several methods for reinstalling Windows, and you can find detailed instructions (and information on how to choose the best one) here. The simplest method is to reset Windows:^{[11]
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- Go to Settings > System > Recovery.
- Select Reset this PC under the Recovery options header. You can also try Go back, which allows you to roll back to the previous version of Windows (if the problem started after an update).
- Select your preferred reset options and follow the prompts onscreen to complete the process.