A broken keyboard isn't a joke. That's why Apple is paying people $395 to settle its class-action lawsuit for a malfunctioning butterfly keyboard. But this problem isn't always that common, so it usually means that if something goes wrong, you're left on your own.
Restart your computer
Have you ever tried turning on your computer repeatedly? A simple reboot can correct a thousand errors before you try any random fixes. If you can't restart your PC using your trackpad or mouse, just press and hold the power button for about 10-15 seconds to turn your PC off and back on.
If that doesn't fix the problem, try booting into safe mode and see if it works. How you achieve this depends on the version of Windows you have and the type of processor you have in your Mac. Safe Mode won't fix the problem permanently, but it will help you determine if your keyboard has a hardware failure or software issue.
Narrow down the problem
Try to narrow down your problem. Is there a problem with the keyboard hardware itself, or is it a software glitch that prevents Windows from recognizing the keys? Figuring this out can save a lot of time later. In Windows, restart your computer and try to get into UEFI or BIOS. To do this, you'll usually need to press Delete, Esc, or other keys when the machine starts. The computer should tell you which key to press along the bottom of the screen.
If you can't get into the BIOS and navigate with the keyboard, there's a good chance you're having a hardware issue. If you can get into the BIOS and the problem key works fine in that menu, the problem is in Windows. Quit BIOS (without saving changes) and proceed with some of the following fixes. You may need to connect a USB keyboard for troubleshooting.
Reinstall the keyboard driver
Sometimes, the driver that manages the keyboard can run into problems, especially if you frequently install third-party software and/or keep shutting down the machine without using the "power off" command. Open the Start menu and type Device Manager. Select the Device Management entry in the Control Panel and expand the Keyboard section.
If any of the items in this section have a yellow exclamation mark next to them, it indicates a problem. Even if you don't see an exclamation point, we recommend that you right-click on your keyboard in this menu and select Uninstall driver. Restart your PC and Windows should automatically get a generic driver for your keyboard, which might fix the problem.
If that doesn't bring the keys to life, or if the keyboard icon isn't even visible in Device Manager, go to your laptop manufacturer's support page and install the latest driver for your keyboard. (If you don't have a keyboard driver, try reinstalling the chipset and/or USB driver.) ）
For those of you who use a Mac, you can't uninstall a single driver without going into your computer's Library folder, which can get a mess. Instead, you can go to System Settings> General, > Software Update and install any updates. Otherwise, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds and turn it back on after a few seconds. Depending on the model you have, resetting your Mac's SMC, PRAM, or NVRAM may also be beneficial.
Adjust keyboard settings
Certain software settings may cause the keyboard to behave erratically, even if they are beneficial. For example, if the keyboard's Repeat Delay setting is too short, the keys may type two or more characters.
Open the Start menu and type "keyboard" in the search field to access the keyboard settings. Click the Control Panel entry to view the Keyboard Properties window, and then click the Speed tab. You can then change the settings to see if that helps.
On the other hand, if you notice a delay between the keys and the characters that appear on the screen, you may need to adjust the Filter Keys setting. Open Settings >Ease of Access (Accessibility in Windows 11) > Keyboard to see if Use filter keys is turned on. If it's on, turn it off to see if that helps. Similarly, if your keyboard behaves unexpectedly, make sure Sticky Keys is turned off in this menu as well.
Change the keyboard layout
If your keyboard keys work, but produce different letters than the keys display, then your language or keyboard layout may have changed unexpectedly. Open the Start menu, type "language" to find the "Language Settings" panel of Windows. Click on it and then go down to your list of languages.
Click on the option you want to use, and then click on the "Options" button (in Windows 11, click on the three-dot menu and select "Language Options"). Make sure you have US QWERTY under keyboard on the next page, and remove any keyboard layouts you don't use.
Infection with the virus
If none of the above solutions solve the problem, then your keyboard may be a victim of a virus.
Inspect for debris
The solutions above are all software-based, but if you follow our initial instructions and suspect that your problem is related to hardware, then you may need to get your hands dirty to clean your keyboard.
Turn your laptop upside down, or at least at an angle of 45 to 75 degrees to the horizontal, and give it a good shake. Sometimes, breadcrumbs from a working lunch or one last snack break get stuck under the keys. This is more of a problem for older laptops, but it's worth checking out even on new laptops.
If you have a keyboard vacuum cleaner or a can of compressed air, you can quickly clean the nooks and crannies of your keyboard. If one or both keys get stuck, remove the problematic keycaps from the keyboard (if optional) and clean as many keys as possible. If it's a large area of stuck, your best bet may be to replace the keyboard assembly.
Rub some rubbing alcohol or soapy water on a rag (not on the keyboard) and remove the sticky residue. Just be careful, cotton swabs are also useful here, and don't take the key switch apart unless you know what you're doing.
Remove the battery (if you can)
Occasionally, the laptop's battery (located under the keyboard) can cause problems. For example, if your laptop battery swells, it will squeeze other parts, making them not work properly. If your laptop has a removable battery, turn off your laptop, remove the battery, and plug in the power cord.
Try booting your laptop without the battery installed, using only the power cord. If the keyboard only works after removing the battery, the battery may need to be replaced. (Just make sure to get an official battery from your laptop manufacturer, we don't recommend using third-party laptop batteries for safety reasons).
Reseat the bad connection
Sometimes the keyboard loses connection with your laptop's motherboard, and your keyboard either works intermittently or doesn't work at all. If you're an IT professional, removing the case and reconnecting the ribbon cable on the bottom of the keyboard should be a piece of cake.
If not, check the laptop manufacturer's website for instructions on removing the laptop so that the ribbon cable can be reattached. If you're upset about disassembling your laptop, you can take it to a repair station and have a professional take a look at it.
The keyboard is defective
If you're still under warranty, try your laptop manufacturer's technical support line. If they are sure that you are using a defective keyboard, you should be able to replace it at the repair station without too much trouble.
However, before you send your laptop in or give it to a service technician, it's a good idea to back up your hard drive first, or remove it completely and keep it. This way you can still save your data, which is the most important part of your laptop.
Grasping the reasons why the keyboard stops working doesn't mean you have to throw away your laptop. Our fixes above should fix most of the possible issues, but if you can't get it to work, use a USB keyboard or wireless keyboard now and have a professional check your laptop when you have time.
Source: Harness Information Vertical Technology
Editor: Wang Na
Editor in charge: Niu Dong