My laptop keyboard isn’t working
A laptop keyboard that stops working is usually Filter Keys, a driver or a loose internal cable rather than dead keys. Test it to find out which.
A laptop keyboard can’t be unplugged and replaced like a desktop one, so when it stops working it feels serious. Most of the time it isn’t. Settings, drivers and a few laptop specific features cause more dead laptop keyboards than failed hardware does.
Plug in a USB keyboard first if you have one. It makes every step below easier.
Step 1: find out what isn’t working
Open the keyboard test and press keys across the whole keyboard. The pattern of what lights up points to the cause.
| What you see | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Nothing responds at all | Filter Keys, a driver or a disconnected keyboard cable |
| Keys respond only after holding them | Filter Keys |
| One region is dead, such as a row or a block | Internal cable or liquid damage |
| Scattered single keys are dead | Debris or worn key mechanisms |
| Letters type numbers | Num Lock on a keyboard without a number pad |
| Wrong characters | Keyboard layout setting |
Step 2: settings that switch a keyboard off
Filter Keys. Holding the right Shift key for eight seconds turns on Filter Keys in Windows. It makes the keyboard ignore brief presses, so typing seems to do nothing. Turn it off in Settings under Accessibility, then Keyboard.
Num Lock. On laptops without a number pad, Num Lock turns part of the letter keys into a hidden number pad. If U, I, O, J, K and L type numbers, press Num Lock or Fn with Num Lock to turn it off.
Keyboard lock keys. Some laptops have a key combination that disables the keyboard, often shown with a padlock icon. Check the manual for your model.
Wrong letters entirely. That’s a layout setting rather than a fault. The wrong letters guide covers it.
Step 3: rule out Windows
Restart the laptop and press its setup key repeatedly as it starts. That key is often F2, F10, Delete or Esc and the startup screen usually says which.
- The keyboard works in the setup screen: the hardware is fine. The problem is in Windows.
- The keyboard doesn’t work there either: the problem is hardware. Skip to step 5.
Step 4: fix the Windows side
- Open Device Manager using an external keyboard or the on screen keyboard.
- Expand Keyboards, right click the internal keyboard and choose Uninstall device.
- Restart. Windows reinstalls the keyboard driver automatically.
If the keyboard stopped after a Windows or BIOS update, check the laptop maker’s support site for an updated keyboard, chipset or BIOS driver. Some laptops need the maker’s own driver for the keyboard and touchpad to work correctly.
Also try a full shutdown rather than a restart. Hold Shift while choosing Shut Down, wait thirty seconds, then start it again. This clears a fast startup state that can carry a stuck keyboard controller from one session to the next.
Step 5: hardware causes
Liquid. Even a small spill can make a whole region of keys stop working or type the wrong characters, sometimes days later as residue dries. Shut the laptop down, unplug it and let it dry fully before trying again. Sticky residue usually needs a professional clean or a replacement keyboard.
The internal ribbon cable. The keyboard connects to the motherboard with a thin ribbon cable. A drop or a repair can loosen it. Symptoms are usually a dead region or the whole keyboard failing at once. Reseating it is a quick job on some laptops and a full teardown on others.
Worn or dirty keys. Individual dead keys are usually debris under the key or a damaged key mechanism. The keys not working guide covers cleaning and replacing single keys.
Battery swelling
If the keyboard has started to bulge, keys feel stiff across a region or the touchpad clicks by itself, stop using the laptop. A swollen battery can push up through the keyboard deck. It’s a fire risk and needs a professional battery replacement.
When it’s time for a repair
On many laptops the keyboard is riveted to the top case and the replacement part includes the palm rest. That makes the repair more expensive than people expect. If the laptop is older, an external keyboard may be the sensible answer until you replace the machine.
Common questions
Why did my laptop keyboard suddenly stop working?
The most common causes are Filter Keys being turned on, a keyboard driver problem after an update and a liquid spill. A keyboard that stops all at once without a spill is often a setting or driver. A keyboard that stops after a drop or a spill is often hardware.
Does the keyboard work in the BIOS?
Restart the laptop and press the key that opens its setup screen, often F2, Delete or Esc. If you can move around the setup screen with the arrow keys, the keyboard hardware works and the problem is in Windows. If the keys don’t work there either, the fault is hardware.
Can I use an external keyboard instead?
Yes. A USB or Bluetooth keyboard works independently of the built in one, which also makes it the easiest way to get into settings while you troubleshoot. It’s a good long term workaround if the internal keyboard needs a repair you don’t want to pay for yet.
Why does the test show nothing for the Fn key?
The Fn key is handled inside the laptop’s keyboard controller and never reaches the operating system or a web page. That’s normal. Test it by pressing Fn with a key that has a secondary function such as volume or brightness. If that function works, so does Fn.