Keyboard Not Working: What to Do

1. See exactly what fails

Open the keyboard test and press every key. Write down which keys never light up. One dead key points to that key. A whole row or group of neighbouring keys points to the keyboard’s internal connection or liquid damage. Nothing at all points to the connection, power or driver.

2. Nothing works: connection and power

• Wired: plug it into another USB port directly on the computer, not a hub or monitor port. Try another cable if it is detachable.
• Wireless with a receiver: replace or charge the batteries, move the receiver to a port close to the keyboard, and turn the keyboard off and on.
• Bluetooth: remove the keyboard from the Bluetooth list and pair it again.
• Try the keyboard on another computer. If it fails there too, it is the keyboard.

3. Some keys do something else: lock keys

• Num Lock: with Num Lock off, the number pad works as arrow and navigation keys. On some small laptops, Num Lock turns letter keys into numbers.
• Fn Lock: swaps the top row between F1 to F12 and media keys, often with Fn+Esc.
• Windows key lock: many gaming keyboards can turn off the Windows key, often with a game mode switch or Fn plus the Windows key.

4. Keys need a long press or do nothing: accessibility settings

• Windows Filter Keys ignores brief or repeated keystrokes, which can make a keyboard feel dead. Holding the right Shift key for eight seconds turns it on or off. Check Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.
• Mac Slow Keys makes you hold each key before it counts. Check System Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.
• Sticky Keys keeps Shift, Ctrl or Alt active after you release them. See the sticky keys guide.

5. Wrong characters: input language

If the test shows the right key but the wrong character appears, for example Z and Y swapped or symbols in the wrong place, the input language is wrong. On Windows open Settings, Time and language, Language and region. On a Mac open System Settings, Keyboard, Text Input. Windows switches between installed layouts with Windows+Space, which is easy to press by accident.

6. Drivers and restart

Restart the computer. On Windows, open Device Manager, expand Keyboards, uninstall the keyboard device and restart: Windows installs it again. If the keyboard works in the BIOS or startup screen but not in Windows, the problem is software.

7. Clean it

Turn the computer off or unplug the keyboard. Turn it upside down and shake out crumbs, then use compressed air between the keys. After a spill, unplug or switch off at once, turn it upside down and let it dry fully before trying again.

8. Hardware fault

If the keys still fail on another computer, the keyboard is faulty. Use the keyboard checker report when you contact the seller or maker under warranty. On a mechanical keyboard, a single dead switch can often be replaced.