Most laptop keyboard issues stem from drivers, settings, dust, liquid, or a loose ribbon—restart, then try Safe Mode or a USB keyboard.
Your built-in keyboard quits, and the screen cursor just blinks back. The good news: most cases come down to settings, software, or a simple connection fault. This guide walks you through quick checks, reliable fixes for Windows and macOS, and the tell-tale signs that point to a hardware issue. Work through the steps in order and you’ll save time, avoid risky tweaks, and keep typing again.
Quick Diagnosis Map
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fast Test Or Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No keys respond after login | Driver load glitch or Filter/Sticky Keys | Reboot; try Safe Mode; turn off accessibility keys |
| Only some keys fail | Dust under key, spill, or key map change | Clean with air; open On-Screen Keyboard; check layout |
| Numbers act as arrows | Num Lock on small laptop layouts | Toggle Num Lock, then test text field |
| Wrong letters appear | Wrong language or layout | Switch input source; test in a bare text app |
| Long delay or repeats | Filter Keys or Slow Keys enabled | Disable in Accessibility settings |
| Dead in Windows, works in BIOS | Windows driver or service issue | Use Device Manager to reinstall keyboard driver |
| Dead in all places, trackpad ok | Ribbon cable loose or damaged | Test with a USB keyboard; plan hardware service |
| Stopped after a spill | Liquid damage | Shut down, unplug, do not charge; seek repair |
| Stops after sleep | Power or driver state bug | Full shutdown, then cold start; update OS |
Laptop Keyboard Not Working — Common Causes
Software and settings can stop a good keyboard from talking to the system. Filter Keys, Slow Keys, or a wrong layout makes typing look broken even when the hardware is fine. A buggy driver can also drop input until the next reboot. On the hardware side, a bent ribbon, dust under a dome, or liquid on the board stops signals at the source.
Two official resources worth saving: Microsoft’s guide to fixing keyboard problems in Windows and Apple’s page for when a Mac doesn’t respond to key presses. You’ll see many of the steps below echoed in those pages.
First Checks Before You Open Settings
Quick Wins
- Restart. A full shutdown and cold start clears driver stalls.
- Test a USB keyboard. If that works, your OS is fine and the issue sits with the laptop keyboard or its cable.
- Try the On-Screen Keyboard (Windows: press Windows+Ctrl+O; macOS: Input menu > Show Keyboard Viewer). If clicks type, your app is fine.
- Check for crumbs. Blow short bursts of clean air at a shallow angle. Tap gently with the lid open at 75°.
- Boot to Safe Mode. If keys work there, a startup app or service is blocking input.
Two Fast Layout Checks
- Num Lock on compact layouts turns J K L into arrows and digits. Toggle and retest.
- Language and layout. Pick your normal layout and test in a plain text editor.
Windows Fixes That Solve Most Cases
Turn Off Filter, Sticky, And Toggle Keys
Filter Keys and Sticky Keys can delay key presses or hold modifiers. Turn them off, then try a text field.
- Open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
- Switch off Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys.
- Click any links for setup and disable the long-press shortcuts that turn them on by mistake.
Reinstall The Keyboard Driver
- Press Windows+X, choose Device Manager.
- Expand Keyboards, right-click your internal keyboard, pick Uninstall device.
- Restart to let Windows load a fresh driver.
Run The Keyboard Troubleshooter
- Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot.
- Open Other troubleshooters and run Keyboard.
Update Windows And BIOS
Install pending Windows updates. Then use your maker’s support app for firmware and BIOS updates that improve input stability.
Test Outside Your Account
Create a new local account and try typing. If it works there, a profile-level setting or app is at fault.
macOS Fixes You Should Try
Pick The Right Input Source
Open System Settings > Keyboard. Under Text Input, choose Edit, then set your usual layout. Turn on the Input menu so you can switch quickly and open the Keyboard Viewer.
Disable Slow Keys And Sticky Keys
Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. Switch off Slow Keys and Sticky Keys. Slow Keys requires a long press before a letter registers and can feel like a dead keyboard.
Safe Mode, Then Normal Boot
Shut down. Turn on and hold the correct key combo for Safe Mode for your chip, sign in, then restart again. This clears caches and blocks login items that might trap input.
Reset NVRAM And Power
On Intel, reset NVRAM and the SMC. On Apple silicon, a shutdown and fresh boot handles the same power logic tasks.
Try A New User And The Viewer
Make a fresh user and type in TextEdit. Also open the Keyboard Viewer; if clicks show letters, the system is listening.
Where To Change The Setting
| Action | Windows Path | macOS Path |
|---|---|---|
| Turn off Filter/Slow/Sticky keys | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard | System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard |
| Switch layout/input source | Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region | System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input |
| Open on-screen keyboard | Windows+Ctrl+O | Input menu > Show Keyboard Viewer |
| Reinstall driver | Device Manager > Keyboards | — |
| Run troubleshooter | Settings > System > Troubleshoot | — |
Hardware Clues You Should Not Ignore
Works With USB, Not Built-In
That split points at the internal keyboard or its ribbon. Reseat or replace needs a service guide and care, as the cable is thin and its latch is fragile.
Dead Even In BIOS
If the keyboard fails before Windows or macOS loads, the fault sits below the OS. That means cable, keyboard, or board work.
After A Spill
Liquid corrodes traces and shorts the controller. Power down, unplug, and do not try to charge. Speed matters here; book service.
Keys Feel Stiff Or Mushy
Debris under a switch is common. Targeted air can help for loose crumbs. If a cap was pried, the scissor or butterfly parts may need a swap.
Trackpad Fails Too
When both stop at once, check the shared cable or a board issue that feeds both devices.
Step-By-Step: From Quick Fix To Deep Fix
Step 1: Restart And Test In A Plain App
Reboot and type in Notepad or TextEdit. Keep it simple to rule out app-level shortcuts, overlays, or plug-ins.
Step 2: Try Safe Mode
Safe Mode loads the bare drivers. If typing returns, remove or update startup apps that hook the keyboard, such as macro tools, RGB suites, or old vendor utilities.
Step 3: Accessibility Toggles
Turn off Filter, Sticky, Slow, and Toggle keys. These switches are handy for some workflows, but they can look like failure when turned on by a shortcut.
Step 4: Driver Or Layout
On Windows, reinstall the keyboard in Device Manager and update the chipset and BIOS from your maker. On both platforms, confirm the layout and language you actually use.
Step 5: Account And App Scope
Make a new user and try there. Also test in the sign-in screen, a browser, and a basic editor. Narrow scope, then remove or reset the one layer that breaks typing.
Step 6: Decide On Service
If you see keyboard failure across login, BIOS, Safe Mode, and a second OS on a USB stick, the hardware has failed. Order a top case or book a repair while your data is backed up.
Preventive Care That Saves Repairs
- Keep drinks away. Even a small splash can creep under keycaps.
- Blow dust, don’t scrape. A plastic card can pop a cap off; use air at an angle instead.
- Skip thick keyboard covers on slim Mac laptops. The lid gap is tiny; any pad on the keys can press the screen.
- Back up before big updates. Driver or firmware changes sometimes break input for a boot or two.
- Set a restore point on Windows before major driver installs.
When To Stop Troubleshooting
Stop after you confirm the keyboard fails in the BIOS or at the macOS login screen, after a clean boot, and after a test with an external keyboard. At that stage, further tweaking only burns time. Use care if you try a DIY swap; follow a model-specific guide, guard the ribbon latch, and remove power before any step. If the laptop is covered, schedule a warranty repair.