Laptop keys stop working due to settings, driver faults, dirt, or damage—use these steps to test, clean, reset, and repair the keyboard.
Why The Keys On My Laptop Stop Working: Fast Checks
You tap a letter and nothing happens. Or the wrong symbol appears. Skip guesswork and run these quick checks first. They rule out the common causes fast and point you to the right fix.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | First Try |
|---|---|---|
| Only some keys fail | Dirt, stuck switch, row ribbon fault | Blow debris, test with on-screen keyboard |
| Whole keyboard dead | Driver crash, disabled device, loose cable | Reboot, toggle OSK, check Device Manager |
| Wrong characters | Wrong layout or language set | Switch layout, remove extra layouts |
| Keys repeat or lag | Filter Keys or slow repeat set | Turn off Sticky/Filter/Toggle Keys |
| Function row not working | Fn-lock mode or vendor tool | Press Fn+Esc (or Fn+F-lock), open vendor app |
| Numeric keypad types arrows | Num Lock off on compact boards | Turn Num Lock on |
| Only in one app | App shortcut clash | Try another app, change shortcut |
| After spill | Corrosion under switches | Shut down now, dry, then seek service |
Test The Keyboard Without Guessing
Start by proving whether the fault is hardware or software. These tests give you a clear read in minutes.
Use The On-Screen Keyboard
Windows: open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, then toggle On-screen keyboard. If you can type with the on-screen tool, the OS is running fine and the issue sits with the physical deck.
macOS: go to System Settings > Keyboard, then turn on the Keyboard Viewer. Type into a text field. If the viewer works while a real key does not, plan for cleaning or parts.
Plug In A Known-Good Keyboard
Use a USB keyboard if you have one. If the external unit types as expected, your laptop deck needs cleaning or repair. If both fail, check settings, layout, or drivers.
Try Safe Mode Or A Clean Boot
Booting with only basic drivers helps isolate flaky add-ons. If the keyboard works in that state, remove the last tweak or tool you installed and test again.
Fix Settings That Stop Typing
Turn Off Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, And Toggle Keys
Windows: open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. Turn off Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys. Shift five times also flips Sticky Keys on some builds, so turn that shortcut off as well.
macOS: open System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. Turn off Sticky Keys and Slow Keys if they are on.
Pick The Right Keyboard Layout
On Windows 11, remove layouts you do not use and keep one layout that matches the printed legends. If you need a second layout for another language, bind a clear switch hotkey and learn it. See the official guide to language and keyboard layout for paths and tips.
On a Mac, open System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit. Keep the layout that matches your hardware and remove extras. Switch layouts with the menu bar input icon or Globe key.
Check The Fn Row And Media Modes
Many laptops ship with an Fn-lock. Look for a tiny padlock, Fn, or F-mode icon on Esc or a function key. Press that key with Fn to flip modes. Open your vendor utility if your model uses a slider there.
Num Lock, Game Mode, And Shortcut Clashes
On compact decks, Num Lock changes letter keys into a hidden keypad. Turn it back on and test. Some gaming tools block Windows hotkeys; switch off game mode and retest app shortcuts.
Clean The Keyboard The Safe Way
Power down and unplug. Hold the laptop at a gentle angle and use short bursts of compressed air from left to right. Tap the case edge lightly to free crumbs while you sweep with air. Wipe the tops with a lint-free cloth.
For tough grime, dampen the cloth with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wipe lightly; keep liquid away from gaps. Apple’s care page confirms 70% IPA is fine for enclosures and glass. Read the latest Apple directions on cleaning a Mac safely and apply the same care to other brands.
Avoid prying keycaps on thin butterfly-style decks and most ultra-slim scissor boards. The clips snap with little force. If a cap has popped off, check a parts guide for your exact model or book a pro repair.
What These Steps Do
The flow moves from fast wins to deeper fixes. First you prove the OS still takes input with the on-screen tool. Next you rule out layout mix-ups and toggles that remap or slow typing. Cleaning follows, since grit can kill travel or leave a switch held down. Driver reloads, Safe Mode, and a clean boot remove add-ons that block input. Only when those fail do you check parts.
Laptops differ by brand and year, even inside one model line. Switch travel, clip shapes, and ribbon routes change. These steps lead with actions that work on any deck, then point to maker tools. If you plan to open the case, read the manual for your model and gather tools.
Driver, Firmware, And OS Fixes
Reboot And Scan For Updates
A plain restart clears many input faults. After the reboot, run Windows Update or the Mac Software Update panel and install pending items. Firmware and driver updates often include input fixes.
Reinstall The Keyboard Driver (Windows)
Open Device Manager > Keyboards. Right-click HID Keyboard Device (or your laptop keyboard name), choose Uninstall device, then restart. Windows reloads the driver at boot. If the entry shows a warning mark, right-click and pick Update driver or Scan for hardware changes.
Reset Input Services (Mac)
On Intel Macs, a power reset can refresh the keyboard controller. Shut down, then press and hold the power button for ten seconds. On Apple silicon, shut down, wait, then power on while holding the power button to reach options, and start a normal boot. Test again.
Start In Safe Mode
Windows: hold Shift while picking Restart, then go to Troubleshoot > Options > Startup Settings and choose Safe Mode. macOS: press and hold Shift during startup until you see the login screen. If typing returns in Safe Mode, remove the last driver or utility you added.
Try A Clean Boot Or New User Profile
On Windows, a clean boot loads only core services. If the keyboard works after that change, re-enable items in batches to find the offender. On both platforms, test with a new user account; if that works, your old profile has a setting or tool that needs removal.
Fixes For Specific Groups Of Keys
Number Row Types Symbols
Turn off Num Lock on external pads. Check the layout again; US-International and similar layouts map quotes and accents to number row and punctuation keys, which can feel broken if you did not expect it.
Arrow Keys Or Space Bar Fail
These long caps trap crumbs. Run a deeper air sweep in two directions. If travel still feels sticky, a shop can swap the cap or the switch.
Function Row Does Brightness Only
Switch Fn-lock mode. Some vendors map F1–F12 to media by default; the lock flips them back to standard function use.
When It’s Hardware
Spills, dents near the hinge, or a melted look around a few caps point to hardware damage. A ribbon cable under the deck can also slip loose after a drop. If your tests show the OS is fine and cleaning did not help, plan for parts.
Shut down right away after any liquid event. Open the lid, set the laptop upside down in a tent shape, and let it dry for at least 24 hours before testing. Sugary drinks leave residue that keeps switches from closing; only a full clean or a deck swap fixes that.
If your model is under warranty or has a repair program, book an appointment. Many brands replace the whole top case when the deck fails, which also refreshes the battery and trackpad in some designs.
Table Of Common Paths
| Task | Windows 11 Path | macOS Path |
|---|---|---|
| On-screen keyboard | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard | System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Viewer |
| Sticky/Filter/Toggle Keys | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard | System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard |
| Change layout | Settings > Time & language > Language & region | System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit |
| Safe Mode | Shift + Restart > Troubleshoot > Startup Settings | Hold Shift on boot |
| Driver reload | Device Manager > Keyboards | — |
| Backlight level | Fn + function keys, or vendor app | Keyboard settings or function keys |
Prevent Repeat Problems
- Keep crumbs out: eat away from the deck and close the lid when you step away.
- Carry a small duster: a short air sweep once a week keeps switches clear.
- Use a keyboard skin only when needed: thick covers can block travel and trap grit.
- Mind liquid: bottles with locking caps save laptops.
- Watch layout switches: learn the hotkey and keep only the layouts you use.
- Update on a schedule: install OS and vendor updates after a backup.
Still Stuck? Next Moves
Run through the tests again, step by step. If the on-screen tool works, layout matches, and Safe Mode proves the deck is bad, book a repair quote and ask about top case swaps. If Safe Mode and a clean boot change nothing, try a fresh profile or a full reinstall after a backup. Keep the external keyboard handy so you can now finish that job.