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It could be as simple as a disconnected or dirty keyboard, but it might be a software or driver problem
By
Jeremy Laukkonen
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/jdlaukkonenportrait-d7f63bc9dedd44c18c9936ba6f0eebd0.jpg "How to Fix It When a Keyboard Won't Type (1)")
Jeremy Laukkonen
Writer
- Shoreline Community College
Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles .
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Updated on May 20, 2024
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The Causes
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This article explains how to fix an unresponsive keyboard. This guide covers built-in keyboards as well as wired and wireless keyboards.
Why Won’t My Keyboard Type?
Some of the reasons a keyboard might be unresponsive include:
- The computer is frozen: If the computer or an app is frozen or locked up, you won’t be able to type.
- The keyboard is disconnected: The keyboard may have been unplugged, ran out of batteries, or the wireless connection may have been disrupted.
- The intended text field isn’t selected: If the text field you’re trying to type in has been deselected, your keyboard will either not type or it will be typing somewhere off-screen (so it appears to not work).
- Software or driver problems: Your keyboard driver or some other software issue may be preventing the keyboard from working.
First things first: Check to see if your keyboard has an on/off switch and be sure it's switched to the On position. If it's on and is battery-powered, be sure it has working batteries or is at least somewhat charged.
8 Ways to Fix The Problem
A number of issues could be causing the keyboard to stop typing. Here are some solutions we've seen work:
Make sure you have the correct text field selected.Click directly in the section where you want to type, then try typing again.
If you have accidentally clicked outside the text field where you want to type, your computer won't be accepting any key presses or it will send the type to the wrong place. Even if the app you want to type in is on the screen, it may not be the focus app.
Check your keyboard connection. Unplug it and plug it back in if you’re using a USB keyboard. If that doesn’t work, try plugging it into a different USB port or a different computer to see if that works.
You can also check to see if a different USB cable works if your keyboard uses a detachable USB cable.
Restart your computer. If your computer is responsive, use the mouse to restart it. After it reboots, check to see if the keyboard has started to work.
If the computer isn’t responsive, then you’ll have to try to fix your frozen computer before you can proceed. Once the computer is responsive again, you can proceed with the restart.
Disable sticky and filter keys. If your keyboard seems to work but is behaving unexpectedly and doesn't type the keys you're pressing, you may be able to fix it by disabling sticky, filter, and toggle keys.
Navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, and disable sticky keys, filter keys, and toggle keys.
Try selecting a different text field. Open a new app, and try to type in that app.
For example, if you were trying to type in a word processor, open a web browser, click the URL bar, and see if you can type there. If you can, close and restart the first app to see if that fixes the problem.
Check the wireless connection, if your keyboard is wireless. If the keyboard connects using a wireless USB dongle, remove the dongle and plug it back in.
If it connects via Bluetooth, toggle Bluetooth on your computer on and off, and make sure your keyboard connects. You may need to pair your keyboard again if it doesn’t connect.
The Best Bluetooth Keyboards for Smartphones in 2024Clean the keyboard. If your keyboard is dirty, that can keep it from working correctly. This could be why some keys work but others don't.
If you find sticky residue under the keys, it may have failed due to spilled liquid. Cleaning may help, and you can sometimes even save a laptop keyboard after a spill, but it’s also possible it may have suffered permanent damage.
Update your drivers. A driver installation is almost always necessary if you have an advanced keyboard that hasn't been able to type right out of the box. However, even older keyboards that used to type just fine could use a driver update if the existing driver was deleted or needs a bug fix.
If your keyboard stopped working after an update, you may need to roll back your driver instead.
FAQ
What do I do if my laptop keyboard won't type?
It's unlikely that your laptop's keyboard is suffering from a connection problem since it's built into the system, but it is possible that the keyboard lock may have accidentally been turned on. The steps to unlock a locked laptop keyboard can differ depending on the make and model, but look for a function key with a keyboard icon and press it to see if that solves the problem. If not, look up the process for unlocking your specific laptop model's keyboard and try that.
What should I do if my Chromebook keyboard stops typing?
Restart your Chromebook and try typing again. The issue could also be caused by an error with your using account, so sign out and sign back in with Guest Mode to test the keyboard again. If the keyboard works in Guest Mode, delete the problem account and reconnect it.
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