Keyboard Troubleshooting
Keyboard not working? How to find the cause and fix it
If your keyboard stopped responding, some keys will not type, or you think it is broken, work through the causes in order before buying a new one. Start by checking whether your key presses reach the browser at all.
First: do the keys respond?
Typing text alone does not tell you much about Ctrl, Shift, Alt, the arrow keys or the number pad. Open the keyboard tester and check whether the keys that seem dead light up on screen.
Check with the free keyboard testerHow to tell whether it is really broken
STEP 1
Check the keys in the free tester first
See whether your key presses reach the browser. Shift, Ctrl, the arrow keys and the number pad are much easier to check here than in a text box.
STEP 2
Check Num Lock, Caps Lock and Fn
If only the number pad is dead, check Num Lock. If everything comes out in capitals, check Caps Lock. Special keys on laptops are often affected by an Fn lock.
STEP 3
Change the connection
Plug a USB keyboard into another port. For Bluetooth or wireless keyboards, replace the batteries, pair it again or reconnect the receiver.
STEP 4
Try another app or another PC
If typing fails only in one app, a shortcut or input setting in that app is the likely cause. If the keys do not work on another PC either, the keyboard is more likely to be faulty.
What the symptoms tell you
| Symptom | Common cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Only the number pad does not work | Num Lock is off | Press Num Lock and test again |
| Only some letter keys do not work | A bad contact on that key, dust or liquid | Check the same key in the tester and in another app |
| A wireless keyboard does not respond at all | Flat batteries, lost connection or a faulty receiver | Replace the batteries, pair again, reconnect the USB receiver |
| Keys repeat on their own | A sticking key or key chatter | See whether the tester reacts when you are not pressing anything |
If it still does not work
If the same key does not respond on another PC either, keys type without being pressed, or the keyboard became unstable after a spill, it is probably physically damaged. Have a laptop repaired, or replace an external keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check whether my keyboard is broken?
Press each key in a keyboard tester and see whether it responds on screen. If only one key is dead, that key is probably faulty; if several keys or a whole row are dead, a bad contact or liquid damage is more likely.
Is my keyboard broken if only the number pad does not work?
First make sure Num Lock is not turned off. If pressing Num Lock does not help, check the number pad in another text box or in the keyboard tester.
What should I do if some keys on my laptop do not work?
Restart, compare with an external keyboard, remove dust and think about whether anything was spilled on it. If the same keys keep failing, the keyboard is probably physically damaged.