Laptop Keyboard Malfunction: 8 Easy Solutions to Fix it Up

You are working on your Windows laptop and all of the sudden, the “U” key stops working. Or maybe the entire keyboard taking forever to respond. While this can be a trouble, especially when you have work due, there are certain things you can try to fix such problem with ease.

 

Identify the Root Cause

 

Before you try out random fixes, attempt to narrow down your issue: is there is a malfunction with the hardware itself, or a software problem preventing OS from recognizing keystrokes? Finding this out can be a time-saver for you later on.

 

 

Reboot your laptop & try to enter the BIOS or UEFI-by pressing “Esc”, “Delete” or some other key as your laptop boots. (it will prompt you which key to select at the bottom of the screen). If you fail to enter the BIOS & reach it with your keyboard, there is a possibility that your laptop has some hardware malfunction. If you manage to get access to BIOS, and problem key(s) respond fine within that menu, your issue lies within OS itself.

Bios Menu

 

Exit the BIOS without tweaking or saving and continue to attempt the fixes given below. You may have to connect a USB keyboard to troubleshoot.

Reboot Your Laptop

If you followed aforesaid advice, you will have already attempted this, but just in case: have you strived to turn it off and on again? A reboot fixes tons of issues, as my old friend used to say. If you were unable to use the mouse or trackpad for rebooting,  press the power button for 10-15 seconds to turn the laptop off, then switch it on again.

If the problem still prevails, try booting into Safe Mode & see if that helps-it won’t resolve the issue permanently, but it will let you check whether your keyboard is faulty or not.

Reinstall the Keyboard Driver

Oftentimes the keyboard driver can encounter many issues, especially if you have third-party software and/or you switch off your laptop without using the Shut Down command.

Device Manager

Press the Start menu & type "Device Manager." Hit the Enter key, & expand the keyboard section. If any of the items listed in this section is tagged with an exclamation point, it can implicate an issue. Even if you do not encounter the exclamation point, though, I advise right-clicking your keyboard in this very section and selecting Uninstall Driver. Reboot your laptop, and OS should automatically detect the keyboard generic drivers, which may cause it to work again.

If the problem still persists, or if the keyboard icon turns out invisible in the Device Manager, reach out for the laptop manufacturer's support page & install the updated keyboard drivers. (If there's no keyboard driver, try reinstalling the USB Drivers and/or chipset.

Tweak the Keyboard Settings

 

Certain software settings cause your keyboard to malfunction in certain ways, even if they were meant to improve the user experience. For instance, if the Repeat Delay setting of your keyboard is too short, pressing a key might type multiple characters. Visit the keyboard setting via the control panel to tweak the above settings.

Keyboard Settings

If, on the contrary, you encounter a delay between pressing a key & that character prompting on the display, you may want to tweak the Filter Keys setting. Press the Start Menu and visit the Ease of Access option and select "Make the keyboard easier to use. If Filter keys are activated, untick that box & press OK to sell if it works. (Likewise, if your keyboard is not responding properly, make sure Sticky Keys is also activated in this menu.)

Change the Keyboard Layout

If your keyboard producing the wrong text on the display, it is possible that your keyboard layout is compromised and seeks correct alternation.

Keyboard Layout

Go to the Start menu & type "Language" to locate Windows' Region and Language settings panel. Select this option, then visit the list of languages. Click the preferred language and click the Option button. Make sure that US Qwerty is accessible under the keyboard on the subsequent page, and get rid of irrelevant keyboard layouts.

 

Scan the Laptop for Virus

If the keyboard problem continues to exist, it is possible that your OS is corrupt with viruses.  Conduct a full system scan on your laptop by using a legitimate antivirus program.

Check and Remove the Crumbs

The aforesaid solutions are software-based, but if you tried out our initial solutions & suspect your issue is hardware-based, you will need to do some cleaning work.

Hold your machine upside down and give it a good shake. Sometimes crumbs can get stuck under the keys. There is more of an old-school solution, but it’s worth a shot even on latest-gen machines.

Laptop Cleaner Solution

If you have a can of compressed air or a keyboard vacuum, give your keyboard a quick cleaning. If one or two keys are malfunctioning because of liquid spillage, pop off the offending keys and clean as much dried liquid as possible. Dab some soapy water or rubbing alcohol on a rag and clean away the sticky residue. A cotton swab can also do the trick here, just be watchful and do not pop off the keys unless you are confident enough to do the same.

If a keyboard section is stuck because of liquid spillage, your best action may be to have the keyboard parts replaced.

Check the Battery

Sometimes, a laptop’s battery can run into various problems. If your laptop’s battery is removable, try shutting down the machine, separating the battery, then plugging in the power cable. Try to boot the machine without the battery, using only AC power.

If the keyboard comes to life without the battery, you may need to replace it with the new one.

Reseat Bad Connections

Sometimes the poor keyboard-motherboard connection leads to keyboard malfunctionality. If you are an IT professional, discarding the outer case & reconnecting the cable on the keyboard’s bottom should be child’s play.

If not, check the site of the laptop manufacturer on disassembling your machine so you can connect the ribbon cable. If you are unable to pull off such action, sent your laptop to the service depot where experts will take care of the issue.