Laptop keyboard doesn’t work – it can be very frustrating! You try everything to get it working again, but the keyboard is still not responding.
It’s actually quite difficult to troubleshoot this issue because laptops are designed in such a way that they shut off those keys that have been pressed for a long time. For the typical office user, there is one thing you can try out before taking your laptop to the shop!
This post will provide you with some helpful tips to urge your Desktop or laptop keyboard back and running. These tips could or not be the exact solution to your problem, but they will help. This post applies to most of the manufacturers as well as HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo and other Windows 10 laptops.
What to do when your keyboard gets locked? This might happen for a range of reasons and therefore there isn’t a single, simple solution. Depending on the laptop brand and model, and also depending on how the laptop keyboard is connected to the motherboard, there are multiple ways to get around this issue.
If you find yourself typing only numbers and symbols when you hit the keys on your keyboard you might want to check the Num Lock setting which either accidentally got switched on or is set to be permanently on.
None of these potential cases need a skilled hand or a large set of tools. You can usually fix your keyboard quickly! If it isn’t working and you have an older keyboard without built-in speakers, replacing a broken key is often as simple as popping it off with prying tool.
Related: How to Unlock Mouse on Laptop?
How to Unlock Keyboard on Laptop?
Restart your laptop if the number lock key doesn’t resolve the problem. You might be able to solve your keyboard issue with just a restart.
If you are using an external keyboard, connect it to the same USB port you disconnected from your computer. Test the keys.
Remove the battery from your laptop if you are using a laptop. Power down the laptop, disconnect the power wire from the power source and flip the unit over to access the battery release mechanism on its underside. Slide this in order to remove the battery, then replace it and take a look at your keyboard.
If your laptop isn’t working as normal when you try to connect to the internet and you suspect that the problem is with the keyboard cable, check if it is securely in place. If it isn’t then unscrew all of the screws using a Phillips head screwdriver. Flip your laptop over, remove all of the cables connected on the bottom part and free the keyboard from underneath by gently pulling it away from where it was secured at.
Find the keyboard cable hiding down at the bottom of your keyboard and right there, tucked into place along the wide side-facing strip. If it’s not in place, take hold of one end and gently pull it up to reveal more area that is away from being covered by anything else just yet. Finally, simply slide the keyboard cord back into its proper spot to finish off but be sure to pull firmly down on the socket until it locks again.
Remove your keyboard altogether if none of the above will remedy the issue. To remove a replacement keyboard on an external computer, simply detach the keyboard after removing any screws on its back. On a laptop, open up the underside of the computer to expose the screws holding in the keyboard cable jack and insert a flat head screwdriver / paper clip into each * to get it out. Gently slide out the cable itself out of its port without pulling it hard then lift up on it gently to retrieve the entire cable as well as lift up from under or beside where it connects with your motherboard.
You sit in front of your mac and switch it on as usual. When you get access to the Mac system, you notice very little works as usual. Wired, it works all fine last time.
Rest assured – there are other Dell users fighting the same battle as you. However it’s a shame that so many people have to struggle with this issue in their own Dell Laptop. Have faith, all can be fixed quite easily – read on and follow our stepwise guide to troubleshooting your Dell laptop woes!
How Do I Fix My Dell Laptop Keyboard Not Working?
Your laptop keyboard not working issue can be caused by different reasons. Below we have listed three new ways of looking at the problem that we are positive will help you solve yours:
Try one at a time:
- Restart your laptop.
- Uninstall your dell laptop keyboard driver.
- Update your dell laptop keyboard driver.
Solution 1: Restart your laptop
One of the quick and easy ways to fix any problems related to your keyboard not functioning properly is to restart your computer.
Some users have found that simply rebooting their laptops was enough with regards to fixing certain issues they were having with their keyboards, so try this first before diving into other solutions listed below. If you’re still having trouble then please continue reading for more ideas in solving this problem.
Solution 2: Uninstall your dell laptop keyboard driver
Your laptop keyboard not working error is often due to driver problems, especially after an update. Here’s how you can quickly get your keyboard working again:
- Since your keyboard isn’t responding, try connecting your laptop with a mouse of some kind. Then continue on with the following steps.
- Find and click on the “Control panel” from the start menu.
- Select “Device Manager” once viewing by giant icons.
- Find and expand the “Keyboards” section. Then “right-click” on your keyboard driver software and click on “Uninstall device“.
Once it completes uninstalling, restart your “Dell laptop“. Then Windows can reinstall the keyboard driver automatically. Check if your keyboard might work properly.
If you’re unlucky(ly) your keyboard has stopped working, the best solution to troubleshoot the issue is to update your keyboard driver.
Solution 3: Update your dell laptop keyboard driver
If Windows does not automatically install the driver for your laptop – and if that leaves you with a non-functioning keyboard – try one of these alternatives: manually downloading and installing or installing an automatic update.
Manual driver update :
To manually update your keyboard driver, you can go to the official Dell website, look for most up-to-date correct driver for your keyboard, and install it in Windows. Make sure you choose a compatible version of Windows with this driver.
Automatic driver update:
You may already have heard that Driver Easy is the best way to update your keyboard driver or any other drivers on your computer. Perhaps you’re not sure if that’s true. After reading this review, we think you will agree that it deserves your attention and praise:
- Download and install “Driver easy“.
- “Run” Driver easy and click on the “Scan now button“. Driver easy can then scan your pc and detect any problem drivers.
- Click “Update All” to automatically download and install the right version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system. (This requires the pro version which comes with full support and 30-day money back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade once you click “Update All“.)
- Note you can do it for free if you like, but it’s partly manual.
- Restart your laptop to make the new driver take effect and check out to press any key on your keyboard to see if your keyboard works.
Cody is a passionate gamer, writer, and computer programmer who’s always looking for ways to optimize and automate everyday tasks. When he’s not immersed in prose and code, he’s busy tinkering with computers, automating his home, and spending time with his wife and kids.
