The problem when the keyboard does not work on a computer or laptop is not uncommon. This situation is faced by both beginners and experienced users who have been working at a computer for more than one year. Let's see how you can find a solution to the problem when the keyboard stops working, keys stick or does not respond to pressing.

What could be the reasons for the breakdown and their solutions

I decided to write an article in the form of points so that you can go through them and find out why the keyboard does not work.

The blog has information when the keyboard in the laptop refused to work: "".

  1. Novice users usually immediately rush into panic and forget about the most commonplace things. The very first thing to check if the keyboard is connected to the system unit (directly to motherboard).

  1. Disconnect the keyboard for a while (5-10 seconds) and reconnect it.
  1. If your keyboard suddenly stops working, try restarting your computer. Sometimes restarting Windows helps.
  1. It is now very popular to use wireless keyboards and mice. If you have used wired keyboards before, but at the moment you have a wireless one, then I remind you that the batteries are running low and you need to recharge them from time to time.

  1. All modern keyboards are connected through a special connector called a USB port. If there is a free USB port then try plugging the keyboard into it. In the event that all ports are busy, unplug the printer or any other device to test the USB port for operability by connecting a keyboard there.
  1. If you have children at home, then it makes sense to check for unnecessary items, in the connector or in the system unit(motherboard). Once I witnessed a situation when there was paper or gum in the USB port, and therefore the keyboard stopped working.
  1. It is possible that the keyboard has already worked its way. To check if you have it working, you can go to your neighbors with a request to connect your keyboard to their computer. If the keyboard works, then something is related to your computer. Perhaps you have a spare keyboard, then plug it in to your computer.
  1. If the keyboard does not print only partially, you may not be able to type the numbers that are on the right side of the keyboard. If so, then press the "Num Lock" button.

  1. What should I do, the keyboard does not work, but you have already done all the above methods? If you have an old-style keyboard called PS / 2 (write in half), then pay attention to the legs. They can be bent or one of the legs is completely absent. These legs can bend when connecting the device in a hurry, they do not bend by themselves. If there are no legs, then you will have to change the keyboard, if it is curved, then you can correct it with improvised means, for example, with a screwdriver or a knife.

For the future, you should know that the purple connector is designated as the keyboard, and the green is the mouse.

  1. If there are crumbs of food in the keyboard, or you simply dropped it or hit it, then it makes sense to disassemble it. If you use the keyboard for a long time or if you hit it, the rubber band inside may slip. When you disassemble the keyboard, you need to tweak and clean the gum if necessary.

Wipe the rubber band with a dry cloth, and the keyboard itself can be wiped with a damp cloth.

When disassembling the keyboard, it is important for novice users to remember where all the keys were. In order not to get confused in the location of the keys, you can find a photo on the Internet that will be identical to your keyboard. Also, when parsing, you can put the keys on the table in the order they were, or take a photo with your cell phone.

  1. If the USB keyboard does not work, then you can look in the BIOS to see if it is disabled. But there is one caveat, in order to enter the BIOS we need a keyboard that will work on this computer. There is an exit. You need to get a PS / 2 keyboard or a USB to PS / 2 adapter. By connecting PS / 2, you can now work with the keyboard. Go to BIOS and switch USB Keyboard Support to Enabled. We also see that the USB Controller is Enabled.

  1. Another reason for the failure of the keyboard is, perhaps the driver stopped working on the computer, which is responsible for the correct functioning of the keyboard. In such a situation, there are a number of steps you can take to try and fix the problem yourself.

First, you can do a system restore or roll it back to the date when the keyboard worked normally. Stretch your memory to remember the approximate date;).

Second, try updating your keyboard driver. To do this, go to the "Device Manager" and find our keyboard. Right-click and select "Update drivers ..."

  1. If when buying a keyboard it came with a CD with drivers, then you need to install them. Remove old drivers before installation.

When the keyboard does not work: what to do and how to find out the cause, you now know. Just in case, go over all the points, you may have missed some of them.

Keys don't work in a program or game

Users who like to play games sometimes face a problem when some part of the keys does not work.

If the keyboard works, but after entering the program or any game, some keys refuse to work. In this case, it will be appropriate to first look at the assignment of the keys. If you are not satisfied with how they are displayed, then look for their setting in the game itself. In some games, all changes need to be saved, so do not forget about it.

Usually all hotkeys in programs are the same, but there are exceptions. To change them, find the key setting in the program itself. Change the part of the hotkeys that does not suit you to the ones you are used to.

If your keyboard does not work, and you tried everything that I told you here, then you can buy the most ordinary keyboard, since their cost is not great.

Do you like to eat over your laptop? Then this video is for you:

Let's consider popular problems and ways to solve them.

Keyboard not working on laptop due to software glitch:

Due to the installation of a program, the keyboard may not work. To solve the problem, do the following:

1. Restart your computer, during the restart, click Del and go to BIOS.

2. If the keyboard does not work in the BIOS, then the problem with it is at the physical level - you need to disassemble the laptop and clean the keys. If all buttons work normally in the BIOS, go to step 3.

The keyboard on the laptop does not work due to oxidation of the loop wires.

1. Disassemble the laptop case and get to the cable (many laptop manufacturers on their official websites post a step-by-step manual for parsing their particular laptop models, sometimes it's a matter of 3 minutes even for a beginner!)

2. Pull the ribbon out of the connector and carefully inspect for damage, oxidation, short circuit. E
If everything looks fine, wipe the train with a cotton swab and alcohol or a regular eraser. Put it back in place.

3. Wait for the alcohol to dry, then reassemble the laptop and turn it on.

4. Test the keyboard.

The keyboard on the laptop does not work due to liquid.

1. If you spill liquid on the laptop, immediately turn it off, turn it over and try to remove the battery as soon as possible and shake out all the water from the buttons.

2. Disassemble the case if possible and dry everything thoroughly with a hairdryer (cold air) or by placing the laptop in a dry, warm place.

3. Do not rush to assemble the laptop - it may not work. Normal drying time can be up to one week. Be patient.

The keyboard on the laptop may not work due to physical damage.

1. If one or more buttons on the laptop do not work, this may be the result of physical damage to the keyboard.

2. Need a complete replacement of the entire keyboard. If you can change everything yourself - do it, if you can't - take the laptop to a service center.

Dirt and dust are the main reasons why your keyboard isn't working.

1. Disassemble the laptop, take out the keyboard.

2. Thoroughly clean problem areas and blockages with a cotton swab with alcohol or an eraser.

3. Allow the laptop to dry out for a while, then reassemble it and try to start it.

Laptop keyboard not working due to motherboard

A problem with motherboard laptop can cause the keyboard, USB ports, Wi-Fi, and many other devices to not work normally.

Users personal computers, both stationary and laptops, are often faced with the problem of non-working keys on the keyboard. Several or all keys may not work. And if on a stationary computer the problem is solved very simply - by connecting another keyboard, then with a laptop it is more and more difficult, because here it is built-in.

Today we will look at the possible causes of malfunctioning keyboards on laptops and find out how to fix everything.

The main reasons for a non-working keyboard on a laptop:

If no key on your keyboard works, be aware that the reason is significant, but not always critical. Let's consider the main reasons.

Failure of a software nature

It happens that an error appears in Windows or the drivers crash, but the keyboard actually remains in working order. This is easy enough to check. You just need to go to the BIOS of the laptop. This is done by pressing a key during startup. Different manufacturers have different keys, but most often it is F2 or Esc. There are also key combinations.

So, the most important thing is that if you managed to enter BIOS, it means that the keyboard is working and almost one hundred percent can say that the problem is in Windows. To verify this again, you can start the system in safe mode - the keyboard will most likely work.

The keyboard cable is damaged

There are contacts on it - over time, they can oxidize or wring out. To test this option, you will need to disassemble the laptop. If you have it under warranty, in no case do this, because you will break the seals and lose free repairs at the service center. If the warranty is over, there is no risk. Take the instructions and, according to its notes, disassemble the laptop, trying to get to the loop. After that, inspect the cable and make sure that there is no damage. If they are present, the reason for the inoperability of the keyboard has been found.

Burnt out microcontroller

A very common problem that can only be fixed at a service center. It will not be possible to determine it on your own, but to fix it by soldering the contacts, even more so.
Liquid spilled on the laptop. The most common reason for a non-working keyboard. Most often, you will have to replace the entire keyboard. But it is better to do this in a service center, because the liquid can get to the board, which threatens with oxidation of the contacts and damage to other parts of the laptop.

You may also be interested to know what to do when some buttons on the keyboard do not work. To do this, read the information in this article.

As you can see, some problems can be solved at home on your own, and some require the participation of a specialist with special equipment. You can reinstall the drivers and OS with your own hands. Anyone can also clean the keyboard and start the system in safe mode. Well, to re-solder parts, look for a breakdown of a more complex nature, etc., only an experienced person can do it.

How do you know that you can not do without a trip to the service center? It's very simple - if it is obvious that you cannot cope on your own, you need the help of a professional.

Notebook repair technicians charge approximately the following prices:

  • Replacing the keyboard - from 1,500 rubles.
  • Repair after contact with liquid - from 1000 rubles.
  • Installing a new keyboard that you purchased - from 300 rubles.
  • Replacing the button and carriage - from 250 rubles.

If you accidentally blocked the keyboard or, due to some error, it stopped functioning, then you need to know how to properly fix this problem. You can use hotkeys to activate an input device. While cleaning the keyboard from dust, you may accidentally press a combination that blocks the built-in input device.

How do I turn on the keyboard on my laptop?

Sometimes, to activate and deactivate the keyboard on laptops, there is a combination Fn + one of the buttons in the F1-F12 row. For convenience, such a key has a designation - an icon in the form of a lock.

When you need to turn on only the number pad on the right side of the keyboard, pressing the Num Lock or Fn + Num Lock button will help. When the described combinations did not help, it is recommended to look for the correct combination in the user manual for your device or read the instructions on the Internet.

Another option to troubleshoot keyboard malfunctions is to check the drivers:

  • In the "Control Panel" menu, set the "Large icons" mode and go to the "Keyboard" item.

  • Next, you need to go to the "Equipment" tab and make sure through the "Status" line that the equipment is working properly.

  • Go to "Properties" and make sure that the device manager displays the built-in hardware for input, there should be an inscription - The device is working normally.

How else to enable the keyboard on a laptop

Sometimes it turns off on purpose, in order to check it you need to do the following:

  • Go to the "Start" menu, run "Run" and enter the command "gredit.msc" into the line, click "OK".
  • Computer configuration;
  • Administrative templates;
  • System;
  • Installation;
  • Installation restrictions.

  • Open the "Prohibit device installation" tab.
  • Click "Show" and check that there is no data inside. The ban itself must have the "Disable" status.

If all the above methods did not help to solve the problem, then it is worth checking the hardware state of the device. To do this, you should disassemble the laptop yourself in order to remove the input part, disconnect the ribbon cable. After that, you should check for any defects in the loop or keyboard contacts. If they are found, then you should take the laptop to the service.

How to turn on the keyboard on a laptop

What to do when laptop keyboard doesn't work? This is not a desktop computer, where it is easy to disconnect a faulty device and test it on another machine. Do not panic, in more than half of the cases, the failure is resolved in a couple of minutes. To do this, read the information in the article.

Determine how serious the problem is, perhaps only some of the keys are faulty, not the entire block. It happens that bread crumbs and small debris get under the mechanism of the button and because of this, contact has disappeared or it is not fully pressed. It happens that the numeric keypad on the right on the laptop does not work - turn it on by pressing Num Lock or by pressing the Num Lock + Fn key combination. Make sure your computer is connected to an electrical outlet. Make sure that the problem is not caused by such trivial factors. Next, be sure to restart your computer and if nothing has changed, then take more active steps after that.

Possible causes of laptop keyboard failure

The keyboard can stop working for two basic reasons:

  1. Hardware. Mechanical breakdowns, clogging, liquid spills are included. These problems are easier to diagnose, but the difficulty of fixing them varies from case to case. For example, if some of the USB ports stop working together with the keyboard, then the motherboard is to blame, and repairing it can be expensive.
  2. Software. This covers the effects of malware, driver failures, incorrect settings. It is sometimes difficult to find the specific cause of such malfunctions, but they can be eliminated relatively easily, including by universal methods.

Viruses and driver crashes

There are special viruses - keyloggers that monitor everything that is entered using the keyboard. However, they rarely become the culprit. What's the point in a faulty device, because a person will not be able to enter the CVV-code of a bank card from it. Therefore, during anti-virus scanning, do not focus on specialized viruses. If some kind of malware caused a breakdown, then most likely it was an ordinary virus, the action of which is aimed at disabling the computer.


With regard to drivers, this is a relatively simple program code, thanks to which the laptop "understands" what data is coming from the keyboard. Software glitches are quite common. For example, Windows update may compromise the integrity of the driver, causing it to stop working. To check this, do the following:

  • Hold down the Win + R key combination, enter the command mmc devmgmt.msc., Start it by clicking on "OK". The Device Manager will open.
  • Expand the line "Keyboards". The keyboard name will be displayed. Place the cursor on it, right-click, select the "Delete device" line in the drop-down list.
  • Reboot your device. You can forcibly turn off the laptop by pressing the corresponding button.
  • After starting, the system will install the drivers on its own.

An important point in relation to this action - if a yellow exclamation mark or a red cross is displayed in the Device Manager near the line with the keyboard name, then this clearly indicates a non-working or faulty driver. This situation can be observed with significant mechanical damage.

Liquid spilled on the laptop keyboard


Filling a laptop with cola or tea is a trifling matter. There are 2 dangers:

  1. The keyboard is always mounted above the main computer hardware. Rarely does a laptop have a protection against moisture penetration through the keyboard into the case. Bottom line: there is a high risk of serious damage to the motherboard and other system components.
  2. Sugar and other impurities present in the liquid. When it evaporates, it will form a thin adhesive layer on which dust will accumulate and the key mechanism will not work well. Bottom line: Wash away any potentially sticky residue from the entire keyboard after the liquid evaporates.

Restoring keyboard functionality

Laptop keyboard does not work, what should I do after a liquid spill?

Turn off your computer first. Next, remove the keyboard unit (discussed as part of the article), carry out a complete cleaning. If you're not afraid, disassemble the rest of the laptop - there are instructions on the Internet for any model. The main thing is that nothing is oxidized from the liquid and there are no sticky traces left. Having shown perseverance and accuracy, you do not need to contact the service center.

How to clean and replace keys yourself

In almost all inexpensive laptops and most of the expensive ones, it is easy to remove the buttons from the keyboard yourself. This will allow you to clean it efficiently, and the mechanisms will not suffer. If one key sinks, pry it with tweezers or a small screwdriver. It does not take much effort to get the "hat" out of the latches. As a result, you will get access to the "insides" of a small part of the keyboard unit. The easiest way is to vacuum the area, and in case of significant contamination, wipe everything with a cotton swab moistened with soapy water.


Removing all the keys to completely clear the block is not a difficult task, you need to repeat the previously given algorithm. In order not to collect the wrong set of keys after cleaning, first print a sheet with the correct layout or take a photo of the keyboard. Regarding the replacement of buttons, everything is limited only by the budget. As a rule, in markets and showdowns, one key can cost the same as the entire keyboard unit. If several buttons are physically out of order, then it is more rational to immediately buy a new keyboard.

An alternative to the previously indicated method is to remove the entire keyboard block, which will be discussed in the article. After mini-disassembly, do the following:

  • pour warm water into a basin and add a little detergent there;
  • lower the keyboard unit into the water;
  • press all the keys for 4-5 minutes, thanks to this, water will penetrate into the mechanisms;
  • leave the block in water for 10 minutes;
  • repeat the cycle of pressing all keys;
  • rinse the unit under a strong pressure of clean water;
  • wipe the inner surfaces, then blow the unit with a hairdryer in cold air mode for 15-20 minutes;
  • leave the keyboard in a draft for 4-5 hours, for example, on a windowsill with an open window.

An important nuance in relation to this method is maximum accuracy with a train!

Loop contact problems

Using a special adapter (loop), the keyboard unit is connected to the motherboard. This is not a USB connector used in desktop computers to connect peripherals. The ribbon cable has a unique connector that differs from model to model. Often, the breakdown of this component is preceded by minor malfunctions of the keyboard. For example, if it has a backlight, then its brightness may decrease.


Follow these steps to test the loop:

  • Examine the sides of the keyboard unit carefully. There should be small latches or depressions. It is enough to press the latch (insert something small into the hollow), while prying the keyboard next to it with something thin (a plastic card) - the structure will rise. By following the same steps in sequence for all latches (depressions), you will pull the entire block out of place. Be careful not to overdo it. First, read the instructions on how to disassemble your laptop online.
  • Examine the connection connector and ribbon cable. The train should not be kinked or broken. The connector is usually secured at the top with a small plastic latch, which must be pulled to the left or right so that the ribbon cable can be pulled out. There should be no oxides on its contact metal tracks, no part of the track along its entire length should be interrupted. Wipe the contacts and reconnect the unit to the connector. At home, it is impossible to diagnose or repair the loop, but it is not difficult to visually verify its serviceability.

Failure of the microcontroller


If none of the above helps, then there is a high probability that the microcontroller has burned out. This breakdown will be fixed only at the service center. It is not worth embellishing the situation for specialists. For example, if you really spilled water on the computer, then immediately talk about it - this will speed up the repair, and you still cannot hide the real reason when disassembling the laptop. You can find a spare keyboard unit for almost any laptop, so it's not worth it to immediately go to buy a new computer because of its breakdown. Perhaps the spare part will have to be ordered abroad, but even in this situation, everything will be cheaper for a new laptop.

How to enter characters when the device is not working

The best option is to find an external USB keyboard and connect it to your computer. If not, turn on the onscreen keyboard. This is a special Windows utility, which was developed to solve two problems:

  • for permanent use on touchscreen computers;
  • for the possibility of entering characters in case of breakdowns of the physical keyboard.


You can run this program in the following ways:

  1. Through the Notification area. Click the right mouse button in the lower right corner of the desktop. Will appear context menu, in which you need to click on the line "Show touch button ...". After that, a new icon will appear in the same area. When you click on it, a full-fledged electronic keyboard will open, which is used with a mouse or touchpad.
  2. Via the "Parameters" menu. This method works for Windows 7 and later. You need to go along the path: "Start" => "Settings" => "Accessibility" => "Keyboard (in Windows 7 there will be" Electronic keyboard ")". Next, in the settings window, set the slider in the "Enable on-screen keyboard" line to the "On" position.

Not a bad alternative to a separate Microsoft application- on-screen keyboard in the browser Google chrome... It is always on the open page of the Google search engine. Look carefully at the line where the request is entered, then on the right you will notice the icon, clicking on which brings up the virtual keyboard.

Conclusion

  1. Eliminating commonplace causes saves in most cases.
  2. For software reasons, reinstalling the driver and antivirus scanning helps.
  3. It is better to fix hardware breakdowns at a service center, but you can often do everything yourself, although this can take a lot of time.
  4. When the keyboard is inoperative, connect a third-party external one, or activate it in Windows function"Screen keyboard".

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