How to Fix an HP Laptop Keyboard That’s Not Working

In the event that your keyboard isn’t functioning properly, there could be a variety of reasons for this, some of which have nothing to do with the keyboard itself. With the help of this guide, you’ll be able to get your keyboard working again in no time.

Read Also: How to Play DVDs on HP Laptops

Reasons an HP Laptop Keyboard Won’t Work

There may be several reasons your HP keyboard won’t work, including:

• A locked keyboard.
• Outdated or corrupted drivers.
• Interference from other connected keyboards.
• Dirty keys.
• A damaged keyboard.

How to Fix an HP Laptop Keyboard

These troubleshooting steps are listed in descending order from the simplest and most likely to work to the most difficult and least likely to work.

1. Restart your computer to get things going again. If you restart your computer after an issue has occurred in your drivers, firmware, or software, the error will be resolved. Check your keyboard to see if it is responding after you have rebooted your computer.

2. Unlock the keys on your keyboard. Some HP laptops offer a keyboard shortcut that allows you to lock your keyboard in order to prevent uninvited touches from occurring. Unfortunately, it is quite simple to accidently activate this shortcut, so even if you believe you have locked the keyboard, hit and hold the right Shift key for 8 seconds. This should unlock the keyboard, allowing it to react to your commands once more.

3. Any external keyboards that are attached to your laptop should be disconnected and turned off. If you’re using an external keyboard with your laptop, it’s possible that the built-in keyboard will not be recognized. Disconnect from any external keyboards and turn them off fully so that they don’t automatically reconnect after being disconnected (as they might if they use Bluetooth connections).

4. Cortana should be turned off. Despite the fact that Cortana is a great tool, it can occasionally interfere with other tasks on your laptop. Disabling it will allow you to test if it restores your keyboard’s functionality.

5. Make sure your keyboard is clean. You spend a significant amount of time in front of your computer. And you stuff it  into your laptop or purse and carry it around with you everywhere you go. It’s normal for the keyboard to become dirty, and this can lead to malfunctioning keys. Give it a thorough cleaning and then check to see if it begins to function again.

6. Run the Windows Troubleshooter to diagnose the problem. When your keyboard becomes unresponsive, you should use the Windows Troubleshooter, which is a built-in programme that may be able to identify and solve the problem. Run the troubleshooter and follow through on any recommendations it provides you with.

7. Make sure your drivers are up to date. Drivers that are out of date or corrupted may prohibit your keyboard from connecting and functioning properly. Restart your computer after updating the driver, and then test the keyboard again, to see if it is operating properly again.

8. Check the language settings on your keyboard. If you have the opportunity, double-check your keyboard settings to ensure that you are using the correct settings for the keyboard that has been installed on your computer.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Time & Language.
2. Select Region & language and make sure English is selected.
3. If it is not, choose Options and select US.

9. Consider using an external keyboard. This will not solve the problem, but if you are able to connect and use an external keyboard, you will be able to narrow down the source of the problem to either the built-in keyboard’s connection or the keyboard itself much more quickly.

10. Disable the use of any additional input methods. Multiple input methods, such as the keyboard, touch screen, and stylus, are supported by the Windows Collaborative Translation Framework (CtfMon.exe). Although it is not harmful, it can cause problems with your keyboard. Check whether disabling ctfmon.exe will result in your system returning to the keyboard as a default.

How to Know When to Seek Repair

If you’ve tried all of the methods above and none of them have worked, it may be time to call in the specialists, or at the very least, someone who is more comfortable rummaging around inside your laptop’s case to assist you.

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