Keyboard typing other keys when I press a certain key

[Oofering]

My laptop is a HP Pavilion 13 from 2021. Sometimes when I would type certain keys (z, x, c, v, ., /, left shift), those same other keys would also input. It all happened after I restarted my laptop but beforehand, it was working perfectly fine. 

I have my doubts that it is a hardware issue since it only took effect after I restarted my laptop and when connected to an external keyboard, it works fine. Also, this is happening before a Windows update and I have yet to update my PC.

What do I do in this situation?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Ooferingm,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your HP Pavilion 13 keyboard is typing extra/incorrect keys when you press certain ones. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Check if Sticky Keys or Filter Keys are enabled

Go to Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard.

Turn off Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys.

Test the keyboard layout settings

Go to Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region.

Make sure the keyboard layout is “US QWERTY” or your preferred layout, and remove any extras.

Restart in Safe Mode to rule out software conflicts

Hold Shift → Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Safe Mode.

If the keyboard works normally here, a background program or driver is causing the issue.

Reset the keyboard driver

Open Device Manager → Keyboards → right-click Standard PS/2 Keyboard → Uninstall.

Restart the laptop and Windows will reinstall a fresh driver.

Check for stuck modifier keys

Lightly press Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and Fn multiple times to ensure none are stuck.

A stuck Shift key can cause multiple key outputs.

Run HP UEFI Hardware Diagnostics

Restart → tap Esc → F2 → Component Tests → Keyboard.

If the test passes, the issue is software, not hardware.

Perform a clean boot

Disable all non-Microsoft startup apps (msconfig → Services → Hide Microsoft → Disable All).

Restart and test — this helps identify conflicting software.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Oofering]

Sticky and Filter Keys are already disabled and I’ve already reinstalled the keyboard and it didn’t work. Yes, my keyboard is in English US.

update: It also started affecting the other keys now.

I’m planning to test it in safeboot and run the HP UEFI diagnostics soon.

Last question: could a Windows Update affect my keyboard in any way?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Oofering,

Thank you for the update. Since the issue has now spread to more keys and persists after driver reinstall and correct keyboard settings, testing in Safe Mode and running HP UEFI diagnostics is definitely the right next step.

To answer your question:

Can a Windows Update affect the keyboard?

Yes, but only in limited cases:
 If the update installs an incompatible keyboard driver
 If it updates the HP System Event Utility (controls special keys)
 If it changes regional/keyboard layouts automatically

However, in your case:

The issue started before updating

It continues to worsen

External keyboard works normally

These strongly suggest a hardware fault on the built-in keyboard, even if it suddenly appeared after a restart.

What may actually be happening

Moisture or dust shorting the keyboard matrix (very common, even without visible liquid)

Faulty keyboard ribbon cable

Keyboard controller failure

These issues cause:

One key triggering multiple keys

Random characters

Worsening over time

What to do next

Please go ahead and:
Boot into Safe Mode → test typing
Run HP UEFI Keyboard Test (Esc → F2 → Keyboard)

If the diagnostic fails → Hardware replacement needed

If it passes but Safe Mode works → software conflict

If it passes but still fails in Safe Mode → keyboard hardware issue

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,