How can i type the symbol > on my keybord (OMEN Gaming Laptop 17-db0374ng) german keyboard layout

[Stefan127]

I am not able to enter the symbol > on my keyboard.It is printed on the L key. I have tried all combinations with Shift, Ctrl, Win, Fn Alt, Alt Gr. Nothing works. Is HP selling laptops without a > key?

[Raj_05]

Hi @Stefan127,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It can be frustrating not being able to type a key that's clearly labeled. On a German keyboard layout, the > symbol is usually typed using the Shift key combined with the < key, which is located to the left of the Y key (and below the Esc key).

Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

Verify the Key Combination

• On a German keyboard:
  • The > symbol is typed using Shift + < key.
  • The < key is typically located in the top-left corner, between the Shift and Y keys.

Check the Keyboard Layout Settings

• If the key combination isn't working, your keyboard layout might be incorrectly set to something other than "German (DE)" in Windows:
  1. Press Win + Space to toggle through installed keyboard layouts.
  2. Go to Settings → Time & Language → Language → Preferred Languages.
  3. Ensure the layout is set to "German (DE)" and not a different variant like "US" or "UK".

Test the Keyboard in a Keyboard Tester

• Visit an online keyboard tester (search "online keyboard tester") and press the < key. If it doesn't register, there could be a hardware issue.

Use an Alternative Method

If the key is physically malfunctioning, you can use an alternative input method until it is repaired:

• Character Map:
  1. Press Win + R, type charmap, and press Enter.
  2. Search for the > symbol, select it, and copy it.
• Alt Code:
  • Hold Alt, type 062 on the numeric keypad, and release Alt to type >.
• On-Screen Keyboard:
  1. Press Win + Ctrl + O to open the On-Screen Keyboard.
  2. Use it to type the > symbol.

Update or Reset Keyboard Drivers

• Go to Device Manager → Keyboards → Right-click your keyboard → Select Update Driver.
• If updating doesn't help, uninstall the driver and restart your laptop to let Windows reinstall it automatically.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[CZoe]

The keyboard does not have a "<" key on the lower left. Instead, as the author of the thread mentions, the keyboard shows that these symbols are placed on the L key. However, there is no obvious way to write these symbols with the L key. I have the same question and am still looking for an answer. If I do not receive one, I will return my laptop. I am using the laptop for software development and it is unacceptable that it does not have a proper "<" key, which is used very often e.g. in web development.

[CZoe]

In the meantime I figured out how to write the symbols via the L-key:

- Fn + Shift + L = <

- Shift + Fn + L = >

- Fn + Ctrl + Alt + L = |

Sorry HP, but this is really not acceptable. Why don't you stick to standards? People are used to specific keyboard layouts, especially because they often need to switch between different PCs (e.g. work and at home). I cannot always shift my intuitive use of the keyboard. This really impedes my productivity during development and for me is a reason to return the laptop.