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HP Recommended
HP ENVY x360 15.6 inch 2-in-1 Laptop PC 15-ew0000 (549V8AV)
Microsoft Windows 11

My laptop keyboard stopped working. Even external keyboards are not working. A low-level hardware check shows the keyboard is working. How do I fix Windows to recognize keyboards again?

1 REPLY 1
HP Recommended

Hi @MuffinSpawn,

 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

 

If both your laptop’s built-in keyboard and external keyboards are not working, but the hardware check indicates the keyboard itself is functional, there might be a problem with Windows recognizing the keyboards or a software issue. Here’s a step-by-step guide to troubleshoot and fix the issue:

1. Restart Your Laptop

Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve hardware recognition issues.

  1. Restart your laptop and check if the keyboard starts working.

2. Check Keyboard Connection

For external keyboards:

  • Ensure the keyboard is properly connected to a USB port. Try different USB ports to see if the issue persists.

3. Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

Open Device Manager:

  • Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

Update Keyboard Drivers:

  • Expand the Keyboards section.
  • Right-click on Standard PS/2 Keyboard (or any listed keyboard device) and select Update driver.
  • Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

Reinstall Keyboard Drivers:

  • Right-click on Standard PS/2 Keyboard (or similar) and select Uninstall device.
  • Restart your laptop. Windows should automatically reinstall the drivers.

4. Check for Windows Updates

Open Settings:

  • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Check for Updates:

  • Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

5. Perform a System Scan

Run System File Checker:

  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for "cmd", right-click, and select Run as administrator).
  • Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Allow the scan to complete.

Run DISM Tool:

  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
  • Type DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and press Enter. This will scan and repair system image issues.

6. Check Keyboard Settings

Open Settings:

  • Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard.

Ensure Accessibility Features Are Off:

  • Make sure that Filter Keys, Sticky Keys, and Toggle Keys are turned off.

7. Perform a Clean Boot

A clean boot can help identify if a background program is causing the issue.

Open System Configuration:

  • Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

Perform a Clean Boot:

  • Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all.
  • Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager. Disable all startup items.
  • Restart your laptop.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

 

Rachel571

HP Support

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Sneha_01- HP support
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