Keyboards not working with laptop

[MuffinSpawn]

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?

[Sneha_01]

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