hotkey issue

[pheo0204]

Hello community i am having an issue with my hotkey in my laptop i do not know from when i was having this trouble but my laptop was brought by me before 2 months and my windows was up to date so are the drivers and my BIOS is 10

My action keys red light present on the sound off and microphone off button was not working and even the microphone action was not working like it is not turning off the microphone and also the FN&ESC combination button is not popping up the system information i tried like installing the HP event utility and i also installed the sp91903 which is the HP hotkey service even after that it did not work indication light is not working not the funtionality so i tried the hp hardware diagnostics to test the keyboard then i tried the combination of FN to press the F1 - f12 keys the keys were detected by the test but not working in the system and the FN key is also working fine accoriding to the hardware test if anyone know any solution please suggest me

[Hawks_Eye · Accepted solution]

Hi @pheo0204 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for laying out the issue so clearly—this kind of detail really helps. Based on everything you've tried, it’s clear you’ve already ruled out most software-level causes. 

The fact that the keyboard diagnostic detects the keys, but they don’t function in Windows, and the indicator lights don’t respond, points to a deeper issue with either firmware integration or the embedded controller (EC) that manages hotkey behavior.

Let’s walk through a structured recovery path that aligns with your troubleshooting style:

Structured Fix Path for HP Hotkey & Action Key Issues

1. Confirm Action Key Mode in BIOS

Even if BIOS is version 10, the setting may have reset or failed to apply:

• Restart your laptop and press Esc or F10 to enter BIOS
• Navigate to System Configuration > Action Keys Mode
• Enable this if you want F1–F12 to work as hotkeys without pressing Fn
• Save changes and exit

If already enabled, try toggling it off → save → reboot → re-enable → save → reboot again. This forces a refresh of EC settings.

2. Use Alternate System Info Shortcut

If Fn + Esc doesn’t show system info:

• Try Ctrl + Alt + S — this works on most HP consumer devices
• If that fails, open Run (Win + R) and type:msinfo32 This opens full system information manually

3. Reinstall HP Hotkey Stack in Correct Order

Sometimes installing components out of order causes silent failures:

1. Uninstall HP Hotkey Support (sp91903) and HP System Event Utility
2. Restart your laptop
3. Reinstall HP System Event Utility first
4. Then install HP Hotkey Support (sp91903) again
5. Restart and test Fn, Mute, and Mic keys

4. Check Embedded Controller (EC) Firmware

If EC firmware is outdated or corrupted, hotkeys and lights may fail silently:

• Visit your HP model’s support page
• Look for Embedded Controller Firmware or Keyboard Controller Update
• If available, install it and reboot

5. Run HP Support Assistant Keyboard Troubleshooter

Even if you’ve used diagnostics, HP Support Assistant may apply targeted fixes:

• Open HP Support Assistant
• Go to Troubleshooting > Keyboard
• Run the guided fix and apply any firmware or driver updates it suggests

If you’d like help locating your exact model’s EC firmware or BIOS patch, just share the full product number (you can find it via Ctrl + Alt + S or msinfo32). I’ll guide you directly to the right files. 

Let’s get those keys and lights working again.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[pheo0204]

Thank you for the reply i have tried all the suggestions as you siad but i did not have any improvement my red light on the action keys of the sound off and the mic off are not working not only the lights the mic off action of the f8 that mic off action is not working but official and third party trouble shooters are recognising the f8 key when pressed please suggest me solution 

[Hawks_Eye]

You are Welcome, @pheo0204.

Got it 👍 Thanks for clarifying. Since the F8 mic mute hotkey is detected by troubleshooters but doesn’t actually mute/unmute the mic (and the LED doesn’t work), it sounds like a driver/utility issue rather than a hardware failure.

Here’s what usually resolves this on HP laptops:

1. Reinstall HP Hotkey Support & System Event Utility

Go to Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program

Remove any instance of HP Hotkey Support or HP System Event Utility

Restart your laptop

Then reinstall the correct versions for your model:

HP Hotkey Support Driver (Windows)

HP System Event Utility

(Exact downloads depend on your model — if you share it, I can give you direct links.)

2. Update BIOS & Chipset

Sometimes the BIOS includes firmware fixes for hotkey behavior.

Update BIOS and chipset drivers for your laptop from HP’s support page.

3. Check Windows Privacy & Shortcut Settings

Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone

Make sure "Allow apps to access your microphone" is ON.

Sometimes the mute toggle doesn’t work if privacy blocks are overriding.

4. HP Programmable Key / Command Center

Some newer HPs manage hotkeys through HP Command Center or OMEN Gaming Hub.

Install/update these from the Microsoft Store and check if F8 is configurable.

If after these steps the key is still detected but doesn’t control mute/LED, it could be a firmware bug in the hotkey controller — in that case, only a BIOS or EC firmware update from HP will fix it.

Let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye