If the external keyboard stopped working right after unplugging it, try these steps in order:
- Unplug and reconnect the keyboard
- Unplug the USB cable.
- Wait 10–15 seconds so Windows can unload the driver.
- Plug it back into the same port.
- If it still does not work, try a different USB port on the laptop.
- Check if a key was held down when unplugged
On some Windows versions, if the keyboard is disconnected while a key is held down, Windows may think that key is still pressed when you reconnect.
- Press each of these keys once on the external keyboard (if it responds at all): Ctrl, Shift, Alt, Windows key.
- If unsure which key was held, press them one by one.
- If the keyboard still acts stuck or unresponsive, restart the laptop.
- Test the keyboard on another PC
- Connect the same keyboard to another computer.
- If it does not work there either, the keyboard may be faulty and need replacement.
- Check for driver issues
- On the laptop, open Device Manager.
- Find the keyboard under the keyboard or HID device list.
- Open its properties → Driver → Update Driver and follow the prompts.
- Basic hardware checks
- Make sure the USB plug and cable are not damaged.
- If the keyboard is wireless, check or replace the batteries and re-seat the USB receiver, waiting 10 seconds before plugging it back in.
If none of these steps help and the keyboard does not work on another PC, the device is likely defective.
References: