how to make keyboard work again

Question

how to make keyboard work again

Anthony DeGiovanni 5

The touch screen works but not the mouse pad and keyboard

char 0 Reputation points

2026-10-07T12:09:15.2333333+00:00

my keyboard has always been fine with connecting right now I am currently using the onscreen keyboard while the keyboard is connected to the laptop. No button, keypad, or light works on this bur when it is plugged in it recognizes it is because the laptops onscreen keyboard doesn't pop up while I want to type om many things. I've tried at least four different ways to fix this and nothing works. I spilled water, a small amount yesterday and i doubt that reached the connection magnet area but that might be an area of suspicion.

2 answers

Your answer

char 0 Reputation points

2026-10-07T12:09:15.2333333+00:00

my keyboard has always been fine with connecting right now I am currently using the onscreen keyboard while the keyboard is connected to the laptop. No button, keypad, or light works on this bur when it is plugged in it recognizes it is because the laptops onscreen keyboard doesn't pop up while I want to type om many things. I've tried at least four different ways to fix this and nothing works. I spilled water, a small amount yesterday and i doubt that reached the connection magnet area but that might be an area of suspicion.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

To help narrow down the issue:

Is it a laptop, tablet, or a 2-in-1 device (like a Surface)?
Are you able to use an external USB keyboard or mouse?
When you open Device Manager, do you see the keyboard and touchpad listed under Keyboards and Mice and other pointing devices?

In the meantime, if you haven’t already already:

To check if the keys are functioning correctly, you can download Keyboard tester from Microsoft Store https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n8g1skzc1mb and press the keys that are not responding. If they don't register during the test, it's possible that the keys themselves have become defective and may need to be replaced.

If the keys register successfully during the test, it's likely software interference or Windows settings that are causing the problem. Since you've already updated your keyboard drivers and turned off Sticky Keys and Filter Keys, you may want to try reinstalling the keyboard driver. Here's how you can do that:

Open the Start menu and search for "Device Manager."
Open Device Manager and expand the Keyboards menu.
Right-click on your keyboard's name and select "Uninstall device."
Restart your computer.
After restarting, Windows should automatically reinstall the keyboard driver for you.

If the issue persists, please provide more details by answering my questions.

Click "Add comment" below to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

Try these steps in order on the Windows device where the touchscreen still works but the touchpad and keyboard do not.

Check hardware and connections
- If using a detachable keyboard (for example, Surface Type Cover), disconnect it and reconnect it firmly.
- If using a USB keyboard or mouse, unplug them, wait 10–15 seconds so Windows unloads the driver, then plug them back in.
- Try different USB ports and, if using a USB hub, plug the device directly into the PC.
- Check cables for damage and make sure any wireless keyboard or mouse has fresh batteries and is powered on.
Use the On-Screen Keyboard to sign in and navigate
Since the touchscreen works, enable the On-Screen Keyboard so it is possible to work while troubleshooting:
- Select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard.
- Turn on Use the On-Screen Keyboard.
  A keyboard will appear on screen and stay there until closed.
Check for Windows updates (can fix keyboard/mouse bugs)
- Select Start and type check for updates, then select Check for updates.
- In Windows Update, select Check for updates and install all available updates.
  Updates can fix issues where special keys or input devices stop working.
Update or reinstall device drivers
Use the touchscreen or On-Screen Keyboard to do this:
- Select Start, type device manager, and open Device Manager.
- For the keyboard: expand Keyboards, double‑tap the keyboard device, go to the Driver tab, and select Update Driver, then follow the instructions.
- For the touchpad/mouse: expand Mice and other pointing devices, open the touchpad or mouse entry, and use Update Driver the same way.
  If no update is found and the problem started recently, choose Uninstall device, then restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the driver automatically.
If using a Surface device (touchscreen works but keyboard/Type Cover does not)
- Press Caps and Fn on the Surface keyboard/Type Cover a few times and check if the LED lights toggle.
  - If LEDs never light, the keyboard may have a hardware issue and may need service.
  - If LEDs work but keys/touchpad do not in Windows, test in UEFI:
    1. Turn off Surface and wait 10 seconds.
    2. Press and hold Volume Up, then press and release Power while still holding Volume Up.
    3. When the UEFI screen appears, use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move through the menu.
    - If keys and touchpad work in UEFI but not in Windows, the issue is with Windows or drivers. In that case, after backing up files, use Start > type reset > Reset this PC > Keep my files > Cloud download to reinstall Windows while keeping personal files.
If keyboard stopped working after undocking/unplugging
If the keyboard was disconnected while a key (especially Ctrl, Shift, Alt, or Windows) was held down, Windows may think that key is still pressed:
- Press each of these keys once (Ctrl, Shift, Alt, Windows).
- If that does not help, open the On-Screen Keyboard (as in step 2) and use it briefly; this can reset the physical keyboard state.
- If still not working, restart the device.

If none of these steps restore the keyboard and touchpad, and they also fail to work in firmware/UEFI menus (if available), the problem is likely hardware and the device or keyboard assembly may need professional service or replacement.

References: