My keyboard keys and my laptops sound buttons wont work

2030_Reagan Grand 20 Reputation points
2026-09-24T17:09:29.47+00:00

This has been very odd since it seems that all my system sounds are on the max sound output (might have lost some hearing after this) and the keyboard keys I use for sound adjustment, (F2, F3, and F4) are just not working. Also, the sound adjustment buttons on the actual tablet are not working either. I can adjust it by actually tapping the little pop up at the bottom and adjusting it like that but it still is very loud on system notifications and applications that dont have their own sound settings. Help!!!

Surface | Surface Pro | Sound and camera
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Answer accepted by question author
Clary-N 16,660 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-09-25T00:42:39.4966667+00:00

Hi 2030_Reagan Grand,

Have you had a chance to try the steps in the AI Answer? If so, let me know which ones you tried and what happened.

Since both the keyboard volume keys and the buttons on the Surface itself aren’t responding, try shutting the Surface down completely, then hold the power button for a full 20 seconds before turning it back on.

If you’re using a detachable Type Cover, remove it and check the connectors for dirt or visible damage before reconnecting it. Also, press the Fn key once so its light is off, then test the volume keys again.

What Surface model and Windows version are you using? Do other top-row keys, such as the brightness controls, still work and did this start after an update or another recent change?

If the problem continues, open the Surface app and run the checks under Help & support. Let me know what it finds and we can narrow down whether this is related to the keyboard, the physical buttons or the Surface firmware.

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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-24T17:09:47.3066667+00:00

    Since the on-screen slider changes but the hardware keys and tablet volume buttons do not control the actual loudness, work through these checks in order:

    1. Adjust volume in every place that can control it
      • Press the volume button on the Surface.
      • If the keyboard has volume keys, try those as well.
      • In the desktop taskbar, select Speakers and lower the volume there.
      • If external speakers, headphones, or another audio accessory are connected, lower the volume on that device too.
      • Check the app itself, because some apps have their own volume control.
      Important: Surface hardware volume and the taskbar volume control work together, but app and accessory volume can be independent.
    2. Check whether the audio itself is the problem
      • Play the same sound or recording on another device.
      • If it is still distorted or unusually loud, the recording quality may be the issue rather than the Surface audio controls.
    3. Update the audio driver
      • Open Start and search for Device Manager.
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • Right-click the audio device and select Update driver.
      • Restart the PC.
    4. If updating does not help, reinstall the audio driver
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
      • Right-click the sound card or audio device and select Uninstall device.
      • If shown, select Delete the driver software for this device.
      • Restart the PC.
      Note: save open work before restarting. Windows will try to reinstall the audio driver automatically.
    5. If keyboard behavior also seems wrong, check keyboard accessibility settings If Ctrl/Alt sounds, repeated keys, or ignored keystrokes are happening, check:
      • Windows 11: Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard
      • Windows 10: Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard
      Toggle keyboard options such as Sticky Keys or Filter Keys based on current settings.
    6. If the Surface keyboard is still not behaving correctly, check for keyboard updates Use the Surface app to check for the latest Surface Pro Keyboard updates.

    If the keyboard volume keys continue to fail after these steps, but the taskbar slider still works, that points more strongly to a keyboard-side issue or keyboard settings problem. If repeated or dropped keys are also happening, inspect for debris; if that continues, the keyboard may need service.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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