Dell laptop keyboard not responding

This post is more than 5 years old. June 6th,

If you have connected a Bluetooth or wired external keyboard to your Dell laptop, disconnect it, and see if it fixes the problem. Some keys or all the keys on your Dell laptop keyboard may stop working due to corrupt files in Windows, faulty programs, viruses, or in rare cases, keyboard hardware malfunction. If only a specific keyboard key is not working , check for any debris underneath that key. Cleaning it with compressed air will resolve this issue. The first thing to do is to restart your Dell laptop, as this is known to fix temporary glitches in the Windows OS. Since your keyboard is not working, you must force restart your Dell laptop using power button.

Dell laptop keyboard not responding

If these laptops are stacked on top of each other, this can falsely trigger the sensor, and will switch the unit to tablet mode. Some Dell 2-in-1 laptops have a sensor that can automatically switch them from laptop mode to tablet mode. This disables the keyboard and touchpad on the laptop. The first troubleshooting step would be to check if the Dell 2-in-1 laptop is in tablet mode. If the laptop is in tablet mode, switch it back to laptop mode. The next step would be to test an external mouse and keyboard on the laptop. Home Support Knowledge Base Article. Dell 2-in-1 Laptop Touchpad and Keyboard Troubleshooting Guide General information for resolving touchpad or keyboards not responding on Dell 2-in-1 laptops. Summary: General information for resolving touchpad or keyboards not responding on Dell 2-in-1 laptops. This article may have been automatically translated. If you have any feedback regarding its quality, please let us know using the form at the bottom of this page.

For Windows 11, perform the following steps: Press and hold the Windows key, and then press the x key. If you know there was a spill, or things are especially sticky, use a weaker concentration and allow some extra time for drying.

Dell keyboard problems? We've got the fixes here. Keyboard problems aren't uncommon, but on a laptop, they can be frustrating. Luckily, there are workarounds to get you typing again immediately as well as steps you can take to fix your keyboard without spending a dime. These tips will work on keyboards not made by Dell and older keyboards too, but the primary focus of this guide is on fixing Windows 10 Dell laptop keyboard issues, i. Most of the time, these are software issues caused by drivers or updates or changes to your computer that you can often address through another update or a settings change.

Select the tab below that matches the type of keyboard you have. Follow the steps on how to connect your keyboard to your computer. When you cannot locate your wireless receiver after you have unpacked the devices, some mice and keyboards have a place to store the wireless receiver. Look under the mouse buttons where the batteries are or in the battery compartment on the keyboard. Select the tab below that matches the Operating System that is installed on your computer. Follow the steps to ensure that the settings are correct to prevent the cursor from moving around erratically while typing. For more information about where the Number Lock Key is, see the documentation that came with the keyboard or browse to the Keyboard and Mouse Manual page for the manual. Look under the mouse buttons where the batteries are or in the battery compartment on a keyboard, but they are not shipped in those locations. For more information about where the Number Lock Key is, see the documentation that came with the wireless keyboard or browse to the Keyboard and Mouse Manual page for the manual.

Dell laptop keyboard not responding

These first few steps may seem trivial but it's easy to forget troubleshooting basics during times of frustration. Before you start any significant repairs to your device, please check the following:. Windows is developed for a many languages and regional keyboard layouts. If your keys are not outputting the characters you expect, these settings should be the first place you look.

Optometrist runaway bay

More information about tablet mode in Windows 10 can be found at the following site: Windows: Turn Tablet Mode On or Off The next step would be to test an external mouse and keyboard on the laptop. Look at the connector on the end of the USB keyboard cable. For more information about how to install the batteries, see the documentation that came with the Bluetooth keyboard or browse to the Keyboard and Mouse Manual page for the manual. When it is off, no numbers appear when pressed. See the Dell article , Manuals and Documentation for your Dell Product for information about how to locate, and download, or view the manual for your Dell device to locate the power switch. Restart the computer and try again. Wait for 3 minutes. Figure 1: Wireless Receive Figure 2: Wireless Receiver Location in Packaging When you cannot locate your wireless receiver after you have unpacked the devices, some mice and keyboards have a place to store the wireless receiver. View All. Touch or click Ease of Access Center in the list of programs. Check for any stuck keys or any dust accumulated on the keyboard overall. Instead, press and hold the power button while the computer is on and hold it for 15 seconds. I've tried restart but no change. Many drivers and compatibility packages and underlying services and features come from Microsoft. After your system restarts, press the F4 key to enable Safe mode.

This video will demonstrate the fixing procedure of a Dell Keyboard. If you are having trouble with your keyboard when using it from within side windows, try the following steps which resolve most common keyboard issues.

Restart your computer. Windows is developed for a many languages and regional keyboard layouts. Measure advertising performance. How do you unlock a keyboard on a Dell laptop? These are good rules of thumb to avoid viruses, but simply installing random applications can often result in unintended side effects, like the occasional keyboard problem. Right click the keyboard device and select Uninstall device. If that does not work, you may need to reinstall your operating system. For laptops that have a numeric keypad on the right side, it is turned on by default. If the laptop is in tablet mode, switch it back to laptop mode. Key Presses are Slow to Respond. NOTE: The numeric keypad on a desktop keyboard is by default turned on, but when it is off, no numbers appear when the keys are pressed. After your system restarts, press the F4 key to enable Safe mode.