Keyboard Keys Not Working: How to Fix

When some keyboard keys stop working, type the wrong characters or type twice, the cause is usually something simple: a loose connection, a setting that changed by accident, dirt under a key or the wrong keyboard layout. This guide works through the fixes in order, from quick checks to worn switches, using the steps Microsoft, Apple, Logitech, Razer and Keychron give for their own keyboards.

Start by finding out which keys are affected. Press every key on our keyboard test: keys that work turn green, and keys that type twice are flagged.

Quick checks first

Microsoft’s basic checks for any keyboard on Windows:

Unplug and reconnect. Wait a moment for Windows to unload the driver, then plug the keyboard back in.
Try another USB port, ideally directly on the computer. If you use a USB hub, Microsoft says to make sure it has power, or remove it.
Check the cable for damage.
Check the batteries in a wireless keyboard, and use the reset button on the keyboard or receiver if it has one. Unplugging the receiver for about 10 seconds can also reset it.
Try the keyboard on another computer. If it does not work there either, Microsoft says you may need to replace it.

For a Bluetooth keyboard on Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, remove the keyboard and add it again.

Check accessibility settings

Some Windows accessibility features change how keys behave, and they are easy to turn on by accident. Microsoft notes that if Sticky Keys, Filter Keys or similar settings change by mistake, “it can seem like your keyboard is not working correctly”.

Feature	What it does	Turned on by
Filter Keys	Ignores brief or repeated keystrokes	Right Shift for 8 seconds
Sticky Keys	Shortcuts one key at a time	Shift five times
Toggle Keys	Sound on lock keys	Num Lock for 5 seconds

To check them, press Windows logo key + U, or go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard on Windows 11 (Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard on Windows 10), and switch off anything you did not mean to turn on. Filter Keys is a common reason for keys that seem slow or ignored; our guide to input lag explains it in more detail.

On a Mac, Apple says to check that Slow Keys is off under System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. With Slow Keys on, “you must press and hold a key longer than usual before it’s recognised”. Also check that Mouse Keys is off under Accessibility > Pointer Control.

Numbers or letters typing wrong

The number pad does not type numbers

Press Num Lock and check its light. With Num Lock off, the number pad keys work as arrows, Home, End, Page Up and Page Down instead of numbers. On some laptops, Num Lock turns part of the letter keys into a number pad, so letters type numbers until you switch it off.

Keys type the wrong characters

If Y and Z are swapped, or @ and ” are in the wrong place, the keyboard layout has probably changed. Windows switches layouts with Windows logo key + Space or Alt + Shift, and both are easy to press by accident. Choose the right layout from the language icon on the taskbar, and remove layouts you do not use. On a Mac, open the Input menu in the menu bar and select the correct layout.

Our guide to keyboard layouts explains the differences between QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY and others, and how to add or remove them.

The Windows key or F keys do not work

Game mode. Some gaming keyboards have a mode that blocks the Windows key during games. Logitech says that in Game Mode on its G413, G512 and G513 keyboards, the Windows, Menu and FN keys are disabled, toggled with FN + F8. Razer’s Gaming Mode, toggled with fn + F10 on most of its keyboards, can block Alt+Tab and Alt+F4. Look for a lit game mode indicator.
Fn lock. If F1 to F12 change volume or brightness instead, your keyboard may have an Fn lock or a Windows and Mac mode switch. Keychron, for example, uses key combinations that differ by model, so check your keyboard’s manual.

Clean under the keys

Dirt is a common cause of keys that stick, feel different or do not register. Logitech and Razer both suggest compressed air and a soft brush around the problem key. Keychron suggests popping the keycap off a mechanical keyboard and blowing air around the switch.

For MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards, Apple gives a specific compressed air method, holding the laptop at a 75-degree angle. Our guide to cleaning a keyboard has the full steps for each type.

Update the keyboard software and firmware

Logitech, Razer and Corsair all list firmware updates as a fix, through Logi Options+ or G HUB, Razer Synapse or iCUE. Razer also suggests closing its software to test whether it is causing the problem; if the keyboard works with Synapse disabled, reinstall the software.

On Windows, Logitech suggests one more setting if a keyboard keeps disconnecting: in Device Manager, open the keyboard’s USB input device, go to Power Management and untick “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power”.

Microsoft notes that the separate Keyboard troubleshooter has been removed from newer versions of Windows 11, so do not look for it there.

A key types twice (key chatter)

If one press types two letters, the switch may be chattering. Corsair describes this as a keypress that “is sometimes registered twice”, also called keyboard chatter. Mechanical switch contacts bounce when they close, and the keyboard normally filters that out.

Confirm it on the keyboard test: press the key slowly ten times and watch Fast repeats.
Clean around the key with compressed air.
Update the keyboard’s firmware. Corsair fixed double typing on one of its keyboards with a firmware update.
Some keyboard software lets you increase the debounce time; check your keyboard’s app.
Windows Filter Keys can ignore repeated keystrokes as a workaround, though it affects every key.

Logitech says persistent double presses or stuck keys “may signal worn switches”. On a hot-swappable mechanical keyboard, Razer and Keychron say you can replace the faulty switch. Otherwise, check the warranty or contact the maker.

After a spill

Turn the keyboard off or unplug it straight away. Lenovo advises keeping the device switched off and contacting support, and warns that there is “no universal drying period”. Apple says to get help as soon as possible if liquid gets inside, and notes that its warranty does not cover liquid damage. Even keyboards sold as spill resistant have limits: Logitech says its MK235 was tested with a maximum of 60 ml.

When to repair or replace

If a key still fails after cleaning, a firmware update and testing on another computer, the fault is in the keyboard itself. Microsoft and Logitech both say a keyboard that fails on another computer may need repair or replacement. Check the warranty before opening it.

Frequently asked questions

Why are some keys on my keyboard not working?

Common causes are dirt under the keys, a loose or low-power connection, an accessibility setting such as Filter Keys, or a game mode. Test every key on a keyboard tester to see exactly which ones fail.

Why is my keyboard typing the wrong characters?

The keyboard layout has probably changed, often after pressing Windows key + Space or Alt + Shift by accident. Select the right layout from the taskbar language icon and remove ones you do not use.

Why does my keyboard type double letters?

That is usually key chatter: a switch registering one press as two. Clean around the key, update the firmware and check for a debounce setting in your keyboard software. If it continues, the switch may be worn.

How do I turn off Filter Keys or Sticky Keys?

Press Windows logo key + U, select Keyboard and switch them off. Holding Right Shift for 8 seconds toggles Filter Keys, and pressing Shift five times toggles Sticky Keys.

Why does my Windows key not work?

Your keyboard may be in game mode, which blocks the Windows key on some gaming keyboards. Look for a game mode indicator light and toggle it off with your keyboard’s key combination.

My number pad types arrows instead of numbers. Why?

Num Lock is off. Press Num Lock and check that its light comes on.