Experiencing problems with computer keyboards is quite common. One of the issues that many people face is a malfunctioning key that just won’t work no matter how hard you try.
You might have tried everything, pressing it multiple times, smashing it, and whatnot; it isn’t budging.
What could be the reason for that one key not working on the keyboard? How can you fix it? Well, if that’s what you’re here for, you’re in the right place because that’s what I’m here to tell you today.
In this article, I will talk about the possible reasons why one or some of the keys on your keyboard might not be working and list 5 of the best fixes for this one key not working issue. So, without wasting any further time, let’s get started.
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Reasons for One or Some Keys Not Working on a Keyboard
There can be several ways your keyboard keys might stop working while others are still functional. If you’re in a mood for diagnostics, then here are the possible reasons some of the keys on your keyboard might not be working the way you’d want them to:
Dust and Debris
The main culprit of 1 key or some of the keys on your keyboard not working can be dust and debris. Unfortunately, when you’re using your laptop or keyboard in an environment where dust can easily make its way to your keyboard, it could also build up within the keyboard.
Especially if you have a mechanical keyboard that comes with a high-profile design, the space under the keycaps can be prone to dust buildup, resulting in specific keys not getting to the circuitry to pass the instruction. This could very well be the reason your keyboard key isn’t working.
Corrupted Drivers
All the devices you see on your computer, the mouse and the keyboard, are functional due to the device drivers. However, sometimes, a specific computer or laptop component cannot function correctly due to some device driver issue.
Suppose the device driver of the keyboard input device is corrupted. In that case, it might be that some of the keys or all of the keys may stop working, and you might not be able to use the keyboard with the laptop or computer at all, which can be a big problem, especially if you’re working on a project.
Damaged Circuitry
The keyboard in a laptop or even a standalone keyboard with a computer works with a circuit board that captures and sends the electronic signals to the device. If one of the keys on the keyboard isn’t working, the circuit board under the keyboard may be broken on that particular key.
This is something that you should hope isn’t the case because there’s no easy fix to this problem, and to solve this issue, you’re going to have to take the keyboard to a professional who can fix it or change the board completely to make the keyboard work better again.
5 Easy Fixes for 1 Key Not Working on Keyboard
So, you don’t want to go to a professional and fix the one key not working issue yourself on your keyboard? Well, that is definitely doable. I’ve made a list of the five most straightforward fixes and solutions for one key not working on your keyboard. Let’s take a look at them and how you can use them.
1. Clean the Keyboard Keys
The First and most popular method of dealing with this key not working issue on your keyboard is cleaning the keyboard keys and the keyboard thoroughly. This is going to take some time, but it will be worth it.
First, take all the keycaps off of it. Then, you’re going to make sure it is unplugged and use a wet towel to clean the keyboard’s frame.
After that, you’re going to take every switch and make sure no gunk or dirt is remaining on the frame or the housing or below it so that the click could easily reach the circuit and any keys that are blocked due to dust buildup can easily be pressed again. Again, you’ll be surprised by the results.
2. Update the Driver
Drivers are responsible for making the keyboard device work. If the input drivers are corrupted due to any kind of virus or a bad OS update, it is possible that some of the keys may not work as you intend them to.
You’re going to have to uninstall the keyboard device to be able to deal with this issue. Go to Device Manager, then input devices, and finally go to the keyboard, and then you’re going to uninstall it.
This will remove the device from the manager. Now, you’re going to want to restart your PC or laptop, and then the default driver will reinstall itself. Once reinstalled, the driver will be in perfect shape and capable of rerunning the keyboard. This might be the solution to your one key not working on the keyboard problem.
3. Remove the Battery of Your Laptop and Reconnect
If this keyboard key issue exists on your laptop keyboard, there’s another way of resolving the one key not working problem. First, take the battery brick of the laptop out and put it on charge.
Observe if the key that wasn’t working before has started to function better now. If that is the case, then the issue is of the overheating battery, which you’ll have to get fixed.
The overheating battery could be why the keyboard above it isn’t able to sense some of the keypresses. So, by changing the battery brick with a better one that isn’t overheating usually, you’ll be able to fix this issue altogether. This could be the right solution for your laptop keyboard problem.
4. Check the Cable of the Keyboard
This is a more general solution, but it is very effective at times. For example, if you’re diagnosing the issue with your keyboard and the keys aren’t working, it might be due to some wear and tear in the USB cable of the keyboard.
To deal with that, you’re going to need a few tools at your disposal. First, if the wires are entangled, you can simply take them apart and tape them so they don’t touch and the keyboard is fixed.
But if there’s a more significant issue at hand, the ideal thing to do would be to take the keyboard to the peripheral market. They would solve your problem much better, and it won’t be too expensive either, which would be good for you and your keyboard.
5. Use the On-Screen Keyboard
There was a more significant issue that we talked about, the problem with the circuitry. If that’s the problem and you want to still use the keyboard without spending too much money on replacing the circuit board or changing your keyboard, you need to use the on-screen keyboard.
It is a proper application that allows you to click and use any key on the keyboard with the help of the mouse click. Using the mouse, you can press any key that isn’t working and register it on the device.
This might not be the fastest solution to your problem, but sometimes you don’t have many other choices. In that case, using the on-screen keyboard application would be an excellent thing for you, and you’d definitely be able to use the keyboard with it.
Maintaining the Keyboard Keys
Just because you could fix your keyboard key not working problem, it doesn’t mean that you should continue your ways again. On the contrary, to avoid any kind of problem in the future, you need to take the proper steps.
Especially if your keyboard is more expensive, make sure you maintain the keys and the overall keyboard quite well. But, of course, maintaining doesn’t mean you shouldn’t press them.
It means that you should clean your keyboard quite often. It would help if you also thought about placing the keyboard in a better environment. You need to be completely aware of what kind of threats the keyboard has. Also, make sure you keep the cable and the keyboard itself protected from any type of wear and tear. This maintenance will go a long way in keeping your keyboard in tip-top shape for a long time to come.
Conclusion
It is not uncommon for a key on a computer keyboard to stop working and it could be for any reason. However, the good thing is, more often than not, this issue is fixable. In this article, we looked at some easy solutions to make your malfunctioning keys start working again. I hope you will now be able to quickly fix your keyboard and use it for all kinds of things.
The solutions we discussed in this post do not require any expertise or special skills on your part. However, if you have tried all these solutions and the key still doesn’t work, then it might be a good time to replace your keyboard.