Although advances in information technology have led to the production of touchscreen devices without physical keys, for traditional PCs the keyboard still remains a fundamental component for working, still impossible to efficiently replace with new technologies. There is therefore no worse problem on a PC than that of a keyboard that does not work, that has non-functioning keys or that is not recognized by the PC. On a desktop PC the keyboard can be changed with any, while this is not possible on laptops, where the keyboard is exclusive to that computer and, often, also impossible to disconnect from the base.
Fortunately, the keyboard is also the part of the computer that breaks less frequently, therefore, unless a beer has fallen over it (but even in this case it can be recovered), it is still possible to repair it, because it is probably not broken also if the keys do not work or if the keyboard does not respond .
READ ALSO: Change the keys (remap) or disable them on the computer keyboard
If you are using a keyboard attached with a USB cable and it does not respond, try connecting it to another USB port.
Restarting the PC can resolve any temporary keyboard freezes.
Also try connecting another USB or wireless keyboard to your PC, even a laptop, to see if it works properly. In this case, the keyboard in use may actually be defective.
If the keyboard keys still don't work after performing these basic checks, try the solutions below.
To clean the keyboard of a notebook, you have to turn it off, turn it upside down and then shake it gently or even give some (light) blows to the base to let out the dirt. If it is the desktop PC keyboard, it is obviously much easier to detach it from the computer and clean it in this way. Using your fingers (or rather a cotton swab) you can clean the space between the keys, while with a can of compressed air you can let out the dirt hidden under the keys. If the keyboard is mechanical and the keys can be easily detached one by one, then a much better cleaning job can be done. If, on the other hand, the keys are screwed to the underlying membrane, then it is better to forego detaching them.
READ ALSO: Clean the computer, monitor and keyboard from dirt
To correct the keyboard location settings in Windows 10, go to Settings> Date / Time and language and set under the Geographical area, Italy (or other country) section. Under the Language settings section, put the keyboard in Italian and possibly remove other preferred languages. If it is missing, click the Add a preferred language link to download and install the Italian (or English or other language) package.
If we have Italian among the preferred languages, press on it and then click the Options button. In the screen that appears, at the bottom, you can choose the keyboard layout which must be, for the Italian, the Qwerty keyboard. If this is not the case, press on Add keyboard and look for it in the list to select it.
READ ALSO: Change language in Windows 10
If the keyboard is slow to write or has an irregular behavior, then open the Control Panel, set the display with large icons (at the top right by changing View by Category ) and then click on Keyboard . In the Speed tab you can adjust the repetition delay and the repetition speed.
Still in the Control Panel, click on the Accessibility Center to find the options " Facilitate the use of the keyboard ". Here are some options designed for those with disability problems that prevent normal use of the computer that should be kept disabled unless there is a real need. For example, the Key Filter option slows down typing when a key is pressed, while hard keys change the behavior of key combinations. You will therefore have to disable sticky keys and filter keys in Windows if there are no specific needs.
Press the right mouse button on the Windows 10 Start button to select Device Manager, open the keyboard section and check for a yellow exclamation mark next to one of the items, which would indicate a problem. Press the right mouse button on the keyboard with the exclamation mark and select Uninstall driver . Restart your computer to have the default driver automatically reinstall itself.
For other keyboard problems, we saw in another article what to do if the keyboard has gone crazy and keys don't work .
Finally, if some liquid should fall on the keyboard, it is still possible to recover its operation by immediately turning off the computer, disconnecting the keyboard and then using a hairdryer to dry it, being careful not to heat it too much. By letting a day go by without connecting it and waiting for it to dry completely inside, the keyboard should start working again.
Fortunately, the keyboard is also the part of the computer that breaks less frequently, therefore, unless a beer has fallen over it (but even in this case it can be recovered), it is still possible to repair it, because it is probably not broken also if the keys do not work or if the keyboard does not respond .
READ ALSO: Change the keys (remap) or disable them on the computer keyboard
Ways to Repair PC Keyboard (Windows)
Quick checks
If you are using a Bluetooth keyboard, you need to make sure that the keyboard is charged (if it has removable batteries it may need to be replaced) and that it is turned on. If it is not connected, try to pair it again by going to Windows 10 settings, in the Devices> Bluetooth section.If you are using a keyboard attached with a USB cable and it does not respond, try connecting it to another USB port.
Restarting the PC can resolve any temporary keyboard freezes.
Also try connecting another USB or wireless keyboard to your PC, even a laptop, to see if it works properly. In this case, the keyboard in use may actually be defective.
If the keyboard keys still don't work after performing these basic checks, try the solutions below.
Clean the keyboard
It is not easy to clean a standard economic keyboard or a keyboard on a laptop, because the keys cannot be detached individually as it is on a mechanical keyboard. Cleaning the keyboard is an important job to do, both to eliminate debris and dirt that can prevent the keys of the keyboard from working, and also for a matter of hygiene as everything accumulates between the keys.To clean the keyboard of a notebook, you have to turn it off, turn it upside down and then shake it gently or even give some (light) blows to the base to let out the dirt. If it is the desktop PC keyboard, it is obviously much easier to detach it from the computer and clean it in this way. Using your fingers (or rather a cotton swab) you can clean the space between the keys, while with a can of compressed air you can let out the dirt hidden under the keys. If the keyboard is mechanical and the keys can be easily detached one by one, then a much better cleaning job can be done. If, on the other hand, the keys are screwed to the underlying membrane, then it is better to forego detaching them.
READ ALSO: Clean the computer, monitor and keyboard from dirt
Check the region or language settings in Windows
If the language or keyboard layout settings are incorrect, letters other than those indicated on the keys may appear on the screen. The keyboards of each country, in fact, can have a different arrangement of the keys (for example the Y key and the Z key can be inverted or there are different accents).To correct the keyboard location settings in Windows 10, go to Settings> Date / Time and language and set under the Geographical area, Italy (or other country) section. Under the Language settings section, put the keyboard in Italian and possibly remove other preferred languages. If it is missing, click the Add a preferred language link to download and install the Italian (or English or other language) package.
If we have Italian among the preferred languages, press on it and then click the Options button. In the screen that appears, at the bottom, you can choose the keyboard layout which must be, for the Italian, the Qwerty keyboard. If this is not the case, press on Add keyboard and look for it in the list to select it.
READ ALSO: Change language in Windows 10
Change keyboard settings in Windows
The keyboard keys write specific characters on the computer screen according to the settings of the software that manages it, that is, based on how Windows is configured. These settings are found, both in Windows 7 and in Windows 10, in the Control Panel.If the keyboard is slow to write or has an irregular behavior, then open the Control Panel, set the display with large icons (at the top right by changing View by Category ) and then click on Keyboard . In the Speed tab you can adjust the repetition delay and the repetition speed.
Still in the Control Panel, click on the Accessibility Center to find the options " Facilitate the use of the keyboard ". Here are some options designed for those with disability problems that prevent normal use of the computer that should be kept disabled unless there is a real need. For example, the Key Filter option slows down typing when a key is pressed, while hard keys change the behavior of key combinations. You will therefore have to disable sticky keys and filter keys in Windows if there are no specific needs.
Run a malware scan
As strange and infrequent as it may be, the keyboard may be infected with a virus. Then run an anti-malware scan using an antivirus to rule out any threats.Reinstall the keyboard driver
A problem with the keyboard driver, possibly due to the installation of a program or the sudden shutdown of the computer, could prevent it from working. To repair the driver follow this procedure:Press the right mouse button on the Windows 10 Start button to select Device Manager, open the keyboard section and check for a yellow exclamation mark next to one of the items, which would indicate a problem. Press the right mouse button on the keyboard with the exclamation mark and select Uninstall driver . Restart your computer to have the default driver automatically reinstall itself.
Repair the key switches on a mechanical keyboard
As explained in another article, mechanical keyboards are much better than normal keyboards for writing and playing, but they are expensive and it is not that they can be replaced so lightly. On the other hand, while normal keyboards have a unique membrane underneath that if it breaks there is little to do, in mechanical keyboards each key works independently and if one does not work it can be changed. If one or more keys of the mechanical keyboard is broken, the single key can be repaired by replacing the switch underneath, even if it is not a simple job and a soldering iron is needed. If this is the case, I refer you to an excellent step-by-step guide to replace the mechanical keyboard switches and resold them on the HowToGeek website.Remove the keys of a laptop keyboard
If you need to replace the keyboard or individual keys in a laptop, you can try doing it yourself (but it would be better not if you are not experienced), using the iFixit tool that you can buy on Amazon. The instrument is essentially a lever with which you can detach the entire keyboard or the individual keys as appropriate. Obviously, as it may be different for each laptop, you will still need to search the Internet for a specific guide.For other keyboard problems, we saw in another article what to do if the keyboard has gone crazy and keys don't work .
Finally, if some liquid should fall on the keyboard, it is still possible to recover its operation by immediately turning off the computer, disconnecting the keyboard and then using a hairdryer to dry it, being careful not to heat it too much. By letting a day go by without connecting it and waiting for it to dry completely inside, the keyboard should start working again.
