How To Fix Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working On Windows

Keyboard shortcuts are life’s saviors. Working without them or even the thought of them not working is like the worst nightmare coming true. Sadly, a few days ago, my worst fear became real. Nothing worked as I kept pressing Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V, and I started searching the web and possible tech forums for a solution. Fortunately, I could fix my issue with some help and troubleshooting steps, and I decided to write all the logical methods into a guide. 

This occurs for multiple reasons, and the solutions are also varied. So, let’s get straight to the point and fix the keyboard shortcuts that are not working. Whether you are a desktop or a laptop user, these fixes will work for you. 

Also Read: What to do If Special Characters are Not Working on the Keyboard

How To Fix Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working On Windows (Desktop and Laptop)

Quick Fix – Keyboard Shortcut Not Working After Update If you recently updated your Windows OS and are facing issues with Keyboard shortcuts, first update drivers, followed by troubleshooting the keyboard. If nothing works, you must roll back the update or perform a system restore. The detailed steps to perform this are under methods 5, 10, and 12.

Also Read: Spacebar Key on Keyboard Not Working on Windows 11, 10, 8, 7

Method 1: Test Keyboard and USB Port

Many websites offer keyboard testing tools. Visit the website, press all the keys on your keyboard, and look at the screen to check if the correct key lights up on the online keyboard diagram. After testing individual keys, press F5 to refresh the page and then press key combinations (shortcuts) to see if they light up on the screen.

I pressed Ctrl + C to check, and the respective keys were highlighted, as shown in the image. You can also try the same. 

If a key is not highlighted, there is something wrong. Try following any of the three things:

1.Disconnect your keyboard and reconnect it in a different port if possible.
2. Connect your keyboard to a different device to check if the same key does not register when you click it.
3. Connect a different keyboard to your PC and rule out any port issues.

This way, you can determine whether the port you connect your keyboard to is defective or if the fault lies with the keyboard itself.

Also Read: Acer Laptop Keyboard Not Working – Workable Fixes! (No Keyboard Required)

Method 2: Onscreen Keyboard

Windows offers an onscreen keyboard that can be used with a mouse. This is beneficial in cases where you cannot determine the problem or want to know if the fault is with the physical keyboard. 

1.Press the Windows key and type “OK”.
2. Click on the On-Screen Keyboard in the search results under Best Match.
3. The Onscreen-Keyboard will appear on the screen.
4. Press the keys on the onscreen keyboard with the mouse cursor to check if the keyboard shortcuts are working. 

Also Read: Fix – Keyboard Input Lag Issue on Windows 11/10

Method 3: Turn Off The Settings For Sticky Keys And Filter Keys

You might face issues while using shortcuts if the Sticky and Filter keys option is enabled to detect and ignore any accidental key presses. Here’s how to check and deactivate the Sticky and Filter keys.

1. Press the Win + X keys to launch the Power Menu.
2..Click Settings.

3. Click the Accessibility tab in the left pane.

4. Scroll down through the options in the right sections and click on Keyboard.

5. Look for the options – Sticky Keys & Filter Keys and make sure that the toggle button next to them has been turned off.

Method 4: Disable Gaming Mode On Keyboard

Many gaming keyboards feature a Gaming Mode button or a Fn key shortcut to activate the mode. However, gaming mode disables the Windows Key and sometimes specific shortcuts, like Alt + Tab or Alt + F4, to prevent interruptions during gameplay.

If you have a gaming keyboard, check the manual to see if it includes a Gaming Mode and how to enable or disable it. For example, Logitech gaming keyboards usually feature a dedicated Gaming Mode button with a gamepad icon, while Razer keyboards allow you to toggle Gaming Mode by pressing Fn + F10.

Method 5: Use The Keyboard Troubleshooter

Windows includes several troubleshooters that help fix issues within the OS. Here are the steps to use the Keyboard troubleshooter.

1.Press Win + I to open the Settings window.
2. Click on the search bar on the top of the left panel and type “Fix Keyboard.”

3. Click on the result highlighted “Find and fix keyboard problems.”
4. A new box will open. Click on the next button.
5. Wait for the Troubleshooter to scan and look for issues.

6. Follow the onscreen steps related to fixing the issue.

Method 6: Enable The Human Interface Device Service

Many processes run in the background on your Windows OS. One of these services is the Human Interface Device service or HID. This service relates to all input devices that fall under HID standards, like keyboards, mice, webcams, etc. Restarting this service could fix issues related to input devices using HID. Here is what you need to do:

1. Press Win + R to open the RUN dialog box.
2. Type Services.msc and click on the OK button.
3. The Services box will now open. Look for the Human Interface Device service in the alphabetically arranged list of services.

4. Right-click on the Human Interface Device service and select Restart from the context menu.
5. Exit the Services box and check if your shortcuts are working.

Also Read: Solved: Logitech Keyboard K270 Keeps Disconnecting

Method 7: Make Changes in the Windows Registry

Windows Registry maintains all the Windows OS settings of your PC. Changing the value of a Registry entry might fix this issue. Here are the steps on what you need to do:

1. Press Win + R to launch the RUN box.
2. Type “Regedit” in the text space and click on the OK button.
3. Once the Registry box opens, copy and paste the following path in the address bar and press Enter.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft \Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

4. The Explorer folder will be highlighted in the left panel. The NoWinKeys registry key will be found in the right pane.

5. Right-click on this key and choose Modify.
6. A new box will open, where you have to check if the value under Value Data is “0”. If not, then remove the existing value and type “0” (zero).

7. Click on the OK button and exit the Windows Registry Editor.

Also Read: Keyboard Suddenly Stopped Working? Here’s How to Fix the Problem

Method 8: Enable Hot Keys Using The Group Policy Editor

The Windows Registry contains the Settings, but if you want to change the Window’s Policies, you have to use the Group Policy Editor tool. To fix the problem of the Keyboard shortcuts not working, we need to make a few changes to the Windows Policies. Here is what you need to do:

1. Press the Windows key and type “Gpedit. msc”.
2. Click on the “Edit Group Policy” under Best Match result.
3. The Local Group Policy Editor will open on your screen.
4.Click on the following items one by one in the left panel. When you click on the first item, it will expand, displaying the items within. Click on the second item within the first, and so on.

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.

5. In the right panel, scroll down and locate “Turn off Windows Key hotkeys”. Double-click on this key.
6. A new box will open. Click on Disabled and then click on Apply and OK.

Also Read: [Solution] Keyboard Arrow Keys Not Working Issue ? Try These

Method 9: Reset The Keyboard Settings

If none of the above steps work, reset the keyboard settings. This will help fix any background anomalies and resolve the issue. Here are the steps:

1. Press Win + X to launch the Power menu and choose Settings.
2. Click on the Time & Language tab in the left pane.

3. In the right panel, click on Language & Region.

4. You will now see a list of languages. Locate your preferred language, click on the three dots next to it, and choose Remove.

5. Next, click the Add a Language button and add your preferred language.
6. Drag it to the top of other languages.
7. Exit the Settings window and reboot your PC.

Method 10: Update Drivers

Experts have recommended that updating keyboard drivers can help resolve most Keyboard-related issues. There are three ways to update your Keyboard drivers.

Update via OEM Website

1. Visit the official website of your device’s manufacturer (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo).
2. Navigate to the support, drivers, or downloads section.
3. Enter your device’s model or serial number for the appropriate drivers and updates.
4. Download the latest drivers, firmware updates, or BIOS updates for your device.
5. Double-click the downloaded file to start the installation and follow the on-screen instructions.
6. Restart your computer to finalize the installation and apply the changes.

Note. If this method seems too technical, consider trying the alternatives below.*

Use Device Manager

1. Press Win + X to open the Power Menu, then select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Keyboards section to find your keyboard, then right-click on it.
3. Choose Update Driver and follow the on-screen prompts.

Note. This method is simple but limited, as it only retrieves updates from Microsoft servers and not from third-party sources.*

Use Advanced Driver Updater

Advanced Driver Updater is a third-party tool designed to improve the driver update process. It scans your PC to identify and fix driver issues quickly. Here’s how to use it:

1. Click the download button below to obtain the Advanced Driver Updater setup file.

2. Double-click the downloaded file to install the application.

3. After installation, open the app and click the Start Scan Now button.

4. The app will display a list of driver issues on your screen.
5. Find the keyboard driver and click the Update button next to it.
6. Wait for the update process to finish, and reboot your PC.

Method 11: Windows Updates

Updating Windows OS is a must as it helps users download security updates, patches, and fixes for bugs or other issues. Here are the steps to update the Windows OS:

1. Press Win + I to open Settings and click on the Windows Updates tab in the left panel.
2. On the right side, locate and click the Check For Updates button.
3. Wait for some time, and Windows will search for, download, and install updates for you.
4. Reboot your PC after all the updates have been installed.

Method 12: Restore Windows

A system restore will revert your PC to a previous state where everything functions properly without affecting your files. However, any applications installed after the restore point and changes made to settings will be lost. Here’s how to perform a system restore:

1. Press Win + R to open the RUN box.
2. Type “rstrui.exe” in the search box and click the OK button.
3. The System Restore window will open. Click the Next button.

4. Choose the Date and Time you wish to restore your blog and click the Next button.

5. Click the Finish button to restore your Windows OS to a previous date.

Method 13: Reset Windows

If the previous solutions haven’t resolved the issue, resetting Windows might be your last option to fix the keyboard error. Here’s how to reset Windows 10 and 11:

1. Open the Start menu and search for Reset this PC. Select the relevant option from the results.
2. Click on Reset PC.
3. Choose Keep My Files.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts to initiate the reset process.

Fix The Keyboard Shortcuts On Your Windows

We hope that the methods explained above have restored your Keyboard Shortcuts’ functionality to normal. In the comments section below, we would also like to hear your thoughts on this issue and how you fixed it.