What to Do If the Enter Key Is Not Working on Windows

What should you do if the Enter key is not working? 

Many users have shared their concerns regarding the irresponsive behavior of the Enter key when pressed repeatedly. 

Whether you want to execute a command or need to change a paragraph while curating a document, the Enter key does it all. But if it stops working, then? How do you plan to get all of these tasks done? More importantly, how do you fix it?

This key on any Windows PC is the most critical. While most of the keys are either value input keys or used in combination, the Enter key has the potential to work as an individual entity and can be used for multiple things. When it stops working for any user, making the most of a PC can become difficult. 

Fortunately, the issue of the Enter key not working can be easily rectified. There are a few ways you can approach the issue and resolve it. Check them out in the next section and fix the error yourself!

Why the Enter key does not work on your laptop/PC?

Before we discuss the fixes, let’s examine possible reasons.

• You have spilled something on your keyboard.
• There is an issue with the connection or power supply
• There are driver issues with the keyboard you are using.
• You tried to remap your keyboard, but it malfunctioned.
• Hardware issues have developed over time due to rough usage.
• The Enter key is no longer responding due to a malware attack.
• There are issues with your keyboard connectivity.

The reasons appear casual but can cause the Enter Key to malfunction in your PC in no time. Even if you are careful while using the keyboard, the issue may arise if your PC needs to be updated regularly or the keyboard drivers need to be updated.

Ways to Fix the Enter Key is Not Working Issue on PC

You can try the following practices to rectify the issue. 

Fix 1 – Restart Your Systemf

When you first experience an issue with the Enter key not working, restart your system. Especially if you have Windows updates waiting for a reboot. When your PC has been on for a long time, the input keys like the spacebar and the Enter key often end up misconfiguring themselves. 

A quick restart can refresh these keys and restore their functionality. If you are on a PC, you are advised to shut down the PC and remove the power source for a few minutes. This will remove any misconfigured memory from your system and give it a completely fresh start. 

If you are using a laptop, long-pressing the power button can help achieve similar results. A quick restart of your system may revive the Enter key on your keyboard, so the method is worth trying. 

Fix 2 – Check if the Keyboard is Working on Other Devices

This approach only works for desktop computers. If you have a USB keyboard, simply remove it from your system and plug it in on a different one. Then, try using the Enter key on that system. You will soon realize whether the issue lies in the keyboard hardware or your PC’s software. 

If the Enter key works fine on a different system, chances are that your keyboard drivers require a quick update on your PC. The easiest way to update drivers is to use the best driver updating tool. If the keyboard faces a similar issue on the connected device, the possibility of a malfunctioning keyboard increases. 

Understanding the exact situation is always better, or all your efforts will be useless. Once you have confirmed that your keyboard is working properly with other systems, move on to the subsequent fixes. Otherwise, you should look forward to servicing your keyboard to resolve the hardware issue. 

Fix 3 – Re-install Your Keyboard to Re-activate the Enter Key

Sometimes, when you have used a keyboard for a longer period, you might face an error when the Enter key stops working. It is completely understandable, and there’s nothing to worry about. All you have to do is re-install the device on your system and see if the error is fixed. Here’s how you do it –

• Press Windows + R to open the run search
• In run search, use the command devmgmt.msc 
• This will open your Device Manager. 
• In the Device Manager, spot the keyboard.
• Right-click on it, and you will find the option to uninstall. 
• Click on it, and the Device Manager will uninstall the device.
• After uninstalling the device, click the Action tab of your Device Manager. 
• Click the Scan for Hardware Changes option.
• You will now be able to see the connected keyboard.

Once the process ends, check that the Enter key works. If the issue persists, move on to the next fix. 

Fix 4 – Install Keyboard Driver Updates

While the keyboard is one of a PC’s most important input devices, people often forget about the keyboard drivers. Most of the time, the updates are included with the Windows Updates you install. However, sometimes, your keyboard may require manual driver updates. 

Missing drivers is also one of the biggest reasons the Enter key stops working on a PC. You can update your keyboard drivers in two ways – 

The first is the traditional way to go to your device manager and select the keyboard to update drivers using Windows Driver Updater wizard. The process takes ages as it takes longer to finish the update. On the other hand, you can automate the driver update process using the Advanced Driver Updater.

A new-age tool that allows you to update all the outdated drivers on your PC in a single click. Now that is interesting and better, isn’t it? To use the tool and update your keyboard drivers, follow the below steps – 

Step 1 – Download the Advanced Driver Updater on your PC using the link below.

Step 2 – Install the software and run it to find the Start Scan Now option on the home screen. Step 3 – Click on the Start Scan Now button, and the software will initiate the search for outdated drivers on your computer.
Step 4 – Once the search is over, you will see a list of all the outdated devices on your computer, including your keyboard. Step 5 – Click the Update All option to update all the selected outdated drivers. 

These 5 steps can fix almost all the issues related to outdated drivers on your computer. The software is powerful enough to identify outdated drivers and show compatible updates.

Once you have updated the drivers, give your PC a restart, and you will realize that your keyboard’s Enter key is working. It is always better to fix the issue than to look for an enter key not working alternative as it can become difficult to get used to an alternative and not all keyboards allow remapping.

What is the alternative check at below screenshot –

Another screenshot I have taken from TechRepublic Forum

However, if your laptop/PC allows you to remap keyboard keys, you can surely opt for it till you have resolved the issue completely.

Fix 5 – Run Keyboard Troubleshooter on Windows

Another thing that you can try is running the internal keyboard troubleshooter on Windows. The operating system is equipped with internal measures to check and resolve issues related to its functionality. You can find these troubleshooters using the following steps – 

Step 1 – Press Win+I to open the System settings window.
Step 2 – Scroll down to find Troubleshoot option.

Step 3 – From the opened options, click on Other Troubleshooters.
Step 4 – Check the list of available troubleshooters and run the Keyboard troubleshooter from the list.

Step 5 – Follow the instructions on the screen while running the troubleshooter to allow it to fix the issue with the Enter key on your keyboard.

After running the troubleshooter, simply restart your PC, and you may find that the Enter key is working properly. If the troubleshooter is unable to fix the error, do not worry; you can try another fix at your convenience.

Fix 6 – Scan for Malicious Files

Sometimes, errors appear due to malware attacks. If your PC has malicious files, you may face such issues out of nowhere. Thankfully, Windows offers multiple ways to deal with these files. You can use the internal Windows security or download and install a dedicated antivirus program. 

To begin your analysis of the files, you should start by using the Windows Security options available on your PC. Here are the steps for the same – 

Step 1 – Go to the Start menu and search for Windows Security.

Step 2—Launch Windows Security from the search results, and you may see all the options available

Step 3 – Select Virus & Threat Protection to find scanning options.
Step 4 – Click on Quick Scan to check for malicious files on your computer.

Step 5 – Let the scan run and fix the issue on your computer. 

Once you have tried these fixes, restart your PC.

Fix 7 –  Use On-Screen Keyboard (Alternative to Enter Key)

In case nothing works out, you can use the onscreen keyboard and press Enter. To launch the onscreen keyboard, all you have to do is – 

Step 1 – Launch the Run utility using Win+R.
Step 2 – Use the command OSK and hit enter.

Step 3 – Use your mouse to navigate to the Enter key and click on it to press.

While this will get the job done for you, It is always better to fix the issue than to look for an enter key not working alternative. It can become difficult to get used to an alternative, and not all keyboards allow remapping.

However, if your laptop or PC allows you to remap keyboard keys, you can surely opt for this until you have resolved the issue completely.  

From Not Working to Now Working! Fix Your Enter Key Today

Our tech experts have tried and tested these Enter key fixes, and thousands of readers depend on them. The Enter key plays a vital role in a PC’s overall ecosystem. Hence, it is better to fix any errors with it. 

When a connected device malfunctions, restarting can’t restore it. Else it is a driver issue. You are good to go in both cases, as you now have fixes available. Download the Advanced Driver Updater and use it frequently to avoid such issues from happening in the future. 

That is all for this post. If you have any queries, feel free to drop them in the comments section. Good luck!

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