Laptop keyboard issues are common: Tips to deal with them effectively

by Brooke Perry technical content writer

What will be your reaction if you're working on your laptop, and the keys stop working all of a sudden? Have you ever faced a situation, when you are in a hurry to complete your work but the whole section of your keyboard stops responding to keystrokes? These circumstances arise because your laptop keys suffer high damage due to harsh use or spills. If your keyboard is internally damaged or facing problems due to liquid spilled on it, then you need a technician. But if the problem is only with the keyboard, then it can easily be fixed.

Rather than putting yourself in hassle circumstances or getting panic, you can easily try the below mentioned tips to fix your laptop’s keyboard issues.

1.       Shake it to remove crumbs

The first and the foremost tip is to check whether your laptop’s keyboard is clean or not? For doing the same, hold your laptop upside down or at a 45 to 75 degree angle in its horizontal position and give it a good shake. You may get some crumbs of your last snack and working lunches as they get stuck under the keys and results in their improper functioning.

A keyboard vacuum or a can of compressed air can turn very efficient in this quick cleaning. There may be some circumstances in which you find one or two keys struck together due to carelessness while drinking soda or having creamy burgers. Don’t worry you can easily clean those individual key switches with the help of a rag soaked in a few drops of cleaner or warm soapy water. Always keep in mind to apply the cleaner on the cloth first rather than putting it directly on the keyboard.

2.       Check for Driver issues

If you install third-party software or shutdown your laptop very often, then check your drivers when the keyboard stops working. To check the same visit ‘Device Manager’ on your laptop and look for below listed steps:

Ø      Go to Start, right click ‘My Computer’

Ø      Select ‘Manage’ from the dropdown menu

Ø      Go to ‘Device Manager’ tab in the window that pops up

Ø      Check for yellow exclamation marks or red X's under the Keyboard heading

If these signs appear, then go to download page of your laptop maker and install the latest drivers for the keyboard. You may have to use an on-screen keyboard or plug-in a USB keyboard to enter text in mandatory fields, but once you find a correct one download it and install.

3.       Bad Connections

There may be very less chances when the keyboard loses its connection with the laptop's motherboard. Under such circumstances, the keyboard will either cease for a particular time or does not work at all. This problem arises because of the poor connectivity of the ribbon cable on the bottom of the keyboard. If you are aware of the laptop construction, then you can easily remove the outer case of your laptop and try reconnecting the ribbon cable. Otherwise, you can check your laptop manufacturer's site for product manuals and detailed steps and diagrams that may help you in disassembling and reconnecting the ribbon cable on your laptop.

4.       Opt for a USB keyboard

If you need to finish up a word document or stats Excel sheet urgently, then find a USB desktop keyboard and plug it into your laptop. Although it will not look elegant, but will surely let you finish your important pending tasks on time. You can meet your deadlines and can figure out the main issue with your laptop’s keyboard later.

5.       Reboot your system

If you have tried all the measures to fix your keyboard, then try rebooting your device as it can help a lot. All you need to do is to press and hold the power button for about 10-15 seconds to turn off your PC and restart it after a few minutes. If that doesn't fix the problem, then you need to visit a laptop technician.

6.       If in warranty, get it replaced

Check your bills and other product purchase documents to make sure that whether the product is still in warranty period or not? Or you can also get a replacement if you have an extended warranty for your device. Contact your laptop manufacturers by using their Helpline numbers or tech support line and tell them about the issues which you are facing with your keyboard.

Once they assure you that you're using a defective keyboard, then you can easily get it replaced at your nearest service center. It’s recommended to backup all your data before sending your laptop to the service depot as you may lose your valuable data in this replacement process.

Avoid having lunch and beverages while working as it not only distracts you from work but also leads to situations like spilling, sticking keys together and many others. Above mentioned are some of the quick handy tips to fix your laptop’s keyboard issues that can help you efficiently during your productive working hours.

About the Author:  Brooke M. Perry is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve online laptop support with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. With a strong track record of devising effective ways of online computer support and system security, she has so far helped thousands of users across the globe. Her writings on tech issues are the reflection of her in-depth interest and command she carries as a online technical support technician. Her blogs and articles have been rated high for their lucid style and easy to understand language.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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