Dell keyboards are reliable, however, each and every hardware fails most of the time and often we throw out perfectly good hardware. Troubleshooting any hardware is actually a three-step process: Probe, Identify and Fix actually. If this does not really fix the problem we move to the next step and iterate this until the problem identifies and fix actually. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Fix if Dell Keyboard Not Working – Tutorial. Let’s begin!
So, before we begin, check if you have your keyboard has Disable Keyboard button or not. Not all but some of the keyboards come along with a dedicated keyboard disable button (such as the Mute or WiFi toggle button). That temporarily disables your keyboard whenever pressed. Most of the time you guys don’t even realize it’s pressed accidentally just like my grandma has a laptop. That also has a disable button and it is pressed accidentally whenever she cleans the keyboard actually. Along with that out of the way, let’s now see how to fix keyboard issues on a Windows laptop.
4 Reasons Your Laptop Keyboard Stopped Working
Well, typically, there are five reasons that why your laptop keyboard has stopped working. Each and every reason has its own fix.
- Bad hardware driver: You can reinstall or update.
- Dirt and dust: Cleaning up your laptop keyboard can help.
- Bad connection: In most of the cases, your laptop can also be open and the keyboard reconnected. There is also a chance that the keyboard is defective, so a replacement will also need to be sourced.
- Wrong regional settings: Some characters do not work as the keyboard settings are set to use the wrong region or language actually.
As you guys may have noticed, two of these problems are easily resolved. Whereas the other two need a bit more work. In order to complicate matters further, any repair action that needs you to open your laptop will differ relying on the manufacturer. It may also even differ between models from the same manufacturer actually.
How to Fix if Dell Keyboard Not Working – Tutorial
Step 1
Probe: Well, if keys are sticking and not functioning properly, you have to check for dust particles and gunk under the keys. Keyboards are slimmer in order to fit the compact style of a laptop. And generally, they also have a minute space between the key head and the components beneath it as well. The keys would inevitably accumulate dust and lint and much other atmospheric debris. When this reaches under the keys it can also hinder the functionality and eventually rendering the key useless actually.
Solution: You have to take a brush or a pressurized air can blow off the dust under the keys. And also check if the keys have returned to a normal state as well.
dell keyboard not working | Step 2
Probe: If keys are working, however, some keys print different characters whenever you press. Then check for the keyboard settings. Almost all of the keyboards that we see on the laptops have the Qwerty layout. What this actually means is the positioning of letters and any other characters are standardize. However, the US, UK, and Europe have their own standard keys positions and also differ slightly across the globe.
Solution: You guys can go to settings and change the layout that is standard in your country.
In order to change the layout to QWERTY on Windows 10. Just head to Start > settings > Time & Language > Region & Language > Click on Language > Options > Change QWERTY (US) actually.
Step 3
Probe: If Most of the keys are printing different letters than the keyboard, then you guys need to check for the keyboard layout actually. QWERTY is actually not the only keyboard layout out there. There are actually AZERTY and also Dvorak is less famous input layouts on the keyboard that is also available for Windows. The difference is the key placement on the keyboard as well. In AZERTY keyboard Q and W keys are replaced via A and Z respectively. DVORAK has an entirely different layout basically. The point is if your keys are printing something else whenever you tap G, chances are the layout is a bit different and you have to check that and fix that.
Solution: Start > settings > input methods > options > choose QWERTY(US)
dell keyboard not working | Step 4
Probe: If the keyboard is not printing anything, then check for keyboard drivers. Before we conclude that your keyboard is dead, we first, have to identify if it isn’t just a driver issue actually. Most of the time drivers are corrupted and your keyboard stops functioning. It can be entirely possible that the driver is at fault too.
Solution: You guys can update the Drivers via either updating Windows or device manager. If you want to update your Windows, then head to Start > search ‘Windows Update’ > Click on an update. To do it from Device manager, just Right-click on My Computer > Properties> Device Manager > Internal Keyboard > Right-click > Properties > Drivers Tab> Update Driver.
Step 5
Probe: If updating drivers did not really work, then check for clashing drivers such as windows and dell drivers clashing. If you guys ever reinstall your Windows and try to install the drivers. That came with the laptop it can cause a clash between your Windows driver and the driver that came along with the Dell laptop.
Solution: try to uninstall all the drivers in the device manager and restart. If you want to uninstall the drivers Right-click Computer > Properties > Device manager > Internal Keyboard > Right Click > Properties > Drivers tab > Uninstall Driver.
dell keyboard not working | Step 6
Probe: You can check the keyboard in Safe Mode. More often than not, there is some software that changes the keyboard input whenever you guys use the software. If you guys type in multiple languages and have special software. Then you might want to boot your PC in safe mode, it would disable all the third-party software and drivers as well. If it works in safe mode then your software might cause the problem actually.
Solution: If it works in Safe mode, try to uninstall software that tweaks keyboard input for special purposes actually.
Step 7
Probe: You should check if The BIOS settings are OK. We’re not saying that your PC has a virus but it’s mandatory to have anti-virus software. There is some virus that basically affects the bios settings and can potentially render your PC unusable. Now, if not turning off your computer, the virus can certainly turn off your keyboard from the BIOS. you can also enable the legacy USB keyboard support.
Solution: Head to bios settings by restarting your computer and in the bootup splash screen. Tap on F12 (or any key that is actually supported on your Laptop) > Advanced > integrated peripherals> USB controllers > legacy keyboard > toggle to enabled.
dell keyboard not working | Step 8
Probe: You have to check if an external Keyboard works? If you guys have tried all of the steps above and nothing has worked so far. Then try to connect an external keyboard to your computer and check if it fixes the problem or not. If it does, then your keyboard has a hardware issue actually.
Solution: Try to remove the keyboard and then connect it again the ribbon might be loose.
Step 9
Probe: If Some keys are not working (not in a series), and check for Dead Keys. However, there could be other reasons if you have dead keys but there’s no way to know for sure without further probing actually. We can also check this via using a keyboard testing tool. You guys can use Onscreen Keyboard too but I used PassMark in order to identify the dead keys. It is a really intuitive tool that identifies which keys taps and then release. That would provide you an idea if any key is pressed continuously or dead as well.
Solution: Try and take apart the key and then check if the dome is intact or no. If it’s broken, then you would have to head to the service center in order to get it fixed or get your keyboard replaced.
dell keyboard not working| Step 10
Probe: If keys are not working (a series, a row of keys, or also even a patch). Then just check for a possible loose connection. Keys work via sending a signal to the microcontroller that actually processes the signal which is essentially generated via a matrix network under the keyboard. In layman’s terms consider the keyboard as a grid and each and every key is a combination of a specific signal. If a connection is loose that may cause this problem actually.
Solution: Now just try and remove the keyboard from the USB if it’s a desktop and then insert it into another socket. Or if it’s a laptop, then you can remove the keyboard and check if the Ribbon connector is fixed properly or not.
Step 11
Probe: If you are trying almost everything and it still doesn’t work. Then you should probably take it to a service center and fix it via professionals or if that’s too steep then you can also replace it via yourself
Solution: You have to find the make and model of your Dell laptop and then search for the keyboard online. Just look for a tutorial in order to replace the keyboard, trust me it sounds hard, however, it’s not that hard actually. If you guys are afraid you might screw up and ruin everything, you should seek professional help actually.
Conclusion
Alright, That was all Folks! I hope you guys like this “dell keyboard not working” article and also find it helpful to you. Give us your feedback on it. Also if you guys have further queries and issues related to this article. Then let us know in the comments section below. We will get back to you shortly.
Have a Great Day!
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