What happens when your computer or laptop keyboard locks up? It could be due to various reasons, but there are multiple ways to get it working again. Here’s how to unlock a malfunctioning keyboard.

What Causes a Keyboard to Lock Up?

Various issues can cause your keyboard to lock or freeze. You might have accidentally pressed a key combination changing its behavior, or it may not be properly connected to your system. Regardless of the cause, a locked keyboard is not very useful, so you need to resolve it quickly.

How to Fix a Keyboard That’s Locked

The method for fixing a locked or frozen keyboard depends on the problem’s cause, but these troubleshooting steps should help. The solutions are listed with the easiest and most effective ones first. Try each step in order until you find a solution that reactivates your keyboard.

1. Restart your computer. It seems like a simple fix, and that’s because it is! Restarting a computer can clear up all kinds of issues. At the very least, if your keyboard is locked up because of some issue with a program or application, rebooting your PC can close out that program and release your keyboard from its death grip.

   Restarting may also fix the problem if what’s actually going on is that your computer is frozen, and not just the keyboard. If that’s the case, the issue is probably not with the keyboard at all.

2. Check your keyboard connection. If you’re using a wired keyboard, ensure the plug is properly seated in the USB port and the connection to the keyboard is intact and undamaged. The best way to check is to completely disconnect and then reconnect the keyboard.

   If you’re using a wireless keyboard, the USB dongle should be properly seated in the USB port. Try completely disconnecting it and then re-pairing the keyboard to the computer for a clean, fresh start.

3. Clean your keyboard. A dirty keyboard may result in keys that don’t work or get stuck, and a stuck key could be preventing other keys from responding.

4. Replace the batteries if you’re using a wireless keyboard. Brand-new batteries can fail, so even if you’ve recently changed the batteries in your keyboard, try replacing them with a fresh set.

   It’s also possible the USB dongle that the keyboard connects through is loose or not well seated in the USB port. Unplug it and then reconnect it.

5. Turn off Filter Keys. This feature lets you ignore repeated keys and slows down the keyboard repeat rate. If you’ve accidentally enabled Filter Keys, it could be the cause of your keyboard not working.

   To turn Filter Keys on or off, press and hold the right Shift key until you hear a beep and a message appears on the screen.

6. Check your keyboard for physical damage. Frayed cords, broken keys, and cracks in the housing could cause a computer keyboard to experience mechanical failure. If this is the issue, you’ll need to replace the keyboard completely.

7. Try your keyboard with a different computer. If you’re using an external keyboard, hook it up to another computer. You can even install a wireless keyboard on another PC to see if the issue is with the keyboard or the computer.

   If the keyboard works with the other computer, then the problem you’re facing is with the machine. Open Device Manager to see if your keyboard is being recognized by your computer, especially if a USB-connected keyboard isn’t being recognized.

8. Update or reinstall the device drivers. A corrupted or out-of-date device driver could cause connection issues between your keyboard and your computer whether it’s wired or wireless.

   If that doesn’t work, completely uninstall and reinstall the driver. You may need to download drivers from the manufacturers’ website.

When to Replace Your Keyboard

If none of these troubleshooting steps fix your keyboard, it might be time to replace it. Options include wireless keyboards, ergonomic keyboards, and keyboards designed for specific purposes like gaming. A locked keyboard that can’t be unlocked is a good opportunity to upgrade to something better.