Keyboard keys not working, or sticky after a spill? Fixes for laptops and PCs
Some keys do nothing, the whole keyboard is dead, or the keys feel sticky and slow after a drink went over it. A spill needs fast action; most other cases are a setting you can undo in seconds.
Spilled something? The first minute
- Power off now: hold the power button until it switches off. Electricity plus liquid is what kills boards, not the liquid on its own.
- Unplug the charger and anything in the USB ports. If the battery is removable, take it out.
- Turn it upside down, open like a tent (or keyboard-down on a towel), so liquid runs out of the keyboard instead of deeper inside.
- Blot what you can see with a lint-free cloth or kitchen roll. Don't shake it hard, and don't use a hairdryer on hot, which can warp plastic and push liquid further in.
- Leave it off for at least 24-48 hours somewhere warm and dry with air moving. Putting it in rice doesn't help and leaves dust and starch in the keys.
| What was spilled | What happens next |
|---|---|
| Plain water | Often fully recovers once dry |
| Coffee, tea, juice, fizzy drinks, squash | Sugar, milk and acid dry into sticky residue: slow, sticky or dead keys, and slow corrosion of the board. Needs cleaning even if it seems to work |
| Wine, beer, milk, soup | As above, plus smells; get it cleaned properly |
| A lot of anything | A repair shop can open it, clean the board with isopropyl alcohol and check for corrosion. Sooner is cheaper |
On a desktop or detachable keyboard you can do the cleaning yourself: unplug it, pop off the sticky keycaps (a keycap puller on mechanical keyboards; laptop keys clip on and break easily, so leave those), and clean around the switches with a cotton bud dipped in isopropyl alcohol (90% or more), which dries fast and doesn't conduct. Let it dry fully before plugging it back in. A key still sticky after cleaning on a mechanical keyboard usually needs the switch replaced.
No spill: keys seem dead or slow
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Short presses ignored, keys need holding, typing delayed | Filter Keys (switched on by holding right Shift 8 seconds) | Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Filter keys off, and untick its shortcut |
| Shift, Ctrl or Alt stay pressed | Sticky Keys (pressing Shift five times) | Same page > Sticky keys off |
| F1-F12 change volume or brightness instead | Fn lock | Fn+Esc on many laptops, or the BIOS "function key behaviour" setting |
| Number pad does nothing | Num Lock off | Press Num Lock. Letters typing numbers is the opposite; see keyboard typing wrong characters |
| Windows key does nothing | Win lock / gaming mode | A lock key or Fn+Win on gaming keyboards, or the keyboard's app |
| One or two keys dead, always the same ones | Crumbs or dust under the key, or a worn switch | Compressed air at an angle, keyboard tilted; on a laptop often a keyboard replacement |
| A whole row or block dead | Loose ribbon cable or liquid damage on a laptop | Repair; plug in a USB keyboard meanwhile |
Whole keyboard dead
- Wireless: new batteries, re-pair it, plug its USB receiver straight into the PC, and check the keyboard's own on/off switch.
- Wired: try another USB port, not a hub or monitor port, and another computer.
- Laptop after an update: Device Manager > Keyboards > right-click the keyboard > Uninstall device, then restart so Windows reinstalls it. If that doesn't help, roll back the update or install the maker's chipset and keyboard drivers.
- Can't type your password at sign-in? Use the on-screen keyboard from the accessibility button at the bottom right of the sign-in screen.
Hardware or software? A quick test
- Open the on-screen keyboard (osk in Start) and press the physical keys: they light up on screen when Windows receives them. A browser keyboard tester page does the same.
- Restart into the BIOS / UEFI setup. If a key works there but not in Windows, it's a setting or driver. If it doesn't work anywhere, it's the hardware.
- On a Mac, turn off Slow Keys and Mouse Keys in System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and Pointer Control, then try another user account.
Related
Keyboard typing wrong characters · Touchpad not working · PC and laptop noises · Laptop not charging over USB-C
Questions
What should I do immediately after spilling water on my laptop?
Turn it off by holding the power button, unplug it, remove the battery if you can, and turn it upside down in a tent shape to drain. Blot it, then leave it off for at least 24-48 hours before trying it.
Does putting a wet laptop in rice work?
No. Rice dries it no faster than open air and can leave dust and starch in the keys and ports. Leave it upside down somewhere warm and dry with air moving instead.
Why are my keys sticky after a spill even though it dried?
Sugar, milk or acid from the drink dried on the switches. Clean around them with isopropyl alcohol, or on a laptop have a repair shop clean it, because the same residue slowly corrodes the board.
Why do my keys only work if I hold them down?
Filter Keys is on, usually after holding the right Shift key for 8 seconds. Turn it off in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and untick its keyboard shortcut.
How do I tell if my keyboard is broken or it's Windows?
Test the keys in the BIOS / UEFI setup or with the on-screen keyboard. If they work there, or a USB keyboard works fine, it's a setting or driver; if they don't work anywhere, the keyboard is faulty.
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