Laptop keyboard not working

Built-in laptop keyboards fail for different reasons than external ones. Before taking the laptop to a repair shop, run theonline keyboard test and a few basic steps. This guide covers the most common cases for laptops.

Step one: confirm it's a hardware fault

Open the keyboard test in the browser and press the keys. If none light up, plug in a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and repeat the test. If the external keyboard works normally, the fault is in the built-in keyboard. If neither works, the problem is software or system-level.

Common causes on laptops

• Disconnected flat cable after service or a drop.
• Spilled liquid oxidising the circuit.
• Operating system update breaking keyboard drivers.
• Tablet mode disabling the keyboard on convertibles.
• BIOS setting disabling the internal keyboard.

Things to try before service

1. Restart the laptop completely.
2. Update the operating system and drivers.
3. Plug in a USB keyboard to confirm immediate use.
4. On convertibles, toggle tablet mode.
5. Enter the BIOS and confirm the internal keyboard is enabled.
6. Restore the system to a point before the failure.

When to seek service

If the external keyboard works and the built-in one still doesn't respond after all this, the fault is most likely in the flat cable, membrane or controller board. In those cases, repair requires specialised labour and, on some models, full keyboard replacement. Compare the repair cost with the value of a new laptop before deciding.

How to keep using the laptop

Plug in a USB or Bluetooth keyboard and continue using the machine as usual. On Windows, Linux and macOS, the external keyboard replaces the built-in one with no extra setup. If only some keys are failing, usethe repeated-letters test to confirm which keys still respond.