Dealing with a keyboard that has a mind of its own and types extra letters without your input can be extremely frustrating. This issue can happen to the keyboards that are built into laptops, as well as the wireless and wired keyboards.
The functionality of a computer won’t work properly without a keyboard, and over time, keyboards can potentially break down or run into compatibility or driver issues.
However, it should be noted that a keyboard adding extra character doesn’t have to be a broken or damaged keyboard. The majority of the times a technician encounters this problem, the keyboard in question can be fixed.
The reasoning behind your keyboard typing extra letters might be:
- Software being outdated
- Language settings on your computer
- Dust or debris getting lodged underneath the keys
- Viruses
- Liquid damage
- Keyboard battery levels
- Outdated BIOS
- Repeat delay settings on your keyboard
Before you go ahead and run to your nearest tech store and purchase another new keyboard, there are a number of things you’ll want to try out.
1. Restart The Computer
The first thing you’ll want to try is to simply restart your computer. Sometimes the drivers your computer needs to function properly and the keyboard get out of whack, resulting in extra letters being inputted when you type. This is the easiest and quickest method to determine if that’s causing the issue.
Turn off the computer, take out the battery, wait around 5 minutes, and then put the battery back in before restarting the computer.
Step 1: Use the Start Menu
If you want to restart Windows 10 from the Start Menu, simply click on the Power icon and select Restart from the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Press Win+R
If you want to use the keyboard shortcut for restarting Windows 10, press Win+R on your keyboard to open the Run window. Enter shutdown -r in this window and hit Enter button to start shutting down your PC.
2. Clean the Keyboard
If your keyboard hasn’t been cleaned in a long time, it has most likely collected a good amount of debris, dust, and dirt underneath the keys. Cleaning your keyboard on a regular basis will expand its lifespan but also prevent issues such as this one from arising.
Cleaning a keyboard can be done by blasting it with compressed air. Remember to get in under the keys when doing so to make sure everything is blasted out of there.
You can also remove all of the keys to give the keyboard a thorough clean. Soaking the keys and cleaning the keyboard base should leave you with a keyboard in pristine condition.
If you’re unsure whether or not the keys on your keyboard can be removed, check the internet for information. Most keyboards can have their keys removed and then put back in place again.
Otherwise, a keyboard would become obsolete as soon as a key falls off.
3. Update The OS
If restarting your computer didn’t fix the issue, the next thing you’ll want to check out is if your operating system is updated with the latest software updates.
If you’re running Windows 10:
- Click settings
- Update
- Security
- Click on ‘windows update’ and then ‘check for updates’
Once everything is updated, check to see if the problem is resolved.
4. Check the Keyboard’s Battery Levels
Wireless keyboards are often charged with a cable or supplied with charged batteries. Wired keyboards are connected to the computer and supplied with power through the computer at all times. Having a wireless keyboard involves checking battery levels once in a while to make sure they’re ok.
We’ve had reports of keyboards that begin to go haywire once their battery is starting to deplete fully. Therefore, the battery levels could be the cause of the extra letters your keyboard is typing.
Charge the keyboard until it’s completely charged and then give it another try.
5. Language Settings
When you’re setting up the operating system, you determine what language the keyboard will be in and how the keyboard is organized based on what language you set it for. Sometimes users accidentally click the wrong keyboard layout.
Resetting the language settings might be a quick fix for your keyboard typing in extra letters. In order to reset the language, type in ‘language in your taskbar area and then check your settings. Click on ‘spelling’, ‘typing’, and ‘keyboard settings’ to see if everything is set up properly.
6. Drivers
Drivers that aren’t updated can also be a culprit for keyboards typing in extra letters. Ensure that your drivers are always updated to their latest versions or else things compatibility issues might start to arise.
Reinstalling new drivers might also be a good thing to try out. Keyboard manufacturers are always on the lookout for the latest glitches that occur to their products.
If you browse over to the website of the manufacturer where you purchased your keyboard, there is a good chance there will be a link to the ‘drivers’ page.
To check drivers for updates:
Step 1: Press Windows key + X, and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Expand “Keyboards” and look for your keyboard.
Step 3: Right-click on the device and select Update driver.
Step 4: Select Search automatically for updated driver software. If you want to manually choose from a list of drivers, select Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
Step 5: Choose the best driver for your PC and click Next.
7. Reinstall Keyboard Drivers
Sometimes reinstalling the keyboard drivers will fix the problem completely. I do recommend trying to update them too though. Reinstalling device drivers is an easy task, especially for peripherals such as keyboard and mouse.
Step 1: Click the Windows button + X.
Step 2: Go to Device Manager.
Step 3: Expand Keyboards and right-click your keyboard.
Step 4: Select Uninstall device. In the window that pops up, check the box in the lower part and then proceed.
Step 5: Once uninstalled, restart the computer and the drivers will be installed automatically.
8. Configure the Keyboard Repeat Delay
You can access the keyboard repeat delay through the keyboard settings in Windows. Repeat delay is the time it takes for a pushed-down button to start repeating itself. If the repeat delay is set to a short amount of time, then that could be the reason why your keyboard is repeating itself.
To adjust your keyboard repeat delay:
Step 1: Search for Keyboard in the taskbar and select Keyboard
Step 2: Move the repeat delay slider to see if it makes a difference. You can try different positions but somewhere in the middle is normal.
9. Settings For Your Keyboard
You’ll also want to look into your keyboard settings to see if there are any delay settings checked off accidentally.
Head over to your control panel and then right-click on the icon that says ‘keyboard’. After you click that, click on ‘properties’. At this point, you should see a slider where you can set the delay settings of the keyboard. Ensure the slider is set to your requirements for your typing purposes.
10. Num Lock
While the Num lock key is away from where you usually type on a keyboard, it can end up causing issues if you accidentally press it. The Num lock key is a lock key that prevents you from being able to press any of the numbers on the Numpad of the keyboard.
The Num lock key can sometimes interfere with some of the settings in the keyboard language. Turn it off and see if you still get extra letters while you’re typing.
11. Check For Viruses
Viruses and other types of malware can easily result in your keyboard typing in extra characters. You’ll want to do a full scan of your computer to see if your computer is infected.
If it is, you’ll want to quarantine the viruses and get rid of them as soon as you can. You can do this with Windows Defender or other third-party virus software that you have installed.
The Windows Defender Security Center in Windows 10 can scan for infections.
- Search for Windows Defender in the Windows Start menu and launch it.
- Select Virus and Threat Protection from the drop-down menu.
- Select Update & Security from the drop-down menu.
- Select Virus and Threat Protection from the drop-down menu.
- Click Scan now under Scan your computer now to begin a virus and harmful software scan on your machine (malware).
12. Do Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting typically revolves around setting a program or piece of hardware back to its factory settings. You can troubleshoot devices within Windows to see if Windows is able to identify a problem with the current setup.
Troubleshooting a keyboard typically involves navigating yourself to the control panel to check for updates, running a full system virus scan, right-clicking your keyboard icon in the control panel and clicking ‘troubleshoot’, and then checking to see if things have resolved.
You can also access the troubleshooter through this path:
- Right-click the Windows button in the lower-left corner
- Select Settings
- Go to Update & Security -> Troubleshoot -> Additional Troubleshooters
- Select Keyboard and click Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the instructions
13. Update BIOS
Updating the basic input/output system can support the computer in communicating with the connected hardware, which includes the keyboard. Updating the BIOS is a bit different from updating drivers.
It’s very important that the computer is supplied with power throughout the entire update to ensure that it doesn’t shut down during the update.
First, you must find the right BIOS to download and install. Going to the manufacturer’s website and searching for your laptop, computer model, or motherboard (if you have a custom-built pc) is a good start.
If you’re unsure about that information. Press the Windows key and search for System Information. The baseboard section should tell you the name of your motherboard.
When you’ve found the right model, look for drivers or support for that product on the procut page. There you should be able to find the most recent version of the BIOS. Once downloaded, run the file and follow the instructions.
14. Check And Update The Registry
Before trying to update the registry, you’ll want to make sure that you have a full backup of the original state before proceeding.
This method might be a little complicated for some people, so if you’re not comfortable with it, refrain from it as updating things in the registry can sometimes lead to negative consequences.
- To update the registry, type ‘run’, ‘regedit’, and then press enter
- Click on ‘HKEY_CURRENT_USER – control panel – accessibility – keyboard – response
- After that, click on ‘autodrepeatdelay’ and then set the value to 500 and click ‘ok’
- Then click on ‘autorepeatrate’ and update that value to 50
- Then click on ‘bouncetime’ and update that value to 35
- Restart the computer and test out the keyboard
15. Replace The Keyboard
If you’ve exhausted a number of different methods and your keyboard is many years old and has seen tons of use, you might just want to consider purchasing a new keyboard altogether.
Not every computer user is technically savvy enough to try out some of these methods, and ordering a new computer might be the easiest and best option to consider.
What to Do If Keyboard Is Typing Multiple Letters After Spill
If you’ve spilled liquid on your keyboard, there’s a good chance it will stop working if it’s not water-resistant. Some keyboards are more susceptible to liquid damage than others and won’t be as affected by a spill.
If you spill water or another liquid on your computer keyboard, shut down the computer and unplug it from the wall outlet.
If possible, remove the battery from the laptop or other device before cleaning up the spill.
Turn off the power strip or surge protector to prevent electrical shock while working with electronics.
Wipe up as much liquid as possible with a dry cloth or paper towel; then use distilled water to dampen another cloth or paper towel to wipe away any remaining moisture and residue.
Do not use alcohol or other chemicals because they can damage electronic components when used in an attempt to clean up spills caused by liquids.
Wash out any towels you used for this step in warm soapy water before using them again for everyday tasks such as drying hands and cleaning dishes.
If you can, it’s always best to allow the keyboard to dry on its own before getting tempted to grab a cloth and start to wipe everything down.
Are There Water-Resistant Keyboards?
Water-resistant keyboards are made for use in wet environments, such as kitchens and bathrooms. They are designed to be resistant to water and other liquids, so you can wash your hands or spill something on the keyboard without damaging it.
Some of the best water-resistant keyboards feature waterproof membranes that are sealed around the keys, making them usable even when submerged in water.
Depending on your needs, there are different types of water-resistant keyboards available. Some are designed for use in office environments while others are more suitable for gaming or use in the home.
There are also options for people with limited mobility who need to type but cannot use a touchpad or mouse due to physical limitations.
Most water-resistant keyboards feature a waterproof membrane underneath each keycap. This membrane is usually made from silicone rubber or polyurethane and acts as a barrier between each key and its corresponding switch underneath it.
The membrane protects against liquid entering between the keycap and switch so that even if you spill something on your keyboard or wash your hands over it, nothing will get inside.
Water-resistant keyboards are a great option for people who want to keep their devices protected from spills, but they’re not as common as you might think.
Some keyboards are advertised as “waterproof,” but that doesn’t mean they can stand up to being submerged in water. Instead, these keyboards have rubber gaskets around the keys that keep water out of the keyboard’s interior.
That’s fine if you spill something on your keyboard or accidentally drop it in the sink, but if you drop your laptop in the pool or lake, these keyboards aren’t going to save your data or device from damage.