Unfortunately, users report that their keyboards sometimes stop working for no apparent reason in Windows, which means that a big majority of the computer’s functions are now rendered useless until the problem is solved.

That’s why I’ve listed the X most common reasons and solutions why keyboards sometimes randomly stop typing. After reading this in full, you can go back to typing on your keyboard as normal again.

The most common reason why your keyboard randomly stops typing sometimes is because of the drivers of the device. Updated and working drivers are important to all devices connected to your computer, and you should update them. Simply head to the device manager, right-click the keyboard in question, and select update drivers.

Faulty or outdated drivers are probably the most common reason, but of course, there can be other reasons why your keyboard stops working randomly. Keep reading to find out more.

Before we get started, I would recommend that you first try to connect another keyboard to see if the issue still occurs. This way, you can determine if the problem lies inherently with your keyboard or if it’s some issue within your computer.

How To Turn On The Virtual Keyboard

Many of the fixes below demand that you perform different tasks within Windows, which might be hard if you don’t have a working keyboard. Therefore, you should enable the virtual keyboard in Windows. To do this, follow the steps below.

• Press the Windows key + I to access the settings menu

• In this menu, select Ease of Access

• In the Ease of Access menu, scroll down and click on Keyboard on the left-hand side

• Check the On-screen Keyboard alternative at the top of the new window

1. Update Or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

As I briefly mentioned before, drivers are important to all devices on your computer to be able to work properly. With outdated or faulty drivers, your keyboard won’t work as it should.

That’s why you should try to update them. If your computer prompts you that the latest updates are already installed, then you should try reinstalling them instead.

Both methods work in the same way, except that you have to restart your computer after you have uninstalled the drivers. When you restart the computer, it will automatically reinstall the drivers for your keyboard.

• Press the Windows key + X and then select Device Manager

• In the Device Manager, look for Keyboard and double-click it to bring up the different keyboard devices
• Right-click the keyboard option that you want to update, then select Update driver

As I mentioned before, if this doesn’t work, simply do the same thing but instead select Uninstall driver. Then, restart your computer.

2. Clean Your Keyboard

Cleaning your keyboard from time to time is a good idea since the space behind the keys can get filled with all sorts of stuff. This stuff can hinder the keys from being pressed down properly, and as a result, hinder the keyboard from working.

The easiest way to do this is to buy some compressed air and clean it that way. Remember, don’t do this inside if you want to avoid getting the room showered in dust and other unpleasant materials. Instead, go outside and do it.

This is especially important if you have a mechanical keyboard. There is a lot of space behind the keys in mechanical keyboards and the importance of cleaning can’t be understated.

3. Try Using Another USB Port

Sometimes, the USB port where you insert the keyboard cable can be faulty itself. That’s why you should try switching the ports for your keyboard to see if this fixes the issue.

Furthermore, some USB ports are for charging and some are for data. If you have the keyboard connected to the wrong one, it can cause some issues.

If you have recently switched USB ports, I would recommend trying with its original port again.

4. Run Windows’ Troubleshooter

Window’s default troubleshooter is no miracle worker, that’s one thing that’s for certain. However, it can help with detecting and fixing settings and other things that otherwise would be difficult to fix or even notice.

That’s why you should try running it. To do this, follow the steps below.

• In the Windows search bar, type Troubleshoot and click on the icon

• In the new window, select Hardware and Sound

• Select Keyboard at the bottom of the Hardware and Sound menu

After this, simply follow the steps and click Next when it’s prompted on the screen. Have patience and let Windows do its thing.

5. Change Power Management Settings

To save power, Windows have some option enabled by default if you’re running one of the standard power plans. One of these options is to automatically disable some USB functions when they’re not used.

Sometimes this causes devices not to work when they’re woken up after a pause, and that’s why you should try disabling this option. Follow the steps below.

• Press the Windows key + X and then select Device Manager

• In the Device Manager, look for Keyboard and double-click it to bring up the different keyboard devices
• Select Properties

• Select the Power Management tab and then uncheck the Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power option

6. If Wireless: Change Batteries

If you’re using a wireless keyboard, then a malfunctioning or drained battery will cause your keyboard to seem stuttery and unresponsive until it finally stops responding at all.

Whether you’re using a keyboard with something like a lithium-ion battery that is rechargeable, or just regular AAA batteries, the solution is similar. Switch out the batteries if you’re using AAA, and charge the battery in your keyboard if you’re using a chargeable keyboard.

If charging the keyboard doesn’t work, you will have to contact the manufacturer or possibly return it.

7. Update Windows

Updating Windows is important for the purposes of user experience, but also for fixing software and hardware bugs. If you haven’t updated your Windows operating system in a while, it’s probably time to do so.

First, you should simply check for updates. If there are any available, I strongly recommend that you install them. To check for updates, follow the steps below.

• Press the Windows key + I to access the Settings menu
• Select Update & Security

• At the top of this new menu, click on Check for updates

• Just under the Check for updates button, also check for feature updates

If there are any updates, let them install and then restart your computer. Now, see if your keyboard works better.

8. Disable Sticky and Filter Keys

There are two keypress options in Windows that you (probably) don’t want to be enabled. These two are sticky keys, which makes typing in quick succession an impossibility, and the filter keys option, which stops the same key from being pressed twice or more in a quick manner.

Now, these options can be useful for some people, but they’re also easy to accidentally press down. To disable these options, follow the steps below.

• Type Filter keys in your Windows search bar

• Click on Ignore repeated keystrokes using FilterKeys

• Uncheck the box that says Turn on Filter Keys then click Apply

For sticky keys, follow the steps below.

• Press the Windows key + I to access the settings menu
• Select Ease of Access

• On the left-hand side of the new menu, scroll down and click Keyboard

• Uncheck Use Sticky Keys

Hopefully, you can once and for all get rid of any language-switching issues with your keyboard after reading these different solutions. Read more to find out x ways to deal with a keyboard that’s changing the language on your computer.

Your keyboard most probably switches language when you have accidentally pressed a set of hotkeys that switches the language layout in Windows. This is usually nice if you want to use letters that aren’t included in your usual keyboard setup. To make the keyboard switch back, press Left Alt + Shift. This should make your keyboard switch back to its normal language.

You’re now aware of the most common solutions to this problem. However, there are some things that you can do to make sure that this doesn’t happen in the first place.

Why Your Keyboard Sometimes Switches Language

As I mentioned shortly before, your keyboard switches language because you have accidentally pressed a hotkey designed for this purpose. Left Alt + Shift is the default hotkey for this. If you now have a different language than you want, try clicking Left Alt + Shift again.

Below I will go over fixes that prevent this annoyance from happening again. This requires a bit of menuing in Windows, but it’s nothing too complicated and you should be able to perform all of these. Keep reading to find out more solutions to this issue.

4 Ways To Stop a Keyboard From Changing Language

Let’s go over some of the ways to prevent your keyboard from switching language. You now know what to do after the language has already been switched, but what do you do to prevent it from happening in the first place?

1. Change Your Language Preferences

You can change your preferred set of languages in Windows quite easily. This way, even if you press the hotkey mentioned previously, the language won’t switch since there is no language to switch to.

To do this, simply head to Settings by pressing the Windows key + I. After this, head to Time & Language. Finally, click Languages.

In this menu under Preferred languages, you can click on the language that you don’t want, and select Remove. This is an easy way to get rid of this problem, but it takes away the possibility to easily switch languages and write in letters that aren’t included in English.

2. Avoid Pressing These Hotkeys

Another solution to this problem is to simply avoid pressing certain hotkeys. When you’re aware of what these hotkeys are, it’s easier to avoid pressing them by mistake and easier to identify when you have accidentally pressed them.

Let’s go over the three shortcut keys for languages in Windows. The Windows key + Spacebar toggles between keyboard “layouts”, which are in essence different languages. You can’t really change this without using solution #1, however.

The second hotkey or shortcut key is the one we’ve already mentioned, Left Alt + Shift. This changes the language, as I mentioned previously. If you have other assigned layouts, they will be overlooked.

The final shortcut key pertaining to languages is Ctrl + Shift. This is probably the rarest shortcut key used. It toggles between language layouts, but for two different layouts with the same language. To use this, you first have to have added another configuration, so it’s probably irrelevant for you.

3. Disable Toggle Hotkeys Function

What I and many other people have done is disable the shortcut keys that make your keyboard switch language layout. To do this, simply follow the steps below.

• Head into the Windows search bar and search for Advanced keyboard settings

• Select Let me set a different input method for each app window

• At the bottom of this new window, click Language bar options

• There are two tabs in the next window, select the one on the right called Advanced key settings

• In the list that shows up, click on Between input languages and then Change Key Sequence…

• Check Not assigned for both of the options

Remember, after you have done this, you will have to enable it again if you want to switch languages as you now have disabled the shortcut key for switching languages.

4. Copy the Administrative Languages

I recommend at least remembering this point because if you at some point log in to another account on your computer, your settings won’t be saved. You can transfer your language settings from the admin account to the rest by doing this method, however.

To copy the administrative languages to your other user accounts, follow the steps below.

• Press the Windows key + R to bring up the Run window

• Copy and paste the following into the text box: INTL.CPL

• Click OK

• On the top right, select the Administrative tab

• Click on the button that says Copy settings…

• Check both of the boxes that say Welcome screen system accounts and also New user accounts

One or all of these fixes should help you get rid of your problem. Use the solution that you find most convenient to you, as all of these will in some way help you.

Why is that? While there are several possible causes, a few of them seem to happen more frequently than others. Depending on if the issue is bound to a certain application, such as Word, or if it happens everywhere in Windows, the reason behind it may differ, but also the method used to solve it.

We’ve gathered the methods for you! We hope this guide fixes your problem!

11 Ways To Fix Keyboard That Doesn’t Turn Off Caps Lock

Down below is a list of applicable methods that can be used to solve the problem. After trying a method, make sure to check if the problem persists before proceeding to the next solution. We don’t want you to make changes that you might not need to make.

1. Change font in Microsoft Word

If your keyboard only types in caps lock when you’re in Microsoft Word, or another text editing program, then it’s most likely the application that’s causing the problem. In Word, we know that there’s a function that frequently causes this problem. Thankfully, it’s rather easy to fix.

Step 1: Open a Word document and right-click on the document’s background.

Step 2: Go to Font.

Step 3: Uncheck the box labeled All Caps and make sure none of the boxes next to it are checked either.

Step 4: Press Ok.

Done!

2. Make sure none of the shift keys are stuck

Every now and then, the keys on your keyboard will get stuck in the pushed-down position, unable to release. In that position, the key is constantly sending commands to the computer. If this key happens to be the shift key, then your computer will command the computer to capitalize all letters.

Inspect the keyboard and make sure the keys can be pressed down with ease and that they’re brought up automatically as soon as you stop forcing them down. If not, clean your keyboard and remove any object that might hinder the keys from coming up.

3. Turn off Filter Keys, Sticky Keys, and Toggle Keys

Windows comes with features for your keyboard, and they’re all different. However, sometimes these functions can cause interference. Because they impact the way the keyboard responds to your input, they can sometimes can confusion for someone who isn’t used to having them activated.

Disable every one of them to see if the issue still persists. Here’s how.

Step 1: Right-click the start menu in the lower-left corner.

Step 2: Select Settings.

Step 3: Go to Ease of Access.

Step 4: Select Keyboard in the menu on the left-hand side.

Step 5: Toggle off the Sticky, Filter, and Toggle keys functions.

Step 6: Try typing to see if it’s still in caps.

4. Reverse the caps lock button in Word (CTRL + SHIFT + CAPS LOCK)

By accidentally pressing Ctrl + Shift + Caps Lock on your keyboard in Microsoft Word you may have reversed the caps lock button. This means that you will type capital letters when the caps lock button isn’t activated, but not when it is. Try pressing Ctrl + Shift + Caps Lock again to see if the problem is fixed.

5. Try on-screen keyboard

To determine if your keyboard is going haywire or if the problem is within the software, it can be wise to use an alternative keyboard. The on-screen keyboard will tell you if there’s something going on that seems off.

If the OSK can type letters that aren’t capitalized, then there’s a possibility that there’s something wrong with the keyboard (but it doesn’t have to be an indicator that it’s broken). If the issue persists, then it’s safe to say that the issue is software related.

To start the OSK:

Step 1: Type on-screen keyboard in the search bar in the lower-left corner of Windows.

Step 2: Select the On-screen keyboard.

Step 3: Type something using the On-screen Keyboard to see if it’s in caps or not. Try pressing the caps lock key on your physical keyboard and on the OSK to see if any changes are made.

Alternatively: If you’ve got two physical keyboards at your disposal, connect the second one to see if it’s able to produce lower-case letters.

6. Press both Shift keys at the same time

Holding both Shift keys at the same time for a few seconds can reverse the issue. When both Shift Keys are held simultaneously, something called ghosting occurs.

When ghosting (or masking) is activated, only a pre-determined set of letters can be used. For the rest of the keys, the input is not registered by the computer, meaning no letter will be produced when a key is pressed.

This has to do with the way keyboards are wired. It’s basically a by-product of the way keyboards are engineered.

Additionally, a feature called Sticky Keys can be turned off by pressing both Shift keys simultaneously. The keys can, however, only be used to disable the feature, not vice-versa. With that said, we recommend you try it for yourself to see if it produces the results you wish for.

Step 1: Hold both the left and right Shift Keys for a few seconds.

7. Check advanced key settings

In advanced key settings, the caps lock key can be configured. Perhaps something has gone wrong there? It’s worth taking a look.

Step 1: Search for Language settings using the search bar and click it.

Step 2: Select Spelling, typing, & keyboard settings on the right-hand side of the screen.

Step 3: Click Advanced keyboard settings.

Step 4: Go to Language bar options.

Step 5: Go to the tab labeled Advanced Key Settings.

Step 6: Check if the caps lock key actually is the key used to turn off caps lock, or if it has been changed to the Shift key. If “Press the SHIFT key” is checked, change it to “Press the CAPS LOCK key” and press OK.

8. Reinstall keyboard drivers

You might need to reinstall the keyboard’s drivers in order for the keyboard to function as intended. Thankfully, doing so is quite easy. Below is a simple guide.

Step 1: Right-click the start menu in the lower-left corner of Windows.

Step 2: Select Device Manager.

Step 3: Expand the object “Keyboard” in the list by clicking the arrow to the left of it.

Step 4: In the list of items that appeared under Keyboard, right-click your keyboard and select Uninstall Device.

Step 5: In the subsequent dialogue window, press Uninstall.

Step 6: Restart your computer. The drivers will be reinstalled as the computer starts up again.

9. Replace the keyboard’s batteries.

Wireless keyboards can start acting up when they’re low on battery. While it should be mentioned that we haven’t had many reports of keyboards typing in all-caps when the keyboard is low on battery, I would still consider it worth trying.

We’ve been able to fix keyboards going haywire by simply charging them or replacing their batteries before.

10. Update BIOS

Your computer’s motherboard uses something called a basic input/output system, or BIOS, to communicate with the hardware connected to it (among other things). Whenever the firmware hasn’t been updated in a long time, components can start to glitch.

Updating to the most recent version of BIOS can do wonders for your computer. To find and install the most recent version available for your computer – follow the guide below.

Step 1: Go to System Information and look for the information given in the BaseBoard Product or SKU rows.

Step 2: Now that we know the model or product name, go to the manufacturer’s website and find the product page for your specific product (laptop model or motherboard model).

Step 3: Find drivers on the product page. Sometimes, they can be found in sections like Support, Drivers, or Firmware. Once you’ve found the drivers section, look for the most recent BIOS version for your product and download it.

Step 4: Open the file that was downloaded and follow the installation wizard. Make sure your computer is connected to a power source. If the computer dies during the installation the firmware could become corrupt. The computer will restart a couple of times during the update.

Step 5: You are done when the computer starts and stays on the login screen or start screen.

11. Run a virus scan

Certain types of malware have the power to govern (or impact) how the computer’s peripherals, such as the keyboard and mouse, behave. This could be what’s causing your keyboard to type in all caps. If nothing else on this list has worked, I suggest you run a virus scan to see if any threats are found on your computer.

Windows 10 has an in-built safety system known as Windows Defender, from there you can run a full virus scan. Here’s how you do it.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows symbol (Start menu) in the lower-left corner.

Step 2: Click Settings

Step 3: Go to Update & Security

Step 4: Select Windows Security in the menu to the left then click Open Windows Security.

Step 5: Click Virus & Threat Protection in the menu to the left.

Step 6: Click Scan Options and select Full Scan then click Scan Now.

Step 7: Remove any unwanted files that the scan may have detected. Restart your computer to see if the problem has been solved.

Some users wonder if it can be fixed or if their keyboard or computer is broken. What we’ve found is that the most common causes are:

• Food spill
• Malware
• Batteries
• Drivers
• USB-ports
• BIOS
• Bluetooth
• Power Settings

Continue reading as we’re going to provide detailed step-by-step guides for each method to make sure you can try everything before you jump to the conclusion that your keyboard or computer is beyond repair.

9 Ways To Fix Repeating Keys in Windows

What’s causing it can differ from one computer to the next but it can (in the majority of cases) be fixed and while it seems to have slowed down recently, I still get contacted by people who are experiencing this.

Below is the list of things causing the problem and the methods I’ve used to fix it.

1. Spilled liquid or food on the keyboard

Food or liquid spilled on the keyboard can damage the keyboard or render it useless, but sometimes the spill will do no harm at all – until it one day creeps up and makes your keyboard act strange.

What’s causing your keyboard to repeat letters could either be crumbs or other types of food sticking underneath the keyboard. It can also be liquid spill that’s turned into a sticky film underneath the keyboard, making the keys stick.

To ensure that your keyboard is clean and free from sticky liquids and crumbs you must clean it thoroughly. The methods below are recommended.

• Swab the keyboard with screen wipes.
• Brush between the keys using a suitable brush (not a rough one).
• Use cotton swabs between the keys.
• Blast the keyboard with compressed air to remove food particles and grime.

Once the keyboard has been cleaned thoroughly, try it out to see if the keyboard keeps repeating letters. If this didn’t solve the issue, it probably means that the problem doesn’t originate from the keyboard, but rather from the computer.

2. Malware

Malware is a type of software designed with ill intent. They’re almost always intended to do harm to a computer or access something of value – usually information. Malware or viruses can also impact the way the computer and its peripherals (keyboard and mouse) work.

You can scan your computer for malware using third-party anti-virus software such as Avast (the free or paid version) or you can scan it using Windows Defender, which is a built-in defense against malware in Windows.

We’ll show you how to use Windows Defender but it’s not a bad idea to complement Windows Defender with a free version of any anti-virus software.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows symbol (Start menu) in the lower-left corner.

Step 2: Click Settings

Step 3: Go to Update & Security

Step 4: Select Windows Security in the menu to the left then click Open Windows Security.

Step 5: Click Virus & Threat Protection in the menu to the left.

Step 6: Click Scan Options and select Full Scan then click Scan Now.

Step 7: Remove any unwanted files that the scan may have detected. Restart your computer to see if the problem has been solved.

3. Change the keyboard’s batteries (even if they’re charged)

This is a solution for those of you who are using a Bluetooth (wireless) keyboard. Wireless keyboards don’t source their power from the computer. Instead, they are either charged in a docking station or have batteries.

When the battery in the keyboard is reaching low levels, the keyboard can start going haywire, causing it to repeat letters, for instance. It should be mentioned that any indicator used to register how much power the keyboard has left shouldn’t be trusted enough to not try this method.

I’ve swapped batteries on keyboards that registered battery levels above 30% and got them to stop acting out because of it. It’s as if the battery levels aren’t read correctly. So, either charge your keyboard or swap the batteries to see if this solves your problem.

If the problem persists, then it’s most likely not the batteries and you can put the first batteries back in the keyboard.

4. Connect the keyboard directly to the computer

Using a docking station or USB hub can cause problems with some devices, such as keyboards and mice. I’m not sure if it’s the signaling to the computer that’s the issue but it seems like the middleman causes some type of disturbance, making it difficult for the keyboard to register the exact input.

Try to:

• Disconnect the keyboard from the hub.
• Connect it directly to the computer.

See if the keyboard stops repeating letters.

5. Bluetooth & power management settings

Bluetooth keyboards send a signal to the device and if the device doesn’t receive the signal, the keyboard may keep sending the signal until it has been registered as received.

As you can see, the signal being sent multiple times can be what’s causing the keyboard to repeat letters. Thankfully, there are proven workarounds.

This can be fixed by adjusting the power management settings so the keyboard doesn’t “switch off”. Instead, it will always be ready.

Step 1: Right-click on the Start button in Windows.

Step 2: Select Device Manager.

Step 3: Click the arrow next to Bluetooth in the list and right-click your Bluetooth sender (often called Radio).

Step 4: Select Properties.

Step 5: Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck the box next to Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power if it’s checked.

6. Update Bluetooth drivers

Outdated or corrupt Bluetooth drivers can cause the communication between the Bluetooth device and the computer to be hindered or disrupted. Updating the computer’s Bluetooth drivers can affect compatibility with other components and the operating system – hopefully for the better.

The update can also come with possible fixes to old glitches. Sometimes, simply reinstalling the same drivers can do wonders. We’ll start by looking at updating the drivers! Follow the steps below.

Step 1: Right-click the Windows button/start menu in the lower-left corner of Windows.

Step 2: Click Device Manager

Step 3: Look for Bluetooth in the list and expand the item.

Step 4: Right-click the Bluetooth device found under Bluetooth and select Update Driver.

Step 5: Select Search automatically for drivers. If the computer doesn’t find the drivers, then we’re going to find and download them manually. Continue reading as we’ll show you how to do that too.

Download and install drivers manually

Step 1: If you’ve got a laptop – go to the product page on the manufacturer’s website. If you’ve got a custom-built PC – find out what motherboard the computer has and go to the motherboard’s product page on the manufacturer’s website.

(You can find out what motherboard you have by searching for System Information in Windows and looking at BaseBoard Product in the list. If you don’t know the model name of your laptop, there should be a label underneath the laptop stating the model name, otherwise, you can find it in System Information as well)

Step 2: Look for drivers on the product page. Bluetooth drivers can be found in different places so you might benefit from Googling the product + Bluetooth driver. The official website should appear in the search results.

Step 3: Once the file has been downloaded, go to your Downloaded folder and double-click the file.

Step 4: Follow the installation wizard until the drivers have been installed – then restart the computer if prompted to.

7. Reinstall keyboard drivers

You can try reinstalling your keyboard drivers in Windows. If the current driver installation is corrupt, a fresh installation might actually do the trick.

Step 1: Right-click the Start button in Windows.

Step 2: Select Device Manager.

Step 3: Click the arrow next to Keyboards in the list.

Step 4: Among the items that appear, right-click your keyboard and select Uninstall Device.

Step 5: Click Uninstall.

Step 6: Restart your computer. As your computer boots up, the device drivers will automatically install once again.

9. Update BIOS

If you’re still experiencing the same issue even after doing all of the steps above, you might need to update the motherboard’s firmware. The basic input-output system manages data transfer between Windows and the computer’s components.

Updating BIOS has been one of the go-to methods for solving keyboard problems for a long time. Let’s try it and hope it works! First, you must find out your computer’s model name or motherboard’s model name. Let’s start there.

Step 1: Go to System Information and look for the information given in the BaseBoard Product or SKU rows.

Step 2: Now that we know the model or product name, go to the manufacturer’s website and find the product page for your specific product (laptop model or motherboard model).

Step 3: Find drivers on the product page. Sometimes, they can be found in sections like Support, Drivers, or Firmware. Once you’ve found the drivers section, look for the most recent BIOS version for your product and download it.

Step 4: Open the file that was downloaded and follow the installation wizard. Make sure your computer is connected to a power source. If the computer dies during the installation the firmware could become corrupt. The computer will restart a couple of times during the update.

Step 5: You are done when the computer starts and stays on the login screen or start screen.

So, what can cause this delay in keyboards? I’m here to list the 12 most common reasons complete with solutions for input lag on keyboards. Hopefully, after reading this article you can put this annoyance behind you and continue using your keyboard as normal.

The causes for input lag on keyboards are generally things such as outdated drivers, USB issues, or a problem with a specific setting on your computer. There are no universal fixes for a lagging keyboard, however. The fixes may vary depending on your keyboard and computer. It’s recommended to try different things until you find your specific problem.

Now that you know the most common reasons why keyboards might have input lag, let’s go over it in detail below. Most of these solutions work for both Windows 10 and 11, and specific solutions for Windows 10 or 11 are listed as such.

12 Ways To Fix Keyboard Input Lag on Windows 10 and 11

1. Keyboard Options (Windows 10)

Your input lag may be caused by a setting in your keyboard properties. If this is the cause of your problem, you’re in luck! The fix is very easy. Just follow the steps below to adjust your keyboard property options.

• Press the Windows Key + R
• Type “control keyboard” in the window that pops up
• Adjust the sliders in the keyboard properties menu to your liking

If your keyboard has input lag, the repeat rate slider should be adjusted to the right and the repeat delay slider should also be adjusted toward the right.

If the repeat delay slider is three-quarters to the right, and the repeat rate slider is on the far right, then the settings are as they should be, and your problems probably lie elsewhere.

2. Outdated drivers

Every component on your computer runs with the help of drivers. Drivers are files on your computer that mediates the communication between your hardware and your operating system. In other words, they are very important for things to work well.

This makes it important to have your drivers up to date, and if you don’t, you can experience things such as input lag on your keyboard. To check for updates on your keyboard, simply follow the steps below.

• Type “device manager” in your Windows search bar
• In the device manager list, find the “Keyboards” option and double-click it.
• Right-click your keyboard dice, and select “Update driver”
• Search automatically for drivers
• If there are any available, Windows will download and install them for you

3. Your Computer Is Using The “Filter Keys” Option

Filter keys are meant to be a helpful function, to prevent unwilling keystrokes. Most of the time, however, it only serves as an annoyance. It activates automatically when you press and hold shift for eight seconds, which is very easy to do without noticing.

To disable Filter Keys on Windows 10, go to your “Settings” menu, then select “Ease of Access”. After this, select the “Keyboard” option at the bottom of the left-side menu. Finally, uncheck the “Use Filter Keys” option.

To disable Filter Keys on Windows 11, press your Windows key + I to go into the “Settings” menu. After this, select “Accessibility”. After this, select “Keyboard” and toggle your “Filter Keys” option off.

You’re going to notice very quickly if this is your problem since the option is checked or unchecked. If it isn’t in the first place or unchecking it didn’t help, keep reading!

4. Your Wireless Keyboard Is Low On Battery

If you have a wireless keyboard, there is a chance that it isn’t responding as usual because of low battery life. Some keyboards have a function to alert you of low battery life and some don’t.

Either way, you should use your keyboard charger or switch the batteries if you’re using those. The compartment for your keyboard batteries depends on what keyboard you’re using, but if you’re using Mac, the compartment is at the top left corner of your keyboard, above the “esc” key.

Simply use a coin to open the battery slot and remove the batteries, then insert your new R6 batteries in the empty compartment.

5. Missing Or Corrupt Files

Corrupt files and other configuration errors can lead to all sorts of troubles in Windows, including messing with your keyboard’s input response. To fix these potential problems, you should run the DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management).

Follow the steps in the instructions below to run the DISM successfully!

• Type “cmd” in your Windows search bar
• Right-click the cmd icon and select “Run as administrator”
• Run the following commands and hit “Enter” after each one:
• “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth” (press enter)
• “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth” (press enter)
• “DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth” (press enter)

If your keyboard’s input lag was caused by an issue pertaining to this fix, then the changes should take effect very quickly.

6. Lower Your Input Lag In The Registry Editor

Another sneaky setting that Windows has is the Keyboard settings within your registry editor. This editor isn’t something that the average Windows user would ever open up, so, understandably, you haven’t found a fix if the input lag issues lie here.

To check the settings in the registry editor, simply follow the steps below.

• Press your Windows key + R
• Type “regedit” in the search box
• Double-click “HKEY_CURRENT_USER”
• Find and click on “Keyboard” in the drop-down menu
• Double click “KeyboardDelay”
• Set your value to “1”

If the value is set to “1” already, then you can safely conclude that the input lag issues are not caused by this setting and move on to the next item on the list.

7. Switch USB Ports

One option you can try is switching USB ports. That goes for the receiver for your wireless keyboard or the USB cable to your wired keyboard. It’s not uncommon for USB ports to behave in strange ways, and sometimes problems with USB-connected devices sort themselves out if you simply switch USB ports.

I can also strongly recommend downloading the utility software USBDeview to check the health and status of your USB devices. This can help you find any abnormalities in your USB devices and ports.

8. Insufficient Power For USB Devices

Too many connected USB devices can cause problems because of power issues. Your computer may not be able to provide power to all of your devices, which can lead to input lag on your keyboard as a result.

Make sure you have all your unused USB devices disconnected and try using your keyboard. If your keyboard works fine after this, have this in mind in the future.

9. Your USB Receiver Is Too Far From Your Keyboard (Wireless)

This problem can be two-fold. One, the USB receiver you’re using for your wireless keyboard is too far away to bring a consistent connection to your keyboard, causing drops in connection and delays in your inputs.

The other problem is the devices between your keyboard and your receiver. If the keyboard and receiver are too far away from each other, chances are that there are other devices such as external hard drives between your receiver and keyboard, causing interference. Move stuff around and see if you can resolve your problem this way.

10. Power Management Settings

Some power management settings are known to cause problems with peripheral devices such as keyboards. Therefore, you should make sure that your power management settings are optimized for performance. Do this by following the listed steps below!

• Type “power options” in your Windows search bar
• Select “Power Options”
• Select “High performance”

11. Turn Off Overlays When Gaming

Turn off overlays if you’re gaming. They’re known to cause massive issues including lag, input delay, and more. Both Steam and Discord use overlays which are automatically set to be on when you’re gaming.

Windows has a few settings that aren’t very good for, well, anything really. I’ll go over how you turn them off below. These settings are also enabled by default.

• Go to the “Settings” menu (Windows key + I)
• Select “Gaming”
• Uncheck the “Xbox Game Bar” option
• Click on “Game Mode” in the list on the left side
• Uncheck the “Game Mode” option

12. Your Wireless Keyboard Is Too Close To Your Router

If you’re using a wireless keyboard, there’s a chance that your router and your wireless keyboard are using the same frequency to communicate. This means that they can interfere with each other, causing issues such as drop-outs in connection and input delay.

Make sure that your keyboard and router aren’t directly next to each other. Move the router to an area further away, and then check if your issue is solved. If this is an inconvenience, try connecting your keyboard to a different device and see if it works.

If you have a laptop readily available, I would suggest moving it some distance from your router, connecting your keyboard to it, then checking if it has input lag.

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.

1. Search for Windows Defender in the Windows Start menu and launch it.

2. Select Virus and Threat Protection from the drop-down menu.

3. Select Update & Security from the drop-down menu.

4. Select Virus and Threat Protection from the drop-down menu.

5. 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.

Today we’re looking at the different things that can cause your keyboard and mouse to freeze and what you can do about it. Hopefully, once you’ve finished reading this article and applied the steps, you won’t have the same problems anymore.

Your mouse and keyboard can be freezing because of corrupt or outdated drivers, viruses and malware, physical damage to the device that causes connectivity problems, technical problems, issues within the Windows registry, faulty ports on the motherboard, and Windows freezing. Demanding CPU work can also cause the peripherals to freeze, but only for mere seconds.

Depending on how your computer and peripherals behave, you can exclude some of the things in the list above. For instance: You would have to be an incredibly unfortunate being if both the ports that your devices are connected to are faulty without you knowing it. There’s also a low risk that both of your devices have damaged cords unless you’ve got a horde of cord-eating cats living in your office.

How Do You Fix a Frozen Mouse and Keyboard?

Start troubleshooting the devices and the computer to filter out the possibilities.

Connect the devices to another computer and other devices to your computer.

The first and easiest way to tell if something is wrong with the actual device is to connect the keyboard and/or mouse to another computer to see if the issue persists or if it’s functioning properly on another computer. Physical damage or technical issues can most likely be discounted if the device works as intended when connected to another computer. So, then it must be some type of interference caused by the computer, rather than the hardware.

If possible, connect another keyboard and/or mouse to your computer to see if the same type of interference affects the new set of peripherals too. With this out of the way, you will most likely have gathered enough information to determine if the problem is software-related or hardware-related.

Update Drivers

Running your peripherals on outdated or corrupt drivers can cause discrepancies, like your mouse or keyboard frequently freezing stuck. You can either choose to uninstall the current drivers and restart the computer or download the latest drivers and update your current ones. The computer will reinstall the old drivers upon startup, and if they’re corrupt, the problem should be fixed by it.

Uninstall Device:

• Search for “Device Manager” and run it as administrator.
• Find the keyboard and mouse in the list of devices and expand those items.
• Right-click them one at a time and select Uninstall Device.
• Windows will display a warning, telling you that you’re about to uninstall the device from your system. Make sure to check the box in this window if it appears, then click Uninstall. If no box appears, simply click Uninstall.
• Do the same with the other device then restart the computer.

Does the issue persist? Continue reading.

Update Drivers:

• Search for “System Information” and look for System Model or Baseboard Product. This is the name of your computer’s motherboard. Laptop users don’t need to do this step, as most laptops have model names, such as EliteBook 840 G1, etc.
• Search for the motherboard’s name + drivers or the laptop’s model name + drivers on google.
• Find the appropriate drivers for your mouse and keyboard and download them.
• Run the .exe file when it has finished downloading and follow the instructions.
• Restart the computer if the installation doesn’t prompt you to do it.

Update/Reinstall USB drivers:

• Go to Device Manager
• Look for Universal Serial Bus controllers in the list and expand the item
• Locate the device driver and right-click it (There can be a ton of different items in this list – either pick the one called “Standard” if you’ve got one or go for the ones with the brand name).
• Go to Properties
• Select Uninstall Device
• Restart the computer

This step also includes updating the computer’s BIOS drivers. Bios is short for “basic input/output system”, and can be described as the motherboard’s way of communicating with the connected hardware during start-up. You should be able to find the right BIOS drivers by using the method described above. Knowing the name of the motherboard, or the computer’s model name is enough.

Check the cord and USB-plug for physical damage

This step is redundant for those who have successfully connected their devices to another computer, but not for those who don’t have another computer at home to try with or those who didn’t get their peripherals to work with another computer either. Perform a quick visual inspection of the cable and the USB connector to see if they’re damaged, or worn out.

While I highly doubt that both of your devices have damaged cords or USB plugs, checking them is part of the procedure so I will always recommend it. Working in this industry has taught me that you should expect the unexpected when it comes to helping others with computers, and even more so when it comes to helping yourself.

Run a virus scan

If your keyboard and mouse still keep freezing, I would recommend checking your computer for malware. While most viruses have more lucrative goals in mind, some viruses interfere with the computer’s peripherals, causing them to function differently. This can absolutely include freezing, but also a plethora of other strange things. You can run a virus scan within Windows 10, but I think you should consider paying for a premium security application that keeps you protected at all times. If you are on a low budget, opt for the free version of an anti-virus program, such as Avast.

Don’t install multiple security applications as they can interfere with one another easily.

To run a scan Within windows 10:

• Click the Windows button + i to open settings.
• Scroll down and select Update & Security.
• Select Windows Security from the list on the left-hand side.
• Select Virus & Threat protection.
• Select Quick Scan to scan the computer.

Check your CPU usage

Running demanding applications, or having them lurking in the background can easily cause your peripherals (and your entire system) to freeze for seconds now and then. When your CPU is under heavy usage the computer will become less seamless, this applies to the peripherals, but also loading times, and graphics. Overall, if the computer is slow and cumbersome, there’s most likely some high-performance software running on it.

Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Delete then select “Task Manager) to see what processes are running and how they’re affecting the CPU. Try closing any program that’s running in the background, or the ones that you’re not using to see if your problems disappear.

You can also stop unnecessary applications from starting when you power on the computer by disabling them in the Startup Tab in the Task Manager. That way you can keep track of the applications that are active on your computer more easily.

Install Windows Updates

Installing the most recent Windows updates released by Microsoft can help you get rid of your old problems, and instead, welcome new ones. No, but seriously – updating Windows can definitely make a big difference, and it has proven to solve this issue before. Even if your computer is set to automatically deliver the newest updates to you, it can be wise to check the updates manually to ensure that they’ve gone through.

If you don’t have the Automatic Updates Feature activated, do the following to update Windows:

• Search for Windows Update Settings in the search bar
• Click Check for updates
• If any updates are available Windows will install them automatically.

You should also consider installing the newest version of Windows. This can be done in the section directly under the “Check for updates” button. I’m talking about this one:

Click Download and install or See what’s in this update if you’re curious. Once the installation has started, let the computer run the installation until you’re back to the login screen.

This has seemed to work to fix keyboard and mouse issues in Windows, and I’ve come to that conclusion because of how many forums I’ve visited to find a fix to this problem.

Check technical problems

Seeing as we’re dealing with two devices at the same time, chances are slim that there’s something wrong with both devices, as I’ve mentioned above. However, I recommend checking the batteries on both devices and replacing them to ensure they’re both equipped with a fresh pair of batteries. Oh, and if they’ve got a built-in battery, then recharge that battery and use any accompanying software or battery indicators to make sure the devices actually charge up.

Try plugging the USB receiver into a different USB port.

The Wifi Adapter Can Interfere With Your Bluetooth Devices

Your WiFi and Bluetooth can interfere with each other. This is because they are both designed to operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency. The more devices you have connected to the same channel, the more disturbance there may be. You can think of the channels as traffic lanes: If there’s much traffic in one lane, there’s also going to be a long wait when you arrive at a red light.

Bluetooth and WiFi will try their hand at available channels using two different techniques – when they find channels that can be used to send data, they will send it. However, the longer they have to search for available channels, the slower they will be. You can manually change your WiFi to transmit on a 5GHz frequency instead. This can reduce the amount of interruption caused by their attempts to coexist.

I also recommend moving your router away from your computer. Try about 40′ away.

Check Power Settings

How are your power-saving options set? Make sure to disable power saving options as they can force the computer, along with the peripherals, into hibernation. Sleep and hibernation settings can fool you and cause a lot of trouble. Make sure they’re turned off if you’re having problems with your peripherals freezing.

Check Power Management settings too:

• Go to Device Manager
• Find the device in the list of devices
• Expand the list and right-click the item
• Select Properties
• Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck “Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power”

Make Sure the USB Ports Work

Connect other devices (it doesn’t have to be peripherals) to see if the ports work. Keep the Device Manager open to see if it ever flickers with the new device connected. A flickering Device Manager means that a device has either been disconnected or connected to the computer. If the connected device disconnects and reconnects frequently, something may be wrong with the ports. Inspect them to see if they’ve been damaged or bent then do the same with the USB receiver or the USB plug on the mouse and keyboard.

Run the in-built troubleshooter

Windows 10 has an integrated troubleshooter that can be used to identify problems with your devices. The troubleshooter can be accessed in Settings. Run the troubleshooter on the devices to see if Windows has identified any issues with them.

Take note: It seems like my mouse doesn’t appear as an option in the troubleshooter.

• Search for Troubleshooting settings
• Scroll down and select Additional troubleshooters
• Look for and select Keyboard under Find and fix other problems.

Check the computer’s temperature

Raising temperatures may go hand-in-hand with high CPU usage, but it doesn’t have to be high CPU usage that’s causing it – it could be overheating caused by insufficient cooling. The results of an overheating computer can be sudden and frequent freezes. These freezes may affect your peripherals or the entire operative system. They are, regardless, harmful to your computer and should be fixed as quickly as possible.

You can see the computer’s temperature by using third-party applications. If your computer is uncomfortable to touch because of how hot it is, then it’s probably overheating. Changing the fans, the fan’s settings in bios, cleaning the computer, or having someone with experience open up the computer to inspect it is something you should consider.

Reinstall Windows

During all of my years working with IT support, I can’t tell you how many problems I’ve been able to solve by simply reinstalling Windows. Doing this will offer you a clean slate, remove any third-party software that may interfere with your devices, and reinstall the computer’s drivers. Reinstalling Windows takes 1-2 hours depending on your approach. Any files that are saved locally will be removed from your computer when you install Windows. Make sure to save everything that you value.

Check Windows Registry

If Window’s registry is corrupt, that could be what’s causing your devices to freeze. You can use a third-party application called Advanced System Repair Pro to scan your registry for errors and fix them. However, because we’re dealing with both peripherals freezing at the same time, it’s so much more difficult to say if both their issues are bound to the registry or not. It’s not unusual for a mouse to get stuck because of a broken registry, but both? Rare.

Mouse and keyboard still keep freezing? Try this.

Aside from the things we’ve talked about, there’s a few things you can try to get them up and running properly again. Here’s a less detailed list.

• Rollback mouse & keyboard drivers to earlier configs.
• Rollback Windows updates to earlier versions (before the problem started).
• Update graphics card driver.
• Disable Cortana.
• Disable Hybrid Shutdown/Fast Startup
• Disable Sticky Keys

This has left me without a keyboard in pretty dire situations – both gaming and work-related. So, there’s definitely some value in keeping track of your keyboard’s battery levels, but how do you go about doing that?

You can see how much battery your rechargeable wireless keyboard has in Windows 10 by going to Settings. Once there, click on Bluetooth & other devices. Then click on Mouse, keyboard & pen. In this section, Windows displays a list of devices. There should be a battery percentage meter next to the Bluetooth device in the list. Frequent disconnects and an unresponsive keyboard are also possible signs of a dying keyboard battery.

This only works for Bluetooth devices with rechargeable built-in batteries – not Bluetooth devices that run on actual batteries. Keyboards that run on replaceable AA or AAA batteries can’t be monitored the same way. But I’m quite sure that won’t be an issue since a pair of batteries can last for a very long time with a good keyboard. Now, as long as you keep a spare pair at home, you will be fine.

I should mention that there’s a possibility that the indicator in Windows 10 options doesn’t appear next to your device for some reason. I have used a plethora of wireless devices and some display the indicator while others don’t. As it turns out, some brands provide their own third-party application which can be used to check on the device’s battery levels.

Let’s take a look at the brand-specific methods of telling how much battery a keyboard has.

How Do I Check The Battery on My Logitech Keyboard?

Keeping track of your Logitech devices has been simplified with the help of Logitech’s software “Logitech Options”. The software will recognize the keyboard and display them on the Options window. Logitech Options will help you monitor battery levels by sending notifications when your battery level has reached 50%, 20%, and 5%. This function can be turned on and off in the Logitech Options menu but keeping it on is a surefire way to never be caught off guard.

To see the keyboard’s battery percentage in Logitech Options

• Select your device on the main page of Logitech Options
• The battery status will be displayed on the lower part of the Window

You can also check the battery on your Logitech keyboards for iPad by looking at the battery level lights. If the light turns red when the keyboard turns on, it’s indicating that the keyboard needs to be charged. According to Logitech, a fully charged battery will last for about three months when the keyboard is used for two hours a day.

How Can I Otherwise Tell If My Keyboard Battery Is Low?

Aside from the methods mentioned above, there are a couple of other tell-tale signs that can indicate whether or not the battery is running out or not. When the keyboard is starting to run out of battery, the user may experience frequent disconnects, for instance. Disconnects could absolutely be a sign that the battery needs to be recharged – but could also be an indication that the keyboard is malfunctioning or running into interference.

The keyboard may also stop registering keystrokes once it reaches critically low battery levels. The keyboard’s behavior will be different depending on the model, manufacturer, software, connection type, and more. Therefore, it’s hard to tell you what to expect.

What I’ve done is this: If my keyboard starts acting strange I just replace the batteries or charge it to see if that’s the problem. If it isn’t, I continue troubleshooting the device until I’ve come up with the real reason.

How To Check Battery Level on a Razer Keyboard

You can tell how much battery your Razer keyboard has left by looking at what color the battery indicator is showing. The battery light is green when the keyboard is charged, yellow when the keyboard is low, and blinking red when the keyboard is critically low.

I have used the Razer BlackWidow V3 for quite some time and I think it’s been working great. By keeping the lights turned down a little bit I got a lot more out of the battery. I have, however, had some problems with the lights not changing from one color to the other even though the battery has been fully charged. It doesn’t happen all the time but I’ve run into it a couple of times.

It’s not a big deal and it seems to be purely visual as the keyboard continues to power on even though the light indicates that it is at critical battery levels.

How To Check Battery Levels on a Corsair Keyboard Using Icue

Monitoring the battery levels on a corsair keyboard can be done with the help of Corsair’s software Icue. The application acts as a hub for your connected corsair devices, creating an environment where your setup can be modified to suit your needs.

Your connected corsair devices will show up in Icue under Settings -> Device in Cue when they’re not being charged. This means that you won’t be able to see the battery status while you’re charging, but as soon as you unplug the charging cable, the device should appear with a battery percentage indicator next to it in Icue. You can also find the battery levels in the Dashboard if you select Battery.

How To Check Battery Level on a Zagg Keyboard

Zagg keyboards are used for tablets and smartphones primarily.

Unlike Logitech, Zagg has opted to provide a simple but less precise method of indicating how much battery there’s left in their keyboards. I’m not saying that Logitech’s method is hard, and I’m not saying that Zagg’s method doesn’t provide good enough data – I’m just saying they’ve gone a different route. Zagg has chosen to use LED lights to indicate the battery’s power levels.

You can check the battery level on a Zagg keyboard by pressing the Battery key in the lower-left corner of the keyboard. The battery key triggers the LED light on the right to start flashing. Three green flashes mean the keyboard has 50% or more battery remaining, three yellow flashes mean the keyboard has 25% to 50% battery remaining, and three red flashes mean the keyboard has less than 25% battery remaining. The red light will flash once every five minutes when the battery is at critical levels.

How Long Does a Wireless Keyboard Battery Last?

The number of hours you get out of an internal keyboard battery before it needs to be recharged can differ a bit depending on the keyboard and its features. Most Bluetooth keyboards come with internal lithium-ion batteries that are rechargeable, the batteries on these keyboards aren’t meant to run for weeks-on-end without being charged, they’re supposed to be charged quite often.

While you’re bound to stay stationed close to the computer while you’re charging, the keyboard can (most likely) still be used during the time. I think it’s a pretty convenient solution even though it requires you to keep track of battery levels. You will learn how your keyboard works and how much time you usually get out of it when you’ve used it for a while.

But I have compiled a list of different keyboard batteries in order to get an idea of how long a wireless keyboard battery lasts on average.

Battery times vary a lot depending on the keyboard and its features, that’s what we can draw from the information on the table above. Regular office keyboards without backlighting last much longer than gaming keyboards with backlighting. Turning the lights off seems to improve battery life substantially.

Rechargeable keyboards will probably need to be recharged once a week or more depending on the usage.

There may be several reasons why you may want a mechanical keyboard. There are many keyboards out there that feel like mechanical keyboards but are not. If you’re wondering how you can identify the differences and find out if the device is truly mechanical, you’re in the right place.

You can tell if a keyboard is mechanical by how much sound it makes when you click the keys, as mechanical keyboards make loud clicking noises when they’re pressed. You can also tell if it’s mechanical by removing the keys. Mechanical keyboards have switches under every key, whereas membrane keyboards don’t.

Are Mechanical Keyboards Better?

Mechanical keyboards are the best kind of keyboards for regular users. They are more durable than regular keyboards and have a much faster input response. In fact, many professional gamers prefer to use mechanical keyboards for their high durability and speed.

The primary reason mechanical keyboards are more durable is that the keys have switches underneath. So, when you press a key, you will activate the switch underneath that key, and most high-end switches are estimated to last for at least 20-40 million clicks, which is a lot more than a regular membrane keyboard. When the key is pressed, the switch activates and this emits a ‘click’ sound.

Since the feedback from mechanical keyboards is both sensory and auditory, it’ll be easier to type on a mechanical keyboard.

Not just gamers, but writers and editors also prefer to use mechanical keyboards. Usually, when you’re typing for hours a day, you’ll register a lot of keystrokes.

Let’s say you register 8000 keystrokes per hour, if you work for 6 hours a day, that will be 48000 keystrokes. Now, a regular laptop keyboard wouldn’t be able to withstand that type of workload for a very long time compared to a mechanical keyboard.

Most membrane keyboards have a life cycle of one to five million strokes. After this, the keyboard becomes highly unreliable for either gaming or typing.

Their mechanical counterpart is, however, capable of handling upwards of 50 million keystrokes if it’s handled correctly and taken care of properly. The improvement in the typing and gaming experience does come at a cost though. Mechanical keyboards cost more than a traditional membrane keyboard.

However, if you’re looking for a keyboard to use in the long run, mechanical keyboards are the way to go. Frankly put, you will most likely save money by purchasing a mechanical keyboard because of how long they’re expected to last, even under heavy usage.

How do Mechanical Keyboards Feel?

Mechanical keyboards have the best feedback in the industry because of the design of the components. The feedback is partly a result of the springs underneath the keys that are pushing them up again, making the keyboard feel bouncy. Membrane keyboards provide less feedback than mechanical keyboards.

They don’t emit any clicking sounds and they don’t usually feel bouncy because they’re not built using the same type of springs.

Mechanical keyboards also emit a sound when clicked. This sounds helps register the click. You can identify the feedback and analyze it to improve your typing speed and experience.

I think a mechanical keyboard offers a more natural workflow than most other keyboards because of the feedback that’s given with every click.

Even though mechanical keyboards may sound like they need more power to operate, that’s not the case. Most mechanical keyboards require the same clicking force as a membrane keyboard. Some mechanical keyboards also come with special keys that can register the click even when the button is half-pressed.

The bouncy feedback of mechanical keyboards will help you type faster. If you type for long hours continuously, you must get a mechanical keyboard as membrane keyboards will tire you faster. The spring actions are usually soft on the finger and will save you from any finger pains.

Difference Between Mechanical Keyboards and Membrane Keyboards

There are several differences between a mechanical keyboard and a membrane keyboard. The first difference you should know about is the design itself. Membrane keyboards have a plastic membrane beneath the keys. When you press a key, the key will touch the membrane and that will register the click.

The reason membrane keyboards are difficult to work with is because they don’t have any feedback mechanism. The only feedback you get is the soft bounce from the keys when pressed.

The feedback can go unnoticed if you’re not paying attention – saying a membrane keyboard is hard to use is an extreme overstatement. I will, however, say that a mechanical keyboard is easier to use and more forgiving in both the short and long run.

A mechanical keyboard, on the other hand, comes with physical switches under the keys. When you press a key, you’re essentially pressing the switch. Most mechanical keyboards will have two kinds of feedback. The first one is the sensory feedback you get from the springs.

When you press a key, you’ll compress the spring and activate the switch. Now, the compressed springs will push the key back to its initial state giving very strong feedback in the process. The string feedback helps you register the clicks easily and improves your typing speed.

The second type of feedback is audio feedback. The switches emit a ‘click’ sound when you press them. This comes in handy especially if you’re a gamer since you won’t always be in a position to look at the keyboard and type.

Another major difference between the membrane keyboard and the mechanical keyboard is the durability. Mechanical keyboards are made with springs and switches that have a longer lifetime than plastic membranes. This increases the durability of mechanical keyboards.

Usually, the number of keystrokes a mechanical keyboard can take is several times more than that of a membrane keyboard. Even though the number of keystrokes doesn’t tell us the whole story, it ensures us that mechanical keyboards last longer than membrane keyboards if they’re maintained well.

The last major difference between mechanical and membrane keyboards is the price. Usually, the computer or the laptop manufacturer will give you a membrane keyboard when you purchase your system. These keyboards cost anywhere between ten dollars and 50 dollars. The more the features, the higher the price.

Mechanical keyboards can be a little pricier than this. They usually cost anywhere between 50 and 100 dollars. The high-end models made for professional gamers are priced even higher, going up to 200 dollars.

The cost difference may seem like a lot but mechanical keyboards last way longer than traditional membrane keyboards. The final difference is the features. Since mechanical keyboards are made for either typists or gamers, they usually tend to have RGB lighting for backlighting. These lights will help you type or play at night without any issues.

Some mechanical keyboards specially made for gamers also come with way more benefits like highlighted WASD keys, multiple RGB zones, etc.

Are Mechanical Keyboards Worth It?

If you’re a writer, you are probably familiar with finger pains. When you type for long periods continuously on a membrane keyboard, you are likely to develop terrible pain in your fingers.

This is because the membrane keyboards don’t have proper feedback, which will cause you to press the keys differently. This isn’t unique to membrane keyboards in any way, that’s not what I’m saying.

You can develop the same type of finger pains from using a mechanical keyboard, and sometimes faster – depending on the model and how hard you press. In order to appear, finger pains usually require heavy usage regardless of the keyboard used. If your typing speed is on the higher end of the spectrum, you may run into finger pains pretty easily.

There’s a certain type of mechanical keyboard that can help you relieve the finger pain a little.

Some mechanical keyboards have keys that are triggered even when they’re only pressed halfway. This certainly reduces the strain the keyboard puts on your fingers. In fact, if you have a regular mechanical keyboard, your fingers may even hurt more because you’ll have to apply more strain to press the keys.

If you’re a gamer, there is a good chance that a mechanical keyboard will help your games. As a gamer, you will have to spend a lot of time looking at the screen and pressing the keys from muscle memory.

However, it’s more challenging to know if you pressed a key on a membrane keyboard since there is very little feedback. This may require you to shift your focus to your keyboard for a second to see if you did press the key.

As we know, when it comes to games, every second counts and every second can make a huge difference. This is especially the case for e-sports, where there’s a lot of things on the line and every single moment can make the difference between winning and losing.

So, getting a mechanical keyboard can save you time through good feedback and keep you focused on what’s important.

Most mechanical keyboards come with special lighting effects which may look even cooler with a complete gaming setup. The lights are, like everything else, a matter of taste.

Some people enjoy the lights and think they look visually pleasing while others think they look too futuristic or out of place. They do, however, have a little bit of functionality by illuminating the keys, making the keyboard visible in low-lighting environments.

Conclusion

Mechanical keyboards are quite different from membrane keyboards. They can be a bit costlier than the traditional keyboards that you get when you first purchase your systems. However, they are worth every penny and last way longer than the regular ones.

You can easily tell if a keyboard is mechanical by observing the click. If you hear a ‘click’ sound when you press a key, the keyboard is likely a mechanical keyboard. However, if you want to be absolutely sure, you have to remove the key. If the key is unremovable, the keyboard is likely a membrane keyboard.

Computer viruses, also known as malware, are often designed to gain access to valuable information by infecting the computer.

The most successful viruses run in the background, preventing the user from noticing that something’s going on until the virus has achieved its goal.

Interfering with the computer’s keyboard or mouse will raise suspicion and lead to very little profit for the hackers, in comparison to larger viruses, such as Trojans.

With that said, should you worry about your keyboard having a virus? Will that virus transfer to other units?

A keyboard is a hardware component and is, therefore, not really infected with viruses. However, the keyboard can be affected by a virus because the computer that the keyboard is connected to can get a virus that interferes with the keyboard’s drivers. When the keyboard is removed from the computer, the keyboard is free from virus, as the virus has affected the computer, not the keyboard.

Technically speaking, a keyboard is able to hold a virus if someone replaces some of the components in the keyboard and then transfers the virus to the computer through the dongle or something along those lines.

This has, however, not happened as far as I’m concerned and unless someone who has access to your keyboard is trying to target you specifically, you shouldn’t need to worry about this.

Generally speaking, a virus that’s designed to affect the computer’s keyboard will not be of much harm – but can be quite frustrating.

You should focus on getting rid of the focus regardless of what it does. Even if you don’t find it bothersome, it’s always best to remove malware from your computer.

The scariest virus that affects the keyboard is without a doubt the keylogger. The keylogger can retrieve information that has been input from your computer and send it to the hacker.

Keyloggers stay hidden in the background while they track every single key you press on your keyboard, the information is documented and sent back to the source.

With that information, the hacker can access a fair amount of your stuff. What’s even worse though, is that keyloggers are quite hard to trace as they’re stealthy.

Down below is a list of the most common symptoms of a keyboard-affecting virus (that are noticeable).

Common Keyboard Virus Symptoms

Having used computers and worked with them for several years, I have seen a bunch of different viruses that changed the keyboard’s behavior.

Some were out of pure amusement, while others were intended to prevent the user from interrupting other processes that were running in the background.

To understand if your computer is infected or not, it’s important to look at some of the common symptoms that appear when a keyboard has been affected by a virus.

The keyboard keeps changing layout

If your keyboard suddenly starts changing the layout, malicious software is probably rewriting the language of your keyboard into another language.

Viruses can, for instance, change your English keyboard into any other language and prevent you from reversing it until the virus has been removed.

These viruses come in different variations, the ones that I have come in contact with have been easy to deal with.

Sometimes the language can be changed back without a problem. Sometimes the new language can be uninstalled/disabled, which makes the computer jump back to the initial language. Running an anti-virus scan to find malware is your best bet.

The keys have been remapped / The keyboard is inserting the wrong letters

Your keyboard has been mapped so that certain keys produce certain symbols. The word mapping describes the connection between the symbol the key produces and the actual key.

It’s what makes the A-key type out the letter A. Some viruses that affect keyboards tend to cause discrepancies by reconfiguring the keys or changing their position.

Viruses of this sort will swap the keys out, leading the keyboard’s keys to insert symbols from nearby or totally random keys instead of the actual one that was pressed.

The keyboard is repeating letters or not writing them at all

If your keyboard is repeating the characters you type over and over again, the keyboard’s drivers may be infected.

The same thing could also be said about a keyboard that isn’t inserting certain letters at all. However, it’s important to filter out water damage, physical damage to keys, because they can also cause the keyboard to act this way.

The keyboard is typing random words automatically

If your keyboard starts typing random words or combinations of letters that don’t even make sense, you could be dealing with a virus.

If your keyboard is typing actual words automatically, then you’re definitely dealing with a virus. Speaking from experience, I don’t dare to say the same about random combinations of letters, as it could be something else.

The keyboard is backspacing / deleting automatically

If you’re in a full-fledged war against your keyboard because it keeps deleting anything you type, then you could be dealing with a virus.

The computer suddenly starts running slowly

If your computer’s performance is lowered substantially overnight for no reason. It could be a sign that a virus is running in the background, gathering information from your keyboard input.

However, if you’ve started running more demanding software or if the computer’s cooling system has started to degrade, that can also be the cause of the sudden decrease in performance.

How Do You Scan Your Keyboard For Viruses?

Regardless of how dire the virus seems to be, it’s always best to get rid of it because you never know if the virus is running an untraceable operation in the background. Now, as we’ve mentioned before, the virus isn’t bound to the keyboard, but the computer.

Through the computer, the virus can infect the keyboard’s drivers, telling it to act differently. Thus, the scan should be performed on the computer, as that’s where the virus is stored.

If you’re unsure whether or not your keyboard is affected by a virus, but you think it’s acting strangely, the following steps will show you a couple of things you can do.

• Run a complete anti-malware scan on your computer. If you don’t have an anti-virus program installed, download one of the free ones, they’re very good these days. I usually recommend something along the lines of Avast.
• Run Windows Virus & threat protection. Go to Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Security -> Virus & Threat protection and click “Scan Options” and check the “Windows Defender Offline Scan” then click “Scan Now” to start scanning.
• Remove the keyboard’s batteries if it has batteries. Replace them and try the keyboard again.
• Disconnect the keyboard and connect a new one. Does the new keyboard act the same way?
• Uninstall the keyboard’s drivers in the Device Manager and restart the computer.

I have found these things to be a great start when trying to figure out if the computer’s peripherals are being interfered with by malware.

By doing this, you should be able to come to a conclusion – is it a virus, a malfunctioning keyboard, or physical damage to the keyboard that’s causing these discrepancies?

The more things you try without successfully removing the virus, the closer you get to having to reinstall the operating system or replacing the keyboard.

How Do You Fix a Keyboard With Virus On It?

Up above we talked about scanning the keyboard (the computer) for viruses. Running a virus scan on a third-party application and one within Windows should be more than enough to remove any malware that’s been installed on your computer.

Here’s a quick recap of what I always start by doing when I’m unsure if it’s a virus or not.

• Run a virus scan in Windows and on a third party application
• Remove the keyboard and its batteries then reconnect both
• Uninstall the keyboard’s drivers then restart the computer

As useful as these methods are, they’re not always going to fix the problem. If you’ve done everything listed above without successfully removing the virus – then proceed to do these things.

• Reinstall Windows on the computer to get a clean slate
• Update the computer’s BIOS

If none of these work, then you’re most likely dealing with a hardware problem caused by physical damage, water damage, debris, dust, junk, and a whole lot of other things that will take a toll on your keyboard over time.

Can a Virus Stop My Keyboard From Working?

Both yes and no. Some malware can prevent you from using your keyboard, but it doesn’t stop the keyboard from working per se.

The keyboard is, in a sense, still working but it isn’t working as intended because the drivers on the computer are infected, rendering the keyboard void.

But bear in mind that the same keyboard will most likely work if it’s connected to another computer, as the issue isn’t damaged malware.

So, while a virus can cause your keyboard to stop typing or typing random letters, the keyboard is still functioning and will go back to normal once the virus has been removed from the computer.

It’s good knowing this so you don’t go spending money on a new keyboard when you have a fully functioning keyboard at home. It’s important to be able to tell the difference between a hardware and a software problem but it can be hard at times.

I have troubleshot thousands of computers over the years and I still have a hard time telling the difference sometimes.

When the problem lays within the software, there’s no need to replace parts. It’s all about finding the problem and getting rid of it.