my laptop keyboard has stopped working

Open Device Manager:

Press Windows + X

Open Device Manager

Expand:

Keyboards

Human Interface Devices

If you see:

Yellow warning sign → Right click → Uninstall → Restart

Disabled device → Right click → Enable

If required:

Right-click every keyboard device → Uninstall device

Then restart.

Windows will reinstall automatically.

Go to Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard

Make sure these are OFF:

Filter Keys

Sticky Keys

Toggle Keys

Restart after changing.

Shut down completely

Hold Power button for 20 seconds

Release

Wait 10 seconds

Turn back on

Shut down

Hold Power + Volume Up for 15 seconds

Release

Wait 10 seconds

Boot normally

Shut down

Hold Volume Up

Press Power

Keep holding Volume Up until UEFI screen appears

Try typing there.

If keyboard works in UEFI:

Windows driver issue

If keyboard does NOT work in UEFI:

Hardware / Type Cover failure

If your laptop keyboard has stopped working after trying to install a Bluetooth keyboard, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take:

1. Check for Debris: Sometimes, debris under the keys can cause issues. Use compressed air to blow under the affected keys and wipe them with a slightly damp microfiber cloth.
2. External Keyboard Test: If you have an external keyboard, try connecting it to see if it works. If the external keyboard works fine, the issue may be with the laptop's hardware. If it has the same issues, it could be a software or driver problem.
3. Safe Mode: Boot your laptop in Safe Mode. If the keyboard works fine in Safe Mode, a third-party application may be interfering with its functionality.
4. Driver Update: Ensure that your keyboard drivers are up to date. You can check this in the Device Manager.
5. Fast Startup: If you are using Windows 10 or 11, turning off Fast Startup in the Control Panel may resolve the issue, as some users have reported that it fixed similar problems.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to consider further troubleshooting or contacting support for assistance.

References:

• Why won't my keyboard work when I power up my laptop? - Microsoft Q&A
• keypad issue - Microsoft Q&A

Hi LucyS,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A forum. I know how disruptive it is when the keyboard suddenly stops working and you’re stuck relying on the on‑screen keyboard or voice input.

This behavior may be caused by the keyboard controller or firmware getting stuck after a Bluetooth or input‑device change. Let’s take this one step at a time to troubleshoot further:

First, we’ll try a full Surface reset. This is different from a normal restart and is designed to reset the Surface’s internal hardware controller. Please shut the Surface down completely. Once it’s off, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Up (+) button at the same time. Keep holding both for about 15 seconds, even if the Surface logo appears. Then release the buttons, wait around 10 seconds, and power the device back on normally. Once it starts up, please check whether the built‑in keyboard responds before reconnecting any Bluetooth keyboards.

Next, we’ll check whether the keyboard works outside of Windows. This helps us confirm whether the issue is software‑related or hardware‑related. Shut the Surface down again. Then press and hold Volume Up (+), press and release Power, and keep holding Volume Up until the Surface UEFI screen appears. On that screen, try using the keyboard (for example, the arrow keys). If the keyboard works here, that’s a good sign — it means the hardware itself is fine and we can focus on software fixes. If it doesn’t work even in this screen, I’ll help you with the next steps for service or repair.

If the keyboard works in UEFI, we’ll refresh the keyboard drivers in Windows. Once you’re back in Windows, open Device Manager, expand Keyboards, and uninstall any entries listed as HID Keyboard Device. After restarting the Surface, Windows will automatically reinstall the correct drivers for the built‑in keyboard.

*Note: On Windows on ARM Surface devices (including Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 9 with 5G, Surface Pro 11th Edition, Surface Laptop 7th Edition, Surface Laptop 13‑inch 1st Edition, and Surface Pro 12‑inch), uninstalling built‑in input drivers may require a full system reset using Surface recovery media to restore functionality.

We’ll also clear any Bluetooth conflicts. Since this started while setting up a Bluetooth keyboard, I recommend temporarily removing that device. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, remove the Bluetooth keyboard, turn Bluetooth off, and restart the Surface. Test the built‑in keyboard first before pairing anything again.

Finally, we can run the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit. This is Microsoft’s official tool for Surface devices and checks firmware, drivers, and input components together. You can install it from the Microsoft Store and run it with the keyboard/input checks selected.

If at any point something doesn’t behave as described, or the keyboard still isn’t responding, please let me know exactly where things stop working. I’m here to help and we’ll take the right next step based on what we see.

Thanks for your patience.

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