My keyboard just stopped responding. It was working fine and then just wasn’t. It’s a wired USB keyboard. The lights still come on so it’s getting power, but Windows isn’t registering any keystrokes.
I only have one keyboard so troubleshooting this is challenging. Any help appreciated.
Lights on but no input usually means the device is getting power but the driver or USB connection isn’t completing. Try unplugging and replugging into a different port – sometimes that’s genuinely all it is. If you have a phone with USB you can use that to type in a pinch while you troubleshoot.
Keyboard getting power but not registering input is fixable without a second keyboard in most cases.
Use the on-screen keyboard. Click Start with your mouse > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > On-Screen Keyboard. Or search osk in the Start menu using your mouse. This lets you type while you troubleshoot.
Try a different USB port. Try every available port, especially the rear ports directly on the motherboard. Front panel ports can be unreliable or underpowered.
Right-click Start > Device Manager > expand Keyboards > right-click your keyboard > Uninstall device. Unplug, wait 10 seconds, plug back in. Windows reinstalls the driver automatically. If nothing shows under Keyboards, check Human Interface Devices.
Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus Controllers > right-click each USB Root Hub > Properties > Power Management > uncheck allow computer to turn off this device to save power.
Filter Keys can make the keyboard appear non-functional by requiring keys to be held longer. Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > make sure Filter Keys is off.
Restart and try entering BIOS (Del, F2, or F12 depending on your motherboard). If keystrokes work in BIOS but not in Windows, it’s a Windows issue. If they don’t work in BIOS either, it’s hardware.
The Filter Keys tip is underrated. That feature has caused this exact symptom and sent people down long troubleshooting rabbit holes when the fix was one toggle. Worth checking early in the process.
The BIOS test is a smart way to isolate hardware from software without needing any tools. If it works in BIOS, you know the keyboard is fine and you’re dealing with something Windows can fix.
On-screen keyboard as a first step rather than a last resort is good advice. People assume they’re completely stuck without a physical keyboard but the OSK is genuinely usable for troubleshooting. Mouse navigation plus OSK covers most of what you need.