Some keyboard keys (not function keys) do not perform the desired action when pressed. For function keys, make sure the hotkey software is up to date. See Check Drivers or Function keys are not working.
To fix this issue, try the following troubleshooting methods. If the issue is resolved, no need to proceed to the next method.
Step 1 Test if On-Screen Keyboard is workable
- At the Windows sign-in screen, select Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in the lower-right corner.
- Select On-Screen Keyboard. If already signed in, open Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard on Windows 10, or Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard on Windows 11, and turn on the On-Screen Keyboard.
- By using your mouse cursor, click and check that all keys are working fine with the On-screen keyboard. Also check the keys that are not working with the physical keyboard.
Step 2 – Check keyboard accessibility settings
- Search for and select Control Panel.
- Select Ease of Access\Ease of Access Center\Make the keyboard easier to use.
- Check Filter Keys if brief or repeated keystrokes are being ignored, and Sticky Keys if key combinations behave unexpectedly. If a setting was enabled unintentionally and you do not rely on it, turn off only that setting temporarily, apply the change, and retest. Keep accessibility features you need enabled; restore the original setting if the test does not help.
Step 3 – Test keys with Notepad
- Search for and select Notepad.
- Try typing the keys and see if they work or are displayed in Notepad. If the failed keys work, this may be a software issue. Test the failed keys with different software installed on the PC. If the keys fail with a specific software application, refer to the vendor’s software instructions and reset the settings.
Step 4 – Check Drivers
Reinstall the keyboard driver.
Step 5 – Disable gaming mode
If gaming mode is enabled, try disabling gaming mode.
Step 6 – Try Keyboard Troubleshooting
The steps below are for Windows 10. On older Windows 11 installations, check Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters and run Keyboard only if it is listed. Microsoft is retiring the legacy Keyboard troubleshooter, so it may be unavailable on newer Windows 11 releases; if it is missing, skip this step. See Microsoft’s troubleshooter retirement notice.
- Right-click the Windows icon.
- Select Settings.
- Select Update & Security.
- Select Troubleshoot, then Additional troubleshooters if shown. If Keyboard is listed, select it and run the troubleshooter.
Step 7 – Check if the key works under Command Prompt
- Enter Command Prompt.
- Search for Command Prompt and open it normally. Administrator access is not needed for this typing test.
- In the Command Prompt window, test the affected character keys without pressing Enter, then close the window.
- If the failed keys work here, the issue may be application-specific, but this test alone does not rule out an intermittent hardware problem. Test the failed keys with different software installed on the PC. If the keys fail with a specific software application, refer to the vendor’s software instructions and reset the settings.
- If the failed keys do not work, the issue may be with the PC hardware.
See more https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht103985