Most laptops these days come with a keyboard lock feature that can be enabled or disabled by a combination of keys. This feature is required to prevent accidental keypresses while performing certain functions. Many things can lock up your Dell laptop keyboard, from switching the device to tablet mode, driver issues, or third-party keyboard software.
To fix this, press the required key combination to disable the lock or switch the device to laptop mode. If changing these settings doesn’t work, you can do the following fixes to make your Dell laptop keyboard responsive again.
1.Restart Your Laptop:
An easy quick fix to fix your keyboard not working problem is to restart your laptop. Some users find that restarting actually makes their keyboard work again all at once. So try restarting your laptop first. If your keyboard still isn’t working, don’t panic, try the other solutions listed below.
2.Run Dell Support Assist:
Another simple solution is to run the Dell Support Assist application. This software can diagnose any hardware or software related issue on your Dell laptop. By running it, you can check and fix any issues related to the keyboard.
- Open the Dell Support Assist application
- Click on the Troubleshooting tab
- Select “I want to check a specific piece of hardware”.
- Scroll down and select Keyboard from the list
- In the new window, perform the tasks as displayed on the screen
- If you find a problem, you can try and fix it manually or contact Dell for further assistance
3. Load BIOS Defaults:
Another way to restore keyboard function is to load the BIOS to the default configuration. Sometimes due to BIOS settings, the keyboard may not work or stop working completely.
- Restart your device and press the BIOS key repeatedly
- From the BIOS menu, search for labels such as ‘Load Optimized Defaults’, ‘Reset Settings’ or ‘Load Defaults’.
- Confirm the selection by pressing the appropriate key and exit BIOS
- Boot your device normally and check if the keyboard is working
4. Check your keyboard connection:
If you are using a wired keyboard, make sure the plug is properly seated in the USB port and that the end connecting to the keyboard is intact and undamaged. The best way to do this is to completely disconnect the keyboard and then reconnect it.
If you are using a wireless keyboard, the USB dongle to which the keyboard connects must also be properly seated in the USB port. Try disconnecting it completely and then re-pairing the keyboard to the computer to get a clean, fresh start.
5.Use Virtual Keyboard:
An on-screen keyboard is an excellent choice if you’re looking for something that’s easy to use and doesn’t require additional software. This is the fastest way to unlock your Dell laptop keyboard as it can be accessed from your desktop without opening any programs.
To access the on-screen keyboard:
- Click on the Windows Start button in the lower left corner of your screen.
- Click on “Control Panel”, this will open a window with all your system settings and preferences.
- Click on “Ease of Access” to open another window with several different options, but we’re only interested in one right now: “Make Windows easier to use.”
- You should see an option called “On-Screen Keyboard” in this menu; Click on it to bring up the virtual keyboard!
6. Update your Dell laptop keyboard driver:
If Windows does not automatically load the keyboard driver for your laptop, you can update the keyboard driver in these alternative ways: manually or automatically.
- Manual Driver Update : You can manually update your keyboard driver by going to the official Dell website and searching for the latest correct driver for your keyboard. Make sure to select only drivers that are compatible with your variant of Windows version.
- Automatic Driver Update : If you don’t have the time, patience, or computer skills to update your keyboard driver manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy instead. Driver Easy automatically detects your system and finds the correct driver for your exact keyboard and variant of your Windows version, and it downloads and installs them correctly:
- Download and install Driver Easy.
- Run Driver Easy and click Scan Now button. Driver Easy scans your computer and detects any problem drivers.
- Click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all missing or expired drivers on your system. (This requires the Pro version, which comes with full support and a 30-day money back guarantee. You’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All.)
- Restart your laptop to let the new driver take effect and try pressing any key on your keyboard to see if your keyboard works.
7. Replace the Keyboard:
If your Dell keyboard is locked, there are a few things you can try. But if none of them work, it’s time to replace the keyboard. We’ll show you how to do this and prevent it from happening again in the future. Let’s start by looking at what causes Dell keyboards to lock up and how we can avoid this problem in the future:
- Debris building up under or around your laptop’s keys can cause key repeat errors, making them appear stuck. For example, dirt inside a particular key may cause the other keys in that row as well as the particular key to stop working.
- keyboard corrosion due to corrosion caused by spilled liquid or moisture changes.
- Keyboard failure due to heat damage – Heat build-up inside your laptop can cause some of its internal components to fail, warp or warp.
Conclusion:
If you found this article helpful, your friends may have the same problem. Please share with them on social media. Additionally, if you have any questions or don’t fully understand some of the tips in this guide, leave a comment below.