If you’re having Wireless keyboard for your Windows PC, then luckily you can avoid coiling up with wires unlike the wired keyboards. The wireless keyboard not working issue happens on Windows and it may be broadly due to the software or hardware issues on the keyboard. Sometimes faulty keyboard configurations on your system might cause the problematic situation. Hardware issues such as keyboard battery drainage, stuck keys on the wireless keyboard, etc., could lead the wireless keyboard not to work. The four major factors affecting the wireless keyboard are listed below.
Windows “Fast Startup”:
The “Fast startup” feature may fail to load the resource files of the wireless keyboard while booting up the device. So, the wireless keyboard becomes less operative on your system.
Defective Programs & Applications :
Some apps on your computer might prevent the keystrokes from registering on your system, which causes the wireless keyboard not working.
Faulty Wireless Keyboard Driver/OEM Utility :
When you install the keyboard driver improperly, it leads to the wireless keyboard not working.
Old Firmware Version :
Whenever your wireless keyboard’s firmware is not compatible with your latest Windows OS, you can experience a slow down on the keyboard function.
Formerly you have seen the possible reasons for the wireless keyboard not working, now get along with the effective fixes as follows.
#1: Troubleshoot USB Ports
Firstly, check the ports on your Windows 10 laptop/PC when the wireless keyboard is not working. If you use the same USB port often to connect the keyboard’s wireless receiver, that particular port may have a problem. Use different USB ports to connect a wireless receiver and see if the wireless keyboard not working is fixed.
Note: Ensure to connect the wireless keyboard’s USB dongle straight to the computer’s USB port & try not to use the hub device for USB connection.
#2: Reset The Connection Between Wireless Receiver & Keyboard
Rectifying the connection error between the keyboard & Windows could fix the wireless keyboard not working. Establishing a new connection between the wireless keyboard & Windows may resolve the wireless keyboard malfunction. You can perform this technique by following the initial startup methods to connect the wireless keyboard to the system.
- Press & hold setup button on a wireless receiver and connect it to your PC
- For USB dongle with no buttons, connect directly to the system port
- Follow the on-screen guidance prompted on your Windows
- Find & locate the setup button on your keyboard (usually on the backside of your wireless keyboard)
- Tap this button & you can see the green light flashing on the wireless receiver or the dialogue box on your Windows
The green flash light denotes the connection sync between your Windows & wireless keyboard. But finding the wireless keyboard still unresponsive on Windows, try the above steps again to get better results.
#3: Replace The Old Batteries
While setting up the wireless keyboard on your system, check for the batteries on your keyboard. In case you’re using an old keyboard, replace the old batteries with fresh ones to restore the wireless keyboard not working. Here is how to change batteries
- Open the battery compartment (you can see it on the bottom of the keyboard)
- Remove the old batteries from the keyboard
- Put new batteries into the battery compartment and shut the lid
Now, turn on the wireless keyboard & see if the wireless keyboard not working is rectified. Additionally, clear all the interference that prevents the wireless keyboard from working on your Windows.
#4: Clear Interference
When you find the wireless keyboard keeps disconnecting frequently, it may be due to any hindrance on the path of connectivity. Some examples that obstruct the connectivity are radio, large metal things, electronic devices, tube lights, and so on. You should keep these obstacles away from the wireless keyboard to eliminate wireless keyboard not working. Find any obstacles nearer to the wireless keyboard and put them apart from the device. Also, ensure you’re not using a metallic pad for the mouse or keyboard.
#5: Launch Hardware Troubleshooter
You can use the default program on your Windows to troubleshoot a wireless keyboard not working issue. Run the hardware troubleshooter and wait to figure out the issues on Windows. Get along with the steps below to run the troubleshooter
- Tap the Windows + R simultaneously to open Run application
- In the command box, type: control.exe /name Microsoft.Troubleshooting
- Then hit the Enter key to open Troubleshooting options
- Click the Hardware and Sound tab
- Select the Hardware and Devices option
- Click Advanced in the next tab
- Then, put the Check mark on the box before the Apply repairs automatically
- Finally, click next to initiate Windows Troubleshoot
Your system might take several minutes to complete the Windows troubleshooting. Then, Windows will automatically rectify the issues screened at the end of troubleshooting. Meanwhile, make sure to configure the settings recommended by the troubleshooter.
#6: Restore The Stuck Keys – Wireless Keyboard
If any key on your wireless keyboard gets stuck and gives continuous input to the system, you can suffer the wireless keyboard not working. Restoring the stuck buttons on the keyboard is the only possible way to overcome this issue. Follow the steps below to perform this technique
- Mash all the keyboard buttons one by one to check for the stuck keys on your wireless keyboard
- After finding the stuck keys, lift the buttons using a pry tool or just by fingers to restore the stuck buttons
Then, examine if the wireless keyboard not working Windows has been restored. Or else, unplug the wireless receiver and re-plug it into the system using the following method.
#7: Unplug & Replug The USB Dongle
Any connectivity issue between the USB dongle & the keyboard may cause the wireless keyboard not working. So, remove the USB wireless receiver & re-plug it into another USB port to restore the problem. Make use of the following steps to do this method
- First, remove the USB dongle from the laptop
- Press “Windows” + “X” keys simultaneously to open quick options
- Tap the “Task Manager” option
- Select all the current processes (of a wireless keyboard)
- Then, “End” the processes
- Now, connect the USB dongle to the laptop(try to use another USB port)
Left-click on the Windows search tab & type anything on your keyboard to check if the wireless keyboard not working is rectified.
#8: Cold Restart Your PC
Simply restarting your device could wipe out all the technical glitches & connectivity errors. Also, a cold restart can drain out the residual current in the computer’s circuit and its peripherals. Make use of the following steps to restart your Windows
- Turn off your Windows PC
- Remove the PC’s power cable from the wall outlet
- Disconnect all the peripherals, such as a mouse, printer, wireless keyboard receiver, etc.
- Then, tap & hold the power button on your system for up to 30 seconds
- Pull out the batteries from the wireless keyboard
- Wait for 5 minutes
- Now, plug the wireless receiver alone into the system
- Connect the computer’s power cable to the wall socket
- Put the batteries back into the wireless keyboard
- Power on the Windows
- Enter the BIOS setup & check whether the wireless keyboard not working
If not, connect your wireless keyboard to another Windows laptop to test its functionality. If you’re still encountering the wireless keyboard not working, use the following methods in this article to sort it out.
#9: Turn Off Filter Keys Feature
This feature helps to prevent keystrokes or frequent key presses on your wireless keyboard. If you’ve accidentally turned on the Filter Keys feature on your Windows, it’s difficult to type normally on the keyboard. Disabling the “Filter Keys” on a Windows laptop will get you out of the wireless keyboard not working issue.
- Right-click on the “Windows” icon
- Go to “Settings”
- Click the Accessibility tab at the left panel of the settings tab
- Scroll down the right panel to click the Keyboard option under the Interaction tab
- In the next Window, tap once on the toggle bar next to Filter keys to turn it off(make sure it is in the off position)
- Click Filter Keys to explore more options
- Ensure that all the sub-options under the Filter keys tab are disabled
- Close the Windows Settings
Lastly, restart your Windows laptop to make this effect more effective on your system. While your Windows opens, see if the wireless keyboard not working is rectified.
#10: Re-establish The Wireless Keyboard To The Windows System
A module error on your laptop will not allow the internal hardware to work and might result in the wireless keyboard not working. Firstly, remove the wireless receiver from the laptop USB port & set it back again. Doing this can fix any technical error on the modules of a Windows laptop
- Right-click the “Windows” icon by using your mouse
- Head to the Windows “Settings”
- Click “Bluetooth and Devices” from the left panel of settings tab
- Then, tap “Devices” option on the right panel of Windows
- Now click on the name of your wireless keyboard
- Right-click on the “Remove Device” option
- Remove the wireless receiver(USB dongle)
- Wait for 15 seconds to re-plug the USB dongle on the Windows laptop
Now, you can re-establish the wireless keyboard on Windows. If not, turn off the “Fast Startup” feature which might be the reason for the wireless keyboard not working issue.
#11: Disable Windows “Fast Startup” Feature
When Windows boots up through the “Fast Startup” feature, your device fails to run the necessary files for the wireless keyboard to work. As a default feature, Windows always uses “Fast Startup” configurations while turning on the system. Unless you disable this feature on your Windows, it is not easy for you to solve the wireless keyboard problem. Execute the following steps to turn off the “Fast Startup” feature
- Use the mouse to left-click the “Windows” logo
- In the search tab, type: “Control Panel”
- Then, hit “Enter” button
- In the next tab, click on “System and Security” option
- Click “Power Options”
- Tap the “What the Power Buttons Do” option on the left panel of the Windows
- Left-click on \\Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable\\
- Then, unmark the box near the “Turn on fast startup (recommended)” option
- Select “Save Changes” option & close all tabs
- Turn off your Windows PC and remove the power cord from the wall socket
- Wait a minute to connect the system power cable
- Turn on the system and see whether the wireless keyboard not working is rectified
#12: Pursue A Clean Boot Of Windows And Uninstall – Faulty Programs & Applications
An anti-keylogger software on your Windows may hinder the input modules in your system, resulting in the wireless keyboard not working. Make use of
- Left-click on the “Windows” icon
- In the search tab, type: “System Configuration” & hit “Enter” button
- Select “Services” tab
- Tick the “Hide all Microsoft services” option
- Then click “Disable all” button
- Finally, tap the “OK” button (usually on the bottom of the System Configuration tab)
In order to find the defective application or program, enable each app that you’ve disabled during the clean boot process. When you find the wireless keyboard not working even after enabling the anti-keylogger app, it is known to be a defective app.
#13: Reinstall The Device Driver – Wireless Keyboard Not Working
Faulty device drivers on your system could cause the wireless keyboard not working. You can resolve the issue by reinstalling the driver of the wireless keyboard. Below are the quick steps on how to do the installation again
- Use mouse to right-click the “Windows” icon
- Go to “Device Manager”
- In the next tab, click the “>” icon before the “Keyboards” to expand it
- Then, right-click on your wireless keyboard & left-click the “Uninstall Device” option
- Click “Confirm” to uninstall driver
- Now, restart your PC
- Make sure the wireless keyboard not working is rectified
- If not, install the updated driver from the manufacturer’s website
- Again, restart your Windows to check if the wireless keyboard issue is rectified
After completing these steps, if you still find your wireless keyboard not working Windows laptop, try reinstalling the OEM utilities for fixing it. You can find more details below
#14: Reinstall – OEM Wireless Utility
A fault in the OEM wireless utility would be the reason for the wireless keyboard not working. Because it drives the input modules on your Windows to malfunction. So, uninstalling the wireless keyboard program & reinstalling it might fix the wireless keyboard not working issue. For instance, if you have Logitech software, the below steps can restore your wireless keyboard not working issue
- Remove the USB dongle(for the wireless keyboard) from the PC
- Close the prompt dialogue box of Logitech software
- Use mouse to right-click the “Windows” icon
- Then, go to “Apps & Features” option
- Select the “Logitech” software & click “Uninstall” button (usually on the top of the tab)
- Click “Confirm” in the reconfirmation tab & follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall it
- Restart your Windows & download the newer version of Logitech software
- Then right-click on “Windows” & type “Logitech” in the search tab
- Select “Run as administrator” option(on the Windows right panel)
- Follow the on-screen guidance to install the latest Logitech software
- Again, restart your system & head to the Logitech software
- Now, follow the instructions to pair your wireless keyboard to the software
- Ensure that the USB dongle is connected to the system(if the software asks for it)
Once you’ve completed the above steps, type anything on your keyboard & check whether the wireless keyboard not working is restored.
#15: Update Your Wireless Keyboard Firmware
When you’re using the outdated firmware version for a wireless keyboard, your Windows restricts the keyboard to function. This method is all about updating the wireless keyboard firmware to fix wireless keyboard not working Windows. For example, take “Unifying software” to get clear knowledge of this method
- Use mouse to right-click the “Logitech” software (Usually on the system’s tray)
- Click the “Keyboard and Mouse Settings”
- Then, tap the “asterisk” icon in the Logitech navigation bar to open “Unifying” software
- Go to “Advanced” in Unifying Software
- Click the “Keyboard” and select the “Update Firmware” option
- Tap the “Check for Updates” option when there is no update available currently
- Hold for a minute until the windows updates the available firmware
End Thoughts
These effective solutions may solve your wireless keyboard not working, and your keyboard could be more responsive by now. If none of the methods work, you can contact your brand support to repair the existing condition of your wireless keyboard. Firstly, they follow the troubleshooting methods already preceded in this article, then they go for other solutions to mend Wireless keyboard not working. If your product warranty is not void, you can avail of an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) & get a replacement for a faulty wireless keyboard. Some manufacturers provide a maximum warranty period of 3 years; upon warranty policy, you can contact them within 3 years to avail of replacement.