Some of my keyboard keys isn't working on Windows 11

Hello, Darren. H.

Welcome to the Microsoft Community.

Hello, thank you for your feedback on your issue here, it seems that you are experiencing an anomaly with your keyboard connection.

First of all, thank you for sharing the details, it seems like you've already performed some steps to fix it, I still have some suggestions to offer here to troubleshoot whether it's a hardware or software issue:

1. Run the on-screen keyboard: press Windows + R, type osk, and press enter. This will open the on-screen keyboard. Check that the keys work here.
2. Update the keyboard driver:

Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it).

Expand the Keyboard section.

Right-click on all keyboard drivers and select Update Drivers.

3. Uninstall and reinstall the keyboard drivers:

In Device Manager, right-click “HID Keyboard Device” and “Standard PS/2 Keyboard” and select Uninstall Device.

Restart your computer and Windows should automatically reinstall the drivers.

4. Run the keyboard troubleshooting program:

Go to Settings > System > Troubleshooting > Other Troubleshooters.

If you don't see the keyboard option, try running the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter by pressing Windows + R and typing msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic.

You can share some of the results here for me to view for you.

5. Check the filter keys:

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.

Make sure that Filter Keys is turned off.

6. Registry Edit (Advanced):

Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\i8042prt.

Locate the Start item, right-click, select Modify, and set the value to 1.

Restart your computer.

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems, however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article.

If none of these steps work, trying to use another keyboard can help determine if the problem is with the keyboard itself or the system.

You can try it out by referring to the steps above, and after that, give some feedback and I will further support you. Also provide a bit of information about your computer's configuration here.

Best regards

Bobhe | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Ok, I have the same problem on couple of keyboards, and noticed that it's probably windows "locking" up the keyboards.

1st: none of the steps above worked!

2nd: it only locks the keyboard from time to time (maybe specific key presses, windows specific routine or when booting, idk)

3rd: value in the REGEDIT option was set to '3' by the system by default

4th: in 1 of the affected keyboards i managed to get it "unlocked" by performing a factory reset (combination of key presses BEFORE plugging keyboard to usb and keep pressing, if keyboard is connected and then you press the keys, IT WILL NOT WORK) which is kinda bad since i can't do a factory reset on the other keyboard and it is indeed still "locked".

PS: noticed that some media keys sometimes work like volume knob, but not even NUM LOCK key works in this "locked" state

PSS: noticed that Microsoft Agent-san stopped answering, would be great to hear something from him or someone else from MS trying to fix it instead of relying on people trading info and killing the thread for lack of activity... It's your software guys... Please fix?!

edited for clarification

This started for me very slowly too. At first it was super sporadic & all over the place. THEN more keys started to be affected. It would still be sporadic but now it seems permanent. I haven't been able to use the c button in months.

The one that pains me the most is the c button not working. I'm a graphic designer & it makes working on the road annoying because I can't copy & paste easily.

Now the 1, 2, 3 button have stopped working on the number pad along with the period/delete button.

I have spent HOURS following peoples step by step tutorials and have had no change at all.

Based on what I've found - there are MANY people dealing with this, not just a few of us. Hopefully Microsoft will address it.

Hello Bob,

I followed of the steps, but some keys would not still work.

Some of my keys are not working