Cant use the space bar while holding ctrl (no powertoys and can do it before normally)

Question

I was able to input a "space" character before while holding the CRTL button without issues, I never installed or changed anything, and now it seems to not work anymore, I have to let go of the CTRL button first before a space character can be entered.

No powertoys

Did a hard reset, did use build in keyboard (laptop), 2 external keyboards, safe mode, other profile, still not working like before.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hello Keith Pickrell,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A.

I understand your situation. If you’re unable to input a space character while holding down the Ctrl key—and the key itself is functioning properly—it’s very likely due to a keyboard shortcut conflict, such as the one used for switching input methods. This behavior is commonly associated with input method toggle shortcuts.

Go to:

Settings → Time & Language → Typing → Advanced keyboard settings → Input language hot keys → Advanced Key Settings

Carefully check for and modify or disable any options that assign Ctrl + Space as a shortcut key. This is one of the most common causes of this issue.

Be sure to thoroughly check both Windows’ built-in settings and any third-party input methods you’ve installed for “Advanced keyboard settings” or “Input language hot keys” sections. Look specifically for settings that use Ctrl + Space and either disable or reassign them.

 

Best wishes

Ami | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist

I was able to input a "space" character before while holding the CRTL button without issues, I never installed or changed anything, and now it seems to not work anymore, I have to let go of the CTR...

Answer 2

Hi Keith Pickrell,

If that’s the case, you might consider using a hotkey detection tool such as Hotkey Screener. This tool enumerates all system-wide hotkeys registered through the RegisterHotKey API. For each hotkey, you can click “Detect Application” to see which application is responding to it. This can help you identify the source of the issue more directly.

Please note that I do not specifically endorse any third-party software; I’m simply providing suggestions that may suit your needs. Of course, there are other tools available as well, and you are encouraged to search for alternatives using your preferred search engine.

Best Regards

Ian | Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist