1. Check if Keyboard Hardware is Working

Let’s begin with minor and common issues. The first thing you should do is a hardware check. Try to plug the keyboard into another USB port if any of the keys are not working. If you are facing an issue with only some specific keys, try using another keyboard with your PC to verify. If other keyboards are working properly, then the issue is with your keyboard itself. Similarly, you can also try using your keyboard with other PCs. If shortcuts are working fine on the other PC, then the issue may be with your PC’s software. This will help you understand if the problem is with your keyboard or with the software. If the issue is with the hardware, make sure to clean the keyboard. There can be specks of dirt or debris accumulated under the keyboard keys. If cleaning isn’t helping you, then you have to replace the keyboard. You can also check out these tips to use your PC with a broken keyboard.

2. Restart the PC

If the issue is with the software, before tweaking the Windows settings, try restarting your PC first. Often, a simple restart can iron out many issues like keyboard shortcuts not working on Windows PC by clearing the bugs present in the memory on your computer. To restart, click on the Windows icon in the bottom bar > Power icon and then select the Restart option.

3. Troubleshoot the Keyboard

Windows comes preinstalled with troubleshooting tools that can find and fix common errors. Running the keyboard troubleshooter may fix keyboard shortcuts not working on Windows.

  1. On Windows 11, Open the Settings app > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Whereas on Windows 10, open the Settings app > Update and security > Additional troubleshooters.
  2. Here, click on the Run button beside the Keyboard option to run the Keyboard Troubleshooter.
  3. This process can run up to 5 minutes.

4. Update/Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

For the most part, troubleshooting the keyboard should fix the problems. But if it does not, try updating the keyboard drivers. Drivers are a piece of software that connects hardware to the OS. Updating keyboard drivers to the latest version will ensure there are no bugs in the connection.

  1. Right-click on the Windows icon and then select the Device Manager option.
  2. In the Device Manager window, select the Keyboards option to open the drop-down.
  3. Here you should find all the attached keyboards. Right-click on the keyboard where shortcuts are not working and then select the Update driver option.
  4. In the pop-up window, select Search automatically for drivers.
  5. If there is an available driver update, your PC will automatically install it. If updating the driver isn’t solving the issue, you can try reinstalling the driver.
  6. To do that, just right-click on the keyboard and then select Uninstall driver option.
  7. In the pop-up, click on Uninstall button to confirm.
  8. Finally, restart your PC for Windows to install the available driver again.

5. Update to the Latest Windows Version

Windows updates also include driver updates. So updating Windows to the latest version will also update the keyboard drivers and can also fix many other bugs.

  1. To update to the latest version of Windows 11, open the Settings app > Windows update. On Windows 10, open the Settings app > Updates and security > Windows updates.
  2. Then click on Check for updates. If there are any updates available, click on Download & install all option. Are keyboard shortcuts now working on your Windows 10/11 computer? If not, maybe you have a keyboard with a gaming mode?

6. Disable Special Keyboard Modes

Some keyboards come with special modes such as gaming. These modes disable some keyboard shortcuts to prevent you from pressing the wrong buttons accidentally while gaming. If you own a gaming keyboard, for instance, try disabling them in order to use your Keyboard shortcuts properly.

7. Turn Off Sticky Keys

Sticky keys are a Windows feature that changes the behavior of Windows shortcuts. For example, instead of pressing Windows Key + I to open Settings, you need to press the Windows key and then press the I key (one at a time instead of together) to open Settings. This can be helpful for people who have issues using keyboard shortcuts on Windows. Anyhow, if this setting is turned on, it will disable the default Windows shortcuts behavior.

  1. To disable it on Windows 11, open the Settings app > Accessibility > Keyboard. On Windows 10, open the Settings app > Ease of Access and then select Keyboard.
  2. In the Keyboard settings, make sure the toggle beside the Sticky Keys is turned off.

8. Reset Keyboard Settings

If none of the above options worked, try resetting the Keyboard Settings. On Windows, there is no special option that can reset the keyboard settings. But if you change the language and then change it back to your preferred language, it will reset all keyboard settings including your layout, themes, text correction, autosuggestion, etc.

  1. Open the Settings app > Time and language > Language and region. Under the Preferred Languages section, you will see a list of installed language packs.
  2. Click on the meatballs menu beside the language name and then select the Remove option.
  3. You cannot remove the primary language directly. To remove it, click on Add a language button and add any language.
  4. Now drag that added language to the top making it a primary language.
  5. Now click on the meatballs menu beside your preferred language and then select Remove to remove it. This will remove all the keyboard settings.
  6. Once done, click on Add a language button and add your preferred languages back.
  7. Drag your preferred language to the top making it primary again. Now you can remove the added language by clicking on the Meatballs icon beside it and then selecting the Remove option.

9. Disable NoWinKeys from Registry Editor

Registry Editor is a graphical tool that helps users to configure system files and settings. On Registry Editor, there is an option to toggle off Windows keyboard shortcuts. If other shortcuts are working fine, but you have an issue with only shortcuts that include the Windows key, then Registry Editor might be the culprit. Making any changes in the registry editor can damage your device beyond repair. So make sure to take a backup before making any changes.

  1. Click on the Windows icon and search for the Registry Editor app and open it. In the pop-up, click on Yes to make changes in the Registry Editor.
  2. Now paste this path into the address bar above. Note: If you are not able to find the Explorer option, then you can consider NoWinKeys is set to default. This means that the shortcuts issue is not with the Registry Editor.
  3. Now in the right pane, right-click on the NoWinKeys option and select Modify.
  4. Make sure the value is set to 0 and click on OK.

10. Turn on Shortcuts from Group Policy Editor

Group policy is a graphical tool similar to the Registry editor. Unlike on the Registry editor where you can disable the Windows key shortcuts, with Group Policy, you can disable all shortcuts. However,

  1. Open Command Prompt and enter gpedit.msc and press Enter. Note: Group Policy Editor is not available on the Windows Home edition. If you do not have Group Policy Editor, you can skip this step considering all the settings in Group Policy are set to default.
  2. Now on the Group Policy Editor, navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
  3. Now in the right pane, double-click on Turn off Windows keys hotkeys.
  4. In the pop-up window, select the Disabled option and then click on OK and then Apply.

11. Run DISM

Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool fixes any defects in the Windows image. Running it on your PC can change a few settings like Registry Editor settings to their default settings.

  1. Open the Command Prompt in administrator mode.
  2. Then in the Command Prompt, enter the following command and press Enter.
  3. The process may take 2 – 5 minutes. Once the above command scans the Windows image health, enter the following command and then press Enter.
  4. Within a few minutes, the tool will fix any defects in the Windows image.

12. Run System File Checker

Similar to DISM, System File Check (SFC) tool can scan for any corrupted system files and replace them with their original state.

  1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. Then type the following command and press Enter.
  3. Once the tool does its work, check if the problem is solved.

13. Restart Human Interface Device Service

Human Interface Device (HID) Services are just services that control human interface devices such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, etc.

  1. Click on the Windows icon, search for the Services app, and open it.
  2. In the Services app, scroll down and right-click on the Human Interface Device Services option.
  3. In the pop-up menu, click on the Start option. If the service is already in the start, click on Restart.
  4. Now double-click on the Human Interface Device Services option. In the pop-up window, click on the drop-down beside the Startup type and change it from Manual to Automatic, To save, click on OK and then Apply.

14. Check Third-Party Apps

On Windows, third-party apps can change system features such as keyboard shortcuts. You might have installed an app that disabled or remapped the Windows keyboard shortcuts. There are also apps like Power Toys, that can even remap keyboard keys on your Windows PC. Check for apps that you might have installed on your PC. You can disable any setting in those apps that are causing the issue or you can clean and uninstall those apps.

Fix Keyboard Shortcuts on Windows

We have covered troubleshooting the keyboard to enabling shortcuts from Group Policy Editor. If any of the above-mentioned ways failed to fix keyboard shortcuts not working on Windows error, try resetting the device in order to get back to the default state. If you have any backup of your Windows PC when it is working fine, then you can also system restore to that working version.