Your keyboard looks dead when the system hides the software keyboard, ignores certain keystrokes, loses Bluetooth pairing, or blocks input through an accessibility setting. Start by getting a working keyboard on screen so you can enter passwords, search settings, and finish the repair. Then fix the setting, connection, driver, or keyboard app that stopped typing.
Get an on-screen keyboard working first
Open the built-in software keyboard for your device before changing anything else.
On Windows, open Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard > On.
For the Windows touch keyboard icon, open Start > Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > System tray icons > Touch keyboard > Always, then select the touch keyboard icon on the taskbar.
On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit > Show Input menu in menu bar, then open the Input menu and choose Show Keyboard Viewer.
On iPhone or iPad, disconnect or turn off the Bluetooth keyboard, or detach the iPad keyboard accessory, then tap a text field; on iPad with a hardware keyboard connected, tap the keyboard-controls button on the shortcut bar and choose Show Keyboard.
On Chromebook, select the time > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and text input > On-screen keyboard > On, then select the keyboard icon in the shelf.
On Android, open Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard, then turn on Gboard or the keyboard you want to use.
Switch off Windows settings that stop typing
Filter keys makes Windows ignore brief or repeated keystrokes. Open Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Filter keys > Off. When the shortcut is enabled, hold the right Shift key for 8 seconds and confirm the Filter Keys prompt.
Sticky keys changes how shortcuts behave, which makes normal typing feel wrong. Go to Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Sticky keys > Off.
Toggle keys adds lock-key sounds that confuse Caps Lock and Num Lock testing. Set Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Toggle keys > Off. If the numeric keypad does not type numbers, press Num Lock; on some laptops, press Fn + Num Lock.
Reconnect a Bluetooth keyboard cleanly
This fixes a keyboard that powers on but stops typing because Bluetooth or a wireless receiver connection is stale.
Turn the keyboard on and put it in pairing mode.
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth, select the keyboard, then choose Done.
For a Windows keyboard that already appears paired, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices, select More options for the keyboard, choose Remove device, then pair it again.
On Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, select the keyboard, and choose Connect.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, put the keyboard in pairing mode, then select it under Other Devices or My Devices.
For a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard, move the power switch to On, press and hold an Easy-Switch key until its light blinks, then pair from the device's Bluetooth settings.
For a Logitech keyboard with a USB receiver, plug the receiver directly into a USB port, turn the keyboard on, replace or charge the batteries, then pair it with the supported Logitech app for that receiver family.
Repair phone and tablet keyboard apps
Fix the active keyboard app, then reset only the keyboard that is failing.
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, then choose the keyboard to add or re-enable.
To remove a problematic iPhone or iPad third-party keyboard, open Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards > Edit, delete the keyboard, or delete its app from the Home Screen or App Library.
For Gboard on Android, open Settings > Apps > Gboard > Storage & cache > Clear cache; use Clear storage only when you are ready to set up Gboard again.
To update or reinstall Gboard, open Google Play Store, search for Gboard, then choose Update or Uninstall and reinstall it from the official Gboard page.
On Samsung Galaxy, open Settings > General management > Keyboard list and default > Default keyboard > Samsung Keyboard, and turn Samsung Keyboard on in Keyboard list and default.
For Samsung Keyboard that still fails, open Settings > General management > Samsung Keyboard settings > Reset to default settings > Reset keyboard settings > Reset; for app-level repair, use Settings > Apps > sort icon > Show system apps > OK > Samsung Keyboard > Force stop, then Storage > Clear cache, and check for updates through Galaxy Store or Settings > Software update.
Fix Mac keys that need a long press
Slow Keys makes a Mac accept a key only after you hold it down longer than normal. Turn it off at Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > Slow Keys > Off.
Mouse Keys creates a different symptom: letter keys type numbers or move the pointer. Disable it at Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Alternate Control Methods > Mouse Keys > Off.
If those Mac settings do not restore typing, turn on Keyboard Viewer from Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Text Input > Edit > Show Input menu in menu bar, or enable Dictation at Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation > On, then place the insertion point in a text field and use the Dictation shortcut shown in settings.
Recover Chromebook typing without deleting data
ChromeOS gives you an on-screen keyboard from the shelf. Select the time > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and text input > On-screen keyboard > On, then select the keyboard icon in the shelf.
Accessibility keyboard options also change how the keyboard responds. Select the time > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and text input, then turn off Sticky keys, Highlight item with keyboard focus, or another enabled keyboard feature that is interfering.
A built-in Chromebook keyboard that still will not type needs a hardware reset next. Turn off the Chromebook, press and hold Refresh, tap Power, then release Refresh when the Chromebook starts. Tablets and some models use different reset button combinations.
Guest mode separates a device problem from account settings. Sign out, select Browse as Guest, and test the keyboard there; a working keyboard in guest mode points back to the original profile's keyboard and accessibility settings. Use Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r > Restart > Powerwash > Continue only after the simpler fixes fail, because Powerwash erases local data.
Let Windows reinstall the keyboard driver
Open Get Help and search for keyboard not working to reach current Microsoft support content. Windows retired the standalone Keyboard troubleshooter, so repair the driver in Device Manager next.
Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
Expand Keyboards, right-click the keyboard, and choose Uninstall device.
Restart the PC so Windows reinstalls the keyboard driver.
Open Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, install available updates, and restart when Windows requests it.
For Device Manager error Code 29, restart the PC, open the device maker's BIOS/UEFI setup screen, enable the keyboard or internal input device setting, save, and restart.
Keep the Windows On-Screen Keyboard open during driver work so you can keep entering settings searches and passwords.
Check power switches batteries and connectors
A wireless keyboard has its own power state, separate from the computer. On Apple wireless keyboards and Magic Keyboard, move the keyboard's power switch to On; on older battery-powered Apple Wireless Keyboard models, replace the batteries when the indicator light does not turn on.
An iPad Magic Keyboard, Magic Keyboard Folio, Smart Keyboard, or Smart Keyboard Folio depends on the Smart Connector. Attach the iPad to the keyboard, check that it is seated correctly, remove covers or debris from the connector, and reconnect.
If the power or connector check fails, use the device's on-screen keyboard, then repeat the Bluetooth pairing steps or the Windows driver repair path for the hardware keyboard.
Ignore old Windows keyboard advice
The most common cause of confusing Windows keyboard advice is Windows 10 Tablet mode, which older tutorials used to recommend for showing the touch keyboard automatically.
On Windows 11, use Start > Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > System tray icons > Touch keyboard > Always instead.
Treat Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center as older Microsoft-branded keyboard support, then use current Windows routes: Get Help, Device Manager, and Windows Update.
For a school or work device, keyboard behavior can be managed by an administrator. Ask IT to check device policy instead of changing managed keyboard controls yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to type when my laptop keyboard will not type?
Use the built-in on-screen keyboard first. Windows has On-screen keyboard in Accessibility settings, Mac has Keyboard Viewer, and Chromebook has an on-screen keyboard in Accessibility settings.
Why does my iPad onscreen keyboard disappear when a hardware keyboard is attached?
A connected hardware keyboard can keep the onscreen keyboard hidden. Disconnect or turn off the keyboard, detach the keyboard accessory, or tap the keyboard-controls button on the shortcut bar and choose Show Keyboard.
Can I dictate instead of typing while I troubleshoot?
Yes. Use Windows key + H in a text field on Windows, turn on Dictation in Mac Keyboard settings, enable Dictation on iPhone or iPad, or tap the microphone key in Gboard.
Should I Powerwash a Chromebook for keyboard problems?
Powerwash is a last resort. Try the on-screen keyboard, accessibility settings, hardware reset, and guest mode first because Powerwash erases local data.
