Laptop keyboard not working but external one does
Aug 02, 2025 am 11:39 AMCheck for physical or software locks like Fn key combinations or BIOS settings disabling the internal keyboard. 2. Restart the laptop without the external keyboard to rule out temporary glitches. 3. Update or reinstall keyboard drivers via Device Manager or download latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website. 4. Test the internal keyboard in Safe Mode to determine if third-party software is causing the issue. 5. Inspect for hardware problems such as debris, loose ribbon cables, or a failed keyboard module, which may require professional repair. 6. Boot from a live OS like Ubuntu; if the keyboard still doesn’t work, the issue is likely hardware-related. The problem is typically either a simple fix involving drivers or a function key, or a hardware failure requiring repair, not a systemic operating system issue.
If your laptop keyboard isn’t working but an external one works fine, the issue is likely isolated to the built-in keyboard — not the operating system or core hardware. Here’s how to troubleshoot and potentially fix it.

1. Check for Physical or Software Locks
Sometimes the built-in keyboard gets disabled accidentally.
-
Look for a function key (Fn) lock: Some laptops have a key combination like
Fn F8
,Fn F10
, orFn Esc
that toggles the internal keyboard on/off. Try pressing it. -
Check if the keyboard is disabled in BIOS/UEFI: Restart your laptop and enter BIOS (usually by pressing
F2
,Del
, orEsc
during boot). Look for a setting like "Internal Keyboard" or "Keyboard Enable" and make sure it’s turned on.
2. Restart and Check for Temporary Glitches
A simple reboot can resolve driver or system hiccups.

- Restart the laptop with the external keyboard disconnected.
- After reboot, check if the internal keyboard works.
- If it still doesn’t work, reconnect the external keyboard to continue troubleshooting.
3. Update or Reinstall Keyboard Drivers
Driver issues are a common cause.
On Windows:

- Press
Win X
and select Device Manager. - Expand Keyboards.
- Right-click on your internal keyboard (often labeled as "Standard PS/2 Keyboard" or similar).
- Choose Uninstall device → Confirm.
- Restart your laptop — Windows will reinstall the driver automatically.
- Test the internal keyboard.
Also, check for updates:
- In Device Manager, right-click the keyboard → Update driver → Search automatically.
- Or go to your laptop manufacturer’s website (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo) and download the latest keyboard or chipset drivers.
4. Test in Safe Mode
This helps determine if third-party software is interfering.
- Boot into Safe Mode (hold
Shift
while clicking Restart, or use System Configuration). - Once in Safe Mode, unplug the external keyboard and test the built-in one.
- If it works in Safe Mode, a background app or driver might be disabling it.
5. Check for Hardware Issues
If software fixes don’t help, the problem may be physical.
- Spills or debris: If liquid was spilled or dust has built up, the keyboard may be damaged. Gently clean around the keys with compressed air.
-
Loose internal ribbon cable: Over time, the cable connecting the keyboard to the motherboard can come loose — especially if the laptop was recently opened or dropped.
- This requires opening the laptop (check your model’s guide) or taking it to a repair shop.
- Failed keyboard module: If the keyboard doesn’t respond at all and drivers aren’t the issue, the hardware may be dead.
6. Try a Live OS (Optional)
Boot from a Linux USB (like Ubuntu Live). If the internal keyboard doesn’t work there either, it’s almost certainly a hardware problem.
Bottom line:
If the external keyboard works, your OS is fine. Start with driver reinstall and function key checks. If those fail, suspect hardware — especially if the keyboard never responds, even at the BIOS screen. In that case, professional repair or replacement may be needed.
Basically, it's usually either a quick fix (driver or Fn lock) or a hardware issue — not a major system problem.
The above is the detailed content of Laptop keyboard not working but external one does. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

Hot AI Tools

Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free

Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Article

Hot Tools

Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor

SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use

Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment

Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools

SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)
![What should I do if I can't type on my keyboard? [Detailed introduction: Solutions to why my laptop can't type]](https://img.php.cn/upload/article/000/887/227/170722324652711.jpg?x-oss-process=image/resize,m_fill,h_207,w_330)
Laptops have entered every household. Basically, when you reach adulthood or go to college, you have a laptop. It has become a must-have. Laptops are often used because they are smaller, easier to carry, and more efficient than desktop computers. Laptops are electronic devices. As long as they are electronic devices, there will always be problems. We know that laptops have their own keyboards. Recently, some people using laptops claim that they cannot type on the laptop keyboard. So what should I do? Next, Chen Xiyao will share with users the solution to laptop keyboard failure. Reason 1: The keyboard can still be used, but text cannot be entered. Press and hold the combination of [Fn key] and [NumLk] to convert letters into numbers. This is the most commonly used method. 【Fn key】Normal position

What should I do if the keyboard cannot be used normally after the win7 computer is turned on? Some users have encountered a situation where the keyboard cannot be used after the computer is turned on normally. In the last use, the keyboard could be used normally. There are many reasons for encountering this situation, and we can use different methods to troubleshoot the problem. Many friends don’t know how to operate in detail. The editor below has sorted out the solutions to the problem that the keyboard cannot be used normally after the win7 computer is turned on. If you are interested, follow the editor to take a look below! Solution to the problem that the keyboard cannot be used normally after the win7 computer is started [Summary of keyboard failure problems] Solution to the problem that the keyboard cannot be used after win7 is started 1. Check whether the data connection cable of the computer keyboard is normal. 2. Check

Although the latest operating system is win10, many users still like to use win7. In the process of using the win7 system, you will always encounter some difficult problems. Recently, some users asked me what to do if the Win7 keyboard cannot be used, so today I will teach you how to solve the problem of the Win7 keyboard not working. Let us take a look below! Solutions to the problem that the win7 keyboard cannot be used: 1. If some of the numeric keys cannot be pressed, we can press the numlock key to solve the problem. 2. We can also open 360 Driver Master, detect the driver, and wait for the detection to be completed and repair it. 3. If the keyboard is damaged, then we can only solve the problem by replacing the keyboard! 4. If it still doesn’t work

Desktop computer keyboard cannot type, which key to press to recover. With the advancement of technology, computers have become one of the indispensable tools in our daily lives. Whether for work, study or entertainment, the keyboard is an important tool for us to communicate with the computer. However, sometimes we may encounter a situation where the keyboard does not work properly, which causes great troubles to our work and life. So, when our desktop computer keyboard cannot type, which key should we press to restore its normal operation? First, we need to confirm whether the keyboard is connected correctly. have

How to fix Win10 keyboard failure? The keyboard is a very important peripheral device for us. We usually use the keyboard when we use the computer. A malfunction of the keyboard means that you can no longer input anything into the computer. This brings inconvenience to us when using the computer. So when the computer What should I do if my keyboard is malfunctioning and I can't type anything? If not, the editor has compiled a tutorial on how to solve Win10 keyboard failure. Let’s take a look below! Tutorial on solving Win10 keyboard failure. Step 1: Press the shortcut key win+r to open the run window, enter powercfg.cpl and press Enter, as shown in the figure. Step 2: In the open power options window, click on the left to select the function of the power button. . Step 3: Enter the system settings window and click

What should I do if I cannot input text on the win7 system keyboard? When using the computer, I will encounter the problem of being unable to enter text. How to solve it? Generally, there may be a problem with the driver. Let’s take a look at the specific solutions. Solution to the problem of unable to input text on the win7 keyboard 1. If the keyboard cannot be typed, you must first eliminate peripheral problems and check whether the keyboard is damaged. First check whether there is any problem with the keyboard connection route. If it is a USB interface, change the interface and test it. . 2. If it is not caused by the above reasons, let’s check the driver installation problem. Either the hardware is incompatible or there is a problem with the system, so you can try updating the driver. Right-click the computer on the desktop and select Properties, as shown in the figure: 3. Then click on Computer Properties

The keyboard is one of the most important input devices when we use computers every day. However, sometimes we encounter keyboard failure and cannot type. When the keyboard fails to input, how do we recover? This article will introduce several common methods. First, we can check whether the keyboard connection is loose or disconnected. Sometimes the keyboard cable may become loose due to long-term use or accidental impact, causing the keyboard to not work properly. We can try re-plugging and unplugging the keyboard cable to make sure the connection is secure. Second, we can try restarting

The win10 system is a very excellent intelligent system. Basically, if there are any system problems that will affect the users, the intelligent win10 system will automatically repair and solve them. However, when the intelligent system also has problems that cannot be solved, there have been many problems recently. Friends have encountered the problem of being unable to type on the Win10 keyboard. Today, the editor has brought you a solution to the problem that the language bar is gone and cannot be typed in Win10. Let's take a look. Solution to why the win10 keyboard cannot type: Operation steps: 1. Open computer settings. 2. Search for "Control Panel". 3. Enter the control panel interface and find the "Clock, Language and Region" option. 4. Click "Language". 5. Enter the language interface. 6. Click "Settings" and check the
