What to do when your keyboard stops responding

A locked keyboard usually means your computer has activated a feature that prevents keys from working—either intentionally or by accident. The most common cause is the Num Lock key, which disables the number pad on full-size keyboards. Other causes include accidentally pressing Caps Lock, enabling Sticky Keys, or triggering a keyboard lock through your operating system settings. The fix depends on which lock is active, and most take less than a minute to reverse.

Before you restart your computer or assume the keyboard is broken, work through these steps in order. Start with the simplest possibilities first, because the solution is usually a single key press or a quick settings change.

Key Takeaways

  • Num Lock is the most common cause of keyboard problems on Windows computers—press it once to toggle the number pad back on.
  • Caps Lock makes all letters uppercase and is straightforward to set up by accident; press it once to turn it off.
  • Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature that can lock your keyboard; turn it off in your operating system settings if you did not intentionally enable it.
  • On Mac computers, check System Settings under Accessibility to see whether Sticky Keys or Slow Keys is active.
  • If your keyboard still does not respond after trying these steps, restart your computer or try a different USB port.

Check Num Lock on Windows computers

The Num Lock key controls whether the number pad (the cluster of keys on the right side of a full-size keyboard) types numbers or performs navigation functions. When Num Lock is off, pressing those keys moves your cursor instead of typing. This is the single most common reason a keyboard appears to be locked.

Look at the Num Lock key—it is usually in the top-left corner of the number pad, and it may have a light next to it or built into the key itself. Press it once. If the light turns on, Num Lock was off and is now on; your number pad should work. If the light turns off, Num Lock was on and is now off; your number pad will no longer type numbers until you press it again.

If your keyboard has no Num Lock light, press the key once and try typing a number from the number pad. If numbers appear, Num Lock is now on. If they do not, press Num Lock again.

Turn off Caps Lock

The Caps Lock key makes every letter you type uppercase. It is not a keyboard lock in the technical sense, but it feels like one when you are typing and suddenly all your letters are capitals. Caps Lock is usually located on the left side of your keyboard, below the Shift key.

Press Caps Lock once. Most keyboards have a light on the key or nearby that shows whether Caps Lock is on. If the light was on, it should now be off, and your letters will type normally. If you are not sure whether Caps Lock is on, type a single letter—if it appears as a capital, Caps Lock is active. Press the key again to turn it off.

Disable Sticky Keys on Windows

Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature that lets you press modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt) one at a time instead of holding them down. When Sticky Keys is on, your keyboard behaves differently than normal, and it can feel locked. You may have turned it on by accident by pressing Shift five times in a row, which is the default keyboard shortcut.

To turn off Sticky Keys on Windows 10 or 11, press the Windows key and type "sticky keys" into the search box. Click "Turn on Sticky Keys" or "Sticky Keys settings." A window will open. Look for the toggle that says "Turn on Sticky Keys" and click it to turn the feature off. Close the window and test your keyboard.

If you want to prevent accidentally turning on Sticky Keys again, scroll down in that same window to "Keyboard shortcut" and uncheck the box next to "Press Shift five times." This removes the shortcut that activates Sticky Keys.

Check Accessibility settings on Mac

On Mac computers, keyboard locks usually come from accessibility features in System Settings. The most common are Sticky Keys and Slow Keys. Sticky Keys works the same way as on Windows—it lets you press modifier keys separately. Slow Keys requires you to hold a key down for a moment before it registers, which can make the keyboard feel unresponsive.

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select "System Settings." Click "Accessibility" in the sidebar. Then click "Keyboard" on the left. Look for toggles next to "Sticky Keys" and "Slow Keys." If either is turned on (the toggle will be green or blue), click it to turn it off. Close System Settings and test your keyboard.

You can also check "Mouse Keys" in the same menu—if it is on, your keyboard may be controlling the mouse cursor instead of typing. Turn it off the same way.

Restart your computer if nothing else works

If you have tried all the steps above and your keyboard still does not respond, restart your computer. A restart clears temporary settings and resets any features that may have gotten stuck. On Windows, click the Start menu, click the power icon, and select "Restart." On Mac, click the Apple menu and select "Restart."

While your computer is restarting, check that your keyboard cable is plugged in firmly (if you have a wired keyboard) or that the batteries are not dead (if you have a wireless keyboard). If you have a wireless keyboard, try turning it off and back on. If you have a USB keyboard, try plugging it into a different USB port on your computer.

Test your keyboard after unlocking it

Once you have made a change, open a text editor or web browser and type a few sentences to confirm your keyboard is working. Try typing numbers, letters, and special characters. Press Shift, Ctrl, and Alt to make sure modifier keys work. If your number pad was locked, test a few numbers from that section.

If your keyboard works in some programs but not others, the problem may be with that specific program rather than your keyboard. Close the program and try a different one. If the keyboard works everywhere now, you have successfully unlocked it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my keyboard lock itself?

Most keyboard locks happen by accident. Num Lock is straightforward to bump with your hand or knee. Sticky Keys turns on if you press Shift five times in a row, which can happen if you are typing quickly or frustrated. Caps Lock is straightforward to set up without noticing. These are not signs of a broken keyboard—they are features you can turn off in seconds.

Is there a keyboard lock button I should know about?

Some laptops and external keyboards have a dedicated lock button or a keyboard lock shortcut, but this is rare. Most keyboard "locks" are actually the features described above. Check your keyboard's manual or the manufacturer's website if you think there is a physical lock button, but start with Num Lock and Caps Lock first.

What if my keyboard is physically broken?

If you have tried all these steps and your keyboard still does not work, the keyboard itself may be damaged. Try a different keyboard plugged into the same computer. If the new keyboard works, your original keyboard needs repair or replacement. If the new keyboard also does not work, the problem is with your computer's keyboard port, not the keyboard.

Can I lock my keyboard on purpose for security?

Yes. On Windows, press Windows key + L to lock your entire computer—this requires a password to unlock. On Mac, press Control + Command + Q to lock your screen. These lock your computer, not just your keyboard. If you want to prevent others from using your keyboard while you step away, locking your computer is the best method.

Does restarting my computer erase anything?

No. Restarting closes all open programs and clears temporary memory, but it does not delete files or settings. Save any open work before you restart, but you will not lose anything by restarting your computer.