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How to Fix Windows 10 Keyboard Problems
Windows 10 keyboard problems can devastate your workflow and derail your relaxation. That’s why you need these tips for fixing any issues you run into with your keyboard immediately.
It doesn’t matter what kind of PC you have, Windows 10 keyboard problems are terrible. A bad software or driver update can render your keyboard useless. The issue extends beyond laptops too. Keyboard problems are a huge issue for devices with removable keyboards and touchscreens too, like 2-in-1s and desktop PCs. There’s nothing worse than having the on-screen keyboard disappear as you type something important.
The Lenovo Yoga 720
Don’t get caught at work, school or your favorite coffee shop without a properly working way to enter text and navigate Windows. Use these tips to fix your Windows 10 keyboard problems the moment they occur.
Read: 56 Best Windows 10 Apps in 2017
How to Fix Windows 10 Bluetooth Keyboard Problems
Windows 10 Bluetooth keyboard problems are very common. If the keyboard giving you trouble wirelessly communicates with your PC and doesn’t have a USB receiver, it’s a Bluetooth keyboard.
Bad drivers for some Windows 10 PCs, like the 2017 Surface Pro, result in poor Bluetooth connectivity. Try turning your PC off and turning it back on again. If there’s a driver issue, this usually fixes it.
It’s not uncommon for Bluetooth keyboards to disconnect from Windows 10 randomly if there’s an issue with how the two devices are paired together. If your keyboard has suddenly stopped working entirely, try pairing it again.
Open the Settings app. Click on Devices. Now find your Bluetooth keyboard in the list of paired accessories on the left side of your screen. If your keyboard is there, select it. Now click on the Remove device. Button.
Use the Add Bluetooth or other device button at the top of your screen to pair the accessory with your device again. Don’t forget to put your Bluetooth keyboard into pairing mode so that it shows up in your list of available Bluetooth devices. This is different for every keyboard, but most have a dedicated button with a Bluetooth symbol on it for pairing.
Finally, if either one of these tricks fails, try downloading the latest Bluetooth drivers from the company that created your Bluetooth keyboard. Logitech, Microsoft and other accessory makers offer software downloads on their site. You may need to temporarily switch to a USB cable to get these software updates installed on your device.
Read: 5 Best PC Gaming Keyboards
How to Fix Windows 10 USB Keyboard Problems
Connectivity and driver issues aren’t exclusive to Bluetooth keyboards either. They can also ruin your USB keyboard. The same troubleshooting tips can help you get those working correctly again.
Unplug your USB keyboard and leave it unplugged until you hear the chime from your PC letting you know that a device has disconnected. Once you’ve heard the chime, plug it in again. A notification on the right edge of your screen should let you know when the keyboard is ready for use again.
Read: Logitech Keys to Go Review: Portable Mechanical Keyboard
When that doesn’t work, try connecting your keyboard to a different USB port. If it works through this new port, you might owe your Windows 10 keyboard problems to a broken port. Use a piece of tape and seal this port off. This way, you know to not use it in the future.
Finally, as with other types of keyboards, check to make sure your Windows 10 PC has the latest drivers and software from the company that made your USB keyboard. Cheaper keyboards rely on Microsoft’s standard drivers, so you may not be able to find new drivers on online.
How to Turn the On-Screen Keyboard On and Off
Windows 10 keyboard problems aren’t even specific to physical keyboards. Software issues and glitches can make the On-Screen keyboard frustrating to use on touchscreens and tablets. One of the most frustrating things about the keyboard is simply getting it to come on. Sometimes, no matter what you tap, it simply won’t open.
Read: How to Use Emoji on Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7
If your PC has a touchscreen, a keyboard button should sit in the bottom-right corner of your display. Tapping on that button will open the on-screen keyboard. To add the keyboard button, tap and hold anywhere on the bar that runs along the bottom edge of your display. Keep your finger there until you see a square pop-up underneath it. Now select Show touch keyboard button from the pop-up menu.
Whenever your PC is in Tablet Mode and you don’t have a hardware keyboard attached, the on-screen keyboard will automatically open. To switch into Tablet Mode, put your finger on the right side of your display and swipe to the left to open the Action Center. Now tap on the Tablet Mode button at the bottom of the Action Center.
Read: How to Use Tablet Mode in Windows 10
How to Turn Off the Auto-Correct and Suggestions
Windows 10’s auto-correct feature isn’t always great at determining which word you meant to type. If it consistently gets your words wrong, turn it off.
Type Typing into the search bar in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Inside the Settings app, Flip the Auto-correct Misspelled Words switch to Off. It’s a good idea to still let your PC highlight the words it thinks you’ve misspelled, so don’t flip that switch to Off.
How to Tell if Your Windows 10 Keyboard is Backlit
Some Windows 10 keyboard problems are due to misunderstandings. Backlit keyboards are one of those. All Windows 10 laptops and 2-in-1s don’t come with backlit keyboards. Look up the name and model number of the PC you have online. Check its specs to make sure it has backlit keys if you can’t figure out how to turn them on.
Unfortunately, there’s no software switch in Windows 10 for turning on backlit keys. If your PC has them, there’s a keyboard combination to turn them on and off. Look for symbols on your keyboard like the F1 and F2 keys in the picture below. You may need to press the FN key in the bottom-left corner of your keyboard and one of these keys at the same time.
Read: 52 Windows 10 Tips & Tricks You Need to Master Your PC
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The ThinkPad X1 Tablet offers a lot of great features: a durable shell, an amazing display and Amazon's Alexa personal assistant. The ThinkPad X1 Tablet has a 13-inch display. And, despite its good looks, the device has passed 12 military torture tests to ensure it can survive dust storms, cold temperatures, drops and spills. Finally, If you don't find Microsoft's Cortana personal assistant useful, the ThinkPad X1 Tablet has the same Alexa personal assistant your Echo smart speakers do. A Surface Pro won't survive a drop or spilled liquid and Cortana isn't as useful as Alexa is. Read: ThinkPad X1 Carbon, X1 Yoga and X1 Tablet Have Stunning Display and Alexa The third-generation ThinkPad X1 Tablet has powerful processors, plenty of RAM and other options. Models come with up to an 8th generation Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM. You won't get stuck waiting for web pages to load or your photo editor to process your touch-ups. If you don't like passwords, use the IR camera on the front of the ThinkPad X1 Tablet to sign into Windows. This 2-in-1 also has a fingerprint reader. The ThinkPad X1 Tablet's screen detects 4,096 different levels of pressure from its digital pen. Besides that, it's a really detailed display. Windows, your videos and everything else you do on it looks crisp and detailed. Again, it's three times as sharp as an HD display. Like other Surface Pro 4 alternatives, this Windows 2-in-1 connects to its included keyboard cover using a special slot on its bottom edge. It has Thunderbolt 3 ports for fast data transfers, a MicroSD card reader and a headset jack. With LTE connectivity, you can add the ThinkPad X1 Tablet to your smartphone data plan. You can't do that with a Surface Pro 4. | |||||||||||
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