Windows 11 · Windows
How to Reinstall or Update a Keyboard Driver in Windows
Source-checked About 15 minutes
Answer
Start with the keyboard connection, power, and Windows Update. Reinstall the keyboard device only when Windows still detects the affected keyboard and simpler hardware checks have not fixed it; restart immediately so Windows can detect it again.
Keep another way to control Windows
Before changing an input driver, connect a working mouse or enable the On-Screen Keyboard from Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard. On a laptop, do not continue if you would lose the only reliable way to sign in or navigate Windows.
Check the physical connection and power
For a USB keyboard, disconnect it, inspect the cable and connector, then connect it directly to another USB port instead of an unpowered hub. For a wireless keyboard, charge it or replace its batteries and reconnect its receiver or Bluetooth connection.
Test the keyboard before removing a driver
Type in a plain text field and note whether all keys fail, only some keys fail, or the problem occurs in one app. If possible, test the keyboard on another computer. A keyboard that fails on two computers is more likely to need hardware service or replacement than a Windows driver reinstall.
Install Windows and optional driver updates
Open Settings > Windows Update, choose Check for updates, and install relevant Windows and optional driver updates. Restart if Windows asks, then test the same keyboard again before opening Device Manager.
Update the identified keyboard driver
Right-click Start, open Device Manager, expand Keyboards, and open the affected device. Choose Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers. If Windows finds nothing newer, use only the PC or keyboard manufacturer's official support page for a model-specific driver.
Reinstall only the affected keyboard device
If the keyboard is still detected but not working after the earlier checks, right-click that exact device in Device Manager and choose Uninstall device. Do not select unrelated HID, Bluetooth, USB, touchpad, or hotkey devices, and do not choose a delete-driver option unless the hardware maker explicitly requires it.
Restart Windows and verify detection
Restart the PC immediately. Microsoft says Windows attempts to reinstall the device driver after restart. Return to Device Manager, confirm the keyboard appears without a warning icon, then test ordinary typing, modifier keys, and the sign-in screen before making another change.
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Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If the keyboard disappears after uninstalling, use the mouse or On-Screen Keyboard to restart once, reconnect a USB keyboard directly, and run Windows Update. If it remains absent, stop removing devices and use the computer maker's official support path.
- If only a few keys fail, the keyboard was exposed to liquid, or it also fails before Windows starts or on another computer, a driver reinstall is unlikely to repair the fault. Disconnect power when liquid is involved and arrange manufacturer or qualified hardware service.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.