My laptop keyboard won’t work even after restarting

Troubleshooting Guide: What to Do When Your Laptop Keyboard and Trackpad Stop Responding

Experiencing hardware malfunctions can be frustrating, especially when they interfere with your daily tasks. If you’ve noticed that your laptop’s keyboard and built-in trackpad cease to function unexpectedly, you’re not alone. This article provides a comprehensive overview of potential causes and practical solutions to resolve the issue efficiently.

Understanding the Issue

Many users report situations where their laptop’s keyboard and trackpad stop responding after some use, such as during gaming sessions or extended usage. Typically, the keyboard and touchpad function flawlessly, so sudden inoperability can be perplexing.

Common Causes

Several factors can lead to this kind of hardware malfunction, including:

Temporary software glitches or driver issues
Operating system errors or conflicts
Hardware conflicts or connection problems
Accidental disabling of input devices
Overheating or hardware stress during intensive activities

Troubleshooting Steps

Below are recommended steps to diagnose and potentially resolve the problem:

1. Perform a Simple Restart

Sometimes, a straightforward reboot can resolve temporary glitches. Ensure you properly shut down your laptop and restart it to see if the keyboard and trackpad re-enable.

2. Check for Disabled Devices

Many laptops allow disabling input devices via keyboard shortcuts or device manager.

On Windows:
Right-click ‘Start’ and select ‘Device Manager.’
Expand ‘Keyboards’ and ‘Mice and other pointing devices.’
Right-click your keyboard and mouse device entries.
If disabled, select ‘Enable device.’
On Mac:
Check if any accessibility settings or third-party apps have disabled input devices.

3. Verify Driver Updates

Driver issues can cause input devices to malfunction.

Go to your device manufacturer’s website or use your system’s update feature to ensure all drivers are current.
For Windows, navigate to ‘Device Manager’ and right-click your keyboard and touchpad devices to update their drivers.

4. Check for External Devices or Software Conflicts

Disconnect any external peripherals and see if the built-in keyboard and trackpad function properly. Uninstall recently added software that might interfere with hardware.