Keyboard works at login but stops after sign-in

Your keyboard works on the sign-in screen, but after you enter your password, it stops responding. That usually points to something that starts with your user session, such as an accessibility setting, a keyboard utility, or a driver. It does not automatically mean the keyboard is broken.

Test it after signing in, then use the results to narrow down whether the problem affects every app or just one. The Keyboard Test checks whether ordinary keypresses reach your browser.

Test the keyboard after signing in

1. Open the Keyboard Test after signing in. Use your mouse or trackpad to open it if the keyboard is not responding.
2. Click the test area if needed, then press several letter keys, number keys, and modifiers such as Shift and Ctrl. Do not enter a password or other private information while testing.
3. Check whether each keypress registers. Try the same keys in a second app, such as a plain text editor, to see whether the problem is limited to one program.
4. If you have one, connect a different keyboard and repeat the test. For a wireless keyboard, also try a wired one or reconnect its receiver.

Some keys are handled by the operating system before a browser can see them. The Fn key, Windows key, Print Screen, and laptop shortcut keys for volume or brightness may not register in a browser test. Use ordinary letter and number keys to check basic input.

What the result means

Keys register in the test and other apps

The keyboard is sending input. The original app may be frozen, may have lost focus, or may have its own input setting. Click its text field and test again. If it still fails only there, restart or update that app and check its keyboard or input settings.

Keys register in the test but not in one app

This points to an app-specific problem rather than a keyboard fault. Close and reopen the app, check whether it has a different input profile, and test another account in the app if available.

No ordinary keys register in the test or other apps

The problem affects input across the desktop. A setting, background program, or keyboard driver may be interfering. Try the fixes below in order before deciding the hardware has failed.

An external keyboard works, but the built-in keyboard does not

The issue is limited to the laptop keyboard or its driver. Since the built-in keyboard worked at sign-in, a setting or program loaded with your account is still possible. If it also stops working before sign-in, use the checks in Keyboard works in BIOS but not in Windows to investigate further.

Keys type different characters instead of doing nothing

The keyboard may be using a different layout or input language. A layout mismatch usually changes what a key types rather than making every key stop responding.

How to fix it

1. Restart the computer. A full restart can clear a temporary input problem. Save your work first, then choose Start › Power › Restart on Windows or Apple menu › Restart on a Mac.
2. Check accessibility keyboard settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard and turn off Filter Keys and Sticky Keys temporarily. Filter Keys can ignore brief presses. On a Mac, open System Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard and check whether Slow Keys is on.
3. Check the keyboard layout. On Windows 11, open Settings › Time & language › Language & region and confirm the expected keyboard layout is selected. On macOS, open System Settings › Keyboard › Text Input › Edit and check the input source. This fix applies if keys produce the wrong characters, not if no keys respond at all.
4. Close keyboard and input utilities. Quit remapping, macro, gaming, remote-access, or keyboard-control programs, then test again. These programs may apply settings only after your account starts.
5. Disable startup apps temporarily. On Windows 11, open Settings › Apps › Startup and switch off recently added keyboard or input utilities, then restart. On a Mac, open System Settings › General › Login Items & Extensions and temporarily remove or disable recent keyboard-related login items. Turn items back on one at a time to find the cause.
6. Reconnect the keyboard. Unplug a USB keyboard and connect it directly to another port, rather than through a hub. For Bluetooth, turn the keyboard off and on, then reconnect it in the computer's Bluetooth settings.
7. Refresh the keyboard driver on Windows. Right-click Start, open Device Manager › Keyboards, right-click the listed keyboard, and choose Uninstall device. Restart the computer so Windows can detect it again. If you rely on the built-in keyboard, connect an external keyboard first.

When it may be a hardware problem

If an external keyboard works consistently after sign-in but the built-in keyboard does not, and the accessibility and startup checks make no difference, the built-in keyboard or its connection may need service. If the keyboard also fails before sign-in, or keys stop responding when you move the laptop, hardware becomes more likely. Contact the manufacturer if the computer is under warranty; otherwise, ask a repair shop to inspect the keyboard and its cable.

If only a few keys fail, test those keys in more than one app and check whether they also fail before signing in. Avoid repeatedly pressing a key that feels stuck or was exposed to liquid.