Keyboard works in BIOS but not in Windows

Your keyboard works in BIOS or the startup menu, but stops responding after Windows loads. That is a useful clue: the keyboard can send input before Windows starts, so a Windows setting, driver, or program may be blocking it. It does not completely rule out a hardware fault.

Test it inside Windows first, then use the results to narrow down the cause. If you cannot type to sign in, you can use the On-Screen Keyboard temporarily.

Test the keyboard in Windows

1. Open the Keyboard Test in your browser. Use the mouse to open it if typing is not working.
2. Press letters, number keys, function keys, and any keys that have stopped working. Watch whether each press registers in the test.
3. If you are using a laptop, test its built-in keyboard. If you have a separate keyboard, connect that too and test it in the same way.
4. Try typing in a second place, such as Notepad or the Windows search box. If the keyboard works in the test but not in one app, note which app has the problem.

If you cannot sign in, click the Accessibility icon near the lower-right corner of the sign-in screen and select On-Screen Keyboard. Use it to sign in, then test the physical keyboard after Windows opens.

What the result means

All keys register in the test

Windows and the browser are receiving key presses, so the keyboard itself is probably working. If typing fails only in a particular app, check that app's input settings, restart it, and close any keyboard remapping or macro software that could affect it.

Some keys register, but others do not

Windows is receiving at least some input. Check whether the missing keys work in another app and whether an external keyboard has the same problem. A layout setting can make keys produce unexpected characters, but it usually does not stop every key from responding.

No keys register in the test, but the keyboard works in BIOS

The problem may be in Windows, a driver, or software that starts with Windows. BIOS uses a separate, basic input environment, so working there does not prove that every key or connection is fault-free.

An external keyboard works, but the laptop keyboard does not

Windows is accepting keyboard input, but the built-in keyboard is not working in its normal environment. Check the laptop's keyboard settings and drivers. If the built-in keyboard also fails in other operating systems or during preboot tests, hardware becomes more likely.

How to fix it

1. Restart Windows and disconnect extra devices. Restart the computer, then unplug USB keyboards, hubs, docks, and other input devices you do not need. Reconnect one keyboard directly to the computer and test it again.
2. Turn off accessibility key filters. In Windows 11, open Settings › Accessibility › Keyboard. Turn off Filter keys and, while troubleshooting, Sticky keys. Filter Keys can ignore brief or repeated presses, though it usually does not disable every key.
3. Reconnect the keyboard. For a USB keyboard, try a different port and connect it without a hub. For a wireless keyboard, check its power or battery, reconnect the receiver, or pair it again using the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Reinstall the keyboard device. Right-click Start, open Device Manager, and expand Keyboards. Right-click the affected keyboard, select Uninstall device, and restart Windows so it can detect the keyboard again. Keep an external keyboard or the On-Screen Keyboard available if you need it to sign in.
5. Check for a driver or Windows update. Open Settings › Windows Update and install available updates, including relevant optional driver updates. If the issue began after a manufacturer keyboard utility or driver update, check the computer maker's support instructions for that model.
6. Check whether a startup app is interfering. Keyboard utilities, macro tools, and gaming software can remap or capture keys. Close recently installed or updated keyboard software and test again. You can also use Windows Safe Mode to see whether the keyboard works without most third-party startup software: hold Shift while selecting Power › Restart, then choose Troubleshoot › Advanced options › Startup Settings › Restart and select 4.
7. Check the keyboard layout if the wrong characters appear. In Windows 11, open Settings › Time & language › Language & region and confirm the keyboard layout matches the keyboard. This is relevant when keys type the wrong characters, not when they are completely unresponsive.

When it may be a hardware problem

If a USB keyboard works in Windows but the built-in keyboard does not, try the laptop's built-in keyboard in another operating system or a manufacturer preboot diagnostic if one is available. If the same keys fail there too, the keyboard, its internal cable, or the keyboard controller may need repair. A repair shop can inspect a laptop keyboard and cable; check the warranty before opening the computer.

If the keyboard works before Windows starts and starts working again after a driver reinstall or software change, the fault was likely in Windows rather than the keyboard itself.