Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working

Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working: A number of users are reporting an issue with their keyboards as some of the Windows Keyboard shortcuts not working leaving users in distress. For example Alt + Tab, Ctrl + Alt + Del or Ctrl + Tab etc Keyboard shortcuts are no longer responding. While pressing the Windows Keys on the keyboard works perfectly and brings up the Start menu but using any Windows Key combination such as Windows Key + D doesn’t do anything (It’s supposed to bring up the desktop).

Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts not working

There is no particular cause of this issue because it can happen due to corrupted keyboard drivers, physical damage to the keyboard, corrupt Registry and Windows files, 3rd party app might be interfering with the keyboard etc. So without wasting any time let’s see how to actually Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working issue with the below-listed troubleshooting guide.

Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Turn Off Sticky keys

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Control Panel.

control panel

2.Click Ease of Access inside Control Panel and then click “Change how your keyboard works.

Under Ease of Access Center click Change how your keyboard works

3.Make sure to uncheck Turn on Sticky Keys, Turn on Toggle Keys and Turn on Filter Keys.

Uncheck Turn on Sticky Keys, Turn on Toggle Keys, Turn on Filter Keys

4.Click Apply followed by OK.

5.Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 2: Make sure to disable Gaming mode switch

If you have a gaming keyboard then there is a switch to disable all the keyboard shortcuts in order to let you focus on games and prevent accidental hitting of Window Keys shortcuts. So make sure to disable this switch in order fix this issue, if you need more information about this switch then simply Google your keyboard details you will get the desired information.

Make sure to disable Gaming mode switch

Method 3: Run DSIM Tool

1.Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).

command prompt with admin rights

2.Try these command sin sequence:

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

cmd restore health system

3.If the above command doesn’t work then try on the below:

Dism /Image:C:\offline /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows
Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /Source:c:\test\mount\windows /LimitAccess

Note: Replace the C:\RepairSource\Windows with the location of your repair source (Windows Installation or Recovery Disc).

4.Reboot your PC to save changes and see if you are able to Fix Black Squares Behind Folder Icons issue.

Method 4: Perform a Clean Boot

Sometimes 3rd party software can conflict with System and therefore the System might not shut down completely. In order Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts not working Issue, you need to perform a clean boot in your PC and diagnose the issue step by step.

Perform Clean boot in Windows. Selective startup in system configuration

Method 5: Uninstall Keyboard drivers

1.Press Windows Key + R then type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter to open Device Manager.

devmgmt.msc device manager

2.Expand keyboards and then right-click on your keyboard device and select Uninstall.

Right-click on your keyboard device and select Uninstall

3.If asked for confirmation select Yes/OK.

4.Reboot your PC to save changed and Windows will automatically reinstall the drivers.

Method 6: Registry Fix

1.Press WindowsKey + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.

Run command regedit

2.Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout

3.Now in the right-window make sure there is Scancode Map key.

Select Keyboard Layout and then right-click on Scancode Map key and select Delete

4.If the above key is present then right-click on it and select Delete.

5.Now again navigate to the following registry location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

6.In the right window pane look for NoWinKeys key and double click on it to change its value.

7.Enter 0 in value data field in order to disable NoWinKeys function.

Enter 0 in value data field in order to disable NoWinKeys function

8.Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 7: Run System Maintenance Task

1.Type Maintenance in Windows Search bar and click on “Security and Maintenance.

click Security Maintenance in Windows search

2.Expand Maintenance section and click on Start maintenance.

click Start maintenance in Security and Maintenance

3.Let System Maintenance run and reboot when the process is finished.

let System Maintenance run

4.Press Windows Key + X and click on Control Panel.

control panel

5.Search Troubleshoot and click on Troubleshooting.

troubleshooting hardware and sound device

6.Next, click on view all in the left pane.

7.Click and run the Troubleshooter for System Maintenance.

run system maintenance troubleshooter

8.The Troubleshooter may be able to Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts not working issue.

Method 8: Use System Restore

System Restore always works in resolving the error, therefore System Restore can definitely help you in fixing this error. So without wasting any time run system restore in order to Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts not working.

Open system restore

Method 9: Create a new User Account

1.Press Windows Key + I to open Settings and then click Accounts.

From Windows Settings select Account

2.Click on Family & other people tab in the left-hand menu and click Add someone else to this PC under Other people.

Family & other people then click Add someone else to this PC

3.Click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information in the bottom.

Click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information

4.Select Add a user without a Microsoft account in the bottom.

Select Add a user without a Microsoft account

5.Now type the username and password for the new account and click Next.

Now type the username and password for the new account and click Next

Sign in to this new user account and see if the keyboard shortcuts are working or not. If you are successfully able to Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts not working issue in this new user account then the problem was with you old user account which might have got corrupted, anyway transfer your files to this account and delete the old account in order to complete the transition to this new account.

Method 10: Repair Install Windows 10

This method is the last resort because if nothing works out then this method will surely repair all problems with your PC. Repair Install just uses an in-place upgrade to repair issues with the system without deleting user data present on the system. So follow this article to see How to Repair Install Windows 10 Easily.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working but if you still have any questions regarding this guide then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.

8 thoughts on “Fix Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working”

  1. Avatar photo
    Jonathan Johnson

    To be clear every single instruction you offer about ‘window keyboard shortcuts not working’ starts by using windows keyboard shortcuts?

  2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

    doesn’t exist on my Win 10. Create it?

    thx

  3. “Jonathan Johnson

    FEBRUARY 21, 2019 AT 4:44 PM

    To be clear every single instruction you offer about ‘window keyboard shortcuts not working’ starts by using windows keyboard shortcuts?”

    What he said ↑

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