I’m having an issue with my external keyboard. When I plug it into my laptop, the Windows key doesn’t function properly. The keyboard still responds to other keys, but pressing the Windows key doesn’t bring up the Start menu. I’ve tried using the on-screen keyboard to troubleshoot, and it’s supposed to highlight the keys as I press them. However, this feature only works when I use my laptop’s built-in keyboard, not the external one.
I’m happy to help you with that issue.
First, let’s start with the basics. A simple troubleshooting step can sometimes fix the problem. Unplug the external keyboard and plug it back in. This can resolve system glitches that might be causing the issue.
If that doesn’t work, try plugging the keyboard into a different port. Sometimes a specific port might be malfunctioning.
If you’re still having trouble, let’s go a bit deeper:
-
Launch Settings:
- Go to the left pane and click on Accessibility.
- Scroll down to find Keyboard and click on it.
- Ensure the switch next to Filter Keys is in the Off position.
-
Run the Keyboard Troubleshooter:
- Go to the System option in the left pane.
- Scroll down to find Troubleshoot and click on it.
- Click on Other troubleshooters and wait until the list of services appears.
- Find Keyboard and click Run.
-
Device Manager:
- Right-click on the Windows logo and select Device Manager.
- Expand the Keyboards section.
- Right-click your keyboard and select Properties.
- Open the Driver tab.
- Select Update Driver and Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software.
These steps should help resolve the issue with your external keyboard.