5 Common Keyboard Problems on Laptops

Laptops have become an essential part of our daily lives, especially for those of us who work from home. 

But when these devices start to malfunction, it can be frustrating and even downright annoying. 

One common problem with laptops is keyboard-related issues, which can range from minor annoyances to potentially major problems. 

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most common keyboard problems faced by laptop owners and how to fix them.

Sticky Keys: 

Sometimes, keys on the keyboard can get stuck or not respond properly when pressed due to dust or other debris accumulating in the key mechanism. 

This usually happens with older laptops that have had significant usage over time. The good news is that most sticky key problems are quite easy to resolve with a few simple steps. 

First, use compressed air to blow out any dust underneath the keys that may be causing them to stick. Then use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover to gently clean any dirt off the key mechanisms before completely drying them off with a dry cloth.

Keyboard response lag: 

If you find your laptop keyboard has become unresponsive or sluggish when typing, for instance, when you want to type an em dash, it could be caused by several factors, such as outdated drivers or software bugs. 

The first step here would be to check for any driver updates and apply them if needed. You should also try disabling certain features, such as power-saving modes which can lead to input lag while typing on your laptop’s keyboard.

Adjacent Key Pressing: 

Sometimes, pressing one key will cause one or more adjacent keys to behave erratically or press down unexpectedly as well. This often occurs due to either mechanical wear and tear on specific keys over time or liquid spills onto the keys, which can damage/short circuit their electrical circuits beneath the surface. 

To fix this issue, first inspect visually for any liquid damage around the affected area and then remove all debris around it before cleaning it off with some rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth if needed. 

You should also check for any damaged/loose connections underneath each key mechanism itself – these connections link each individual key to its corresponding circuit board, so if any are loose or missing, they need replacing immediately in order for that particular key(s) to work again afterward.

Dead Keys: 

Laptop keyboards sometimes have “dead” keys where pressing them does nothing at all – this could mean there is something wrong internally with either its hardware (such as faulty wiring) or software (such as incorrect settings). 

To fix dead keys, you should first check your computer’s device manager and update/install necessary drivers if needed; you may also need to reset the device’s BIOS settings back to their default just in case they were changed accidentally before restarting it once again afterward too – after doing both these steps. Hopefully, your dead keys should now work correctly.

Missing Keys: 

Over time, due to regular use/abuse/accidental spills onto certain sections of our keyboards, they may eventually suffer damage resulting in missing letters/numbers/symbols etc., making typing difficult at best and impossible at worst. 

Fortunately, there are ways we can fix this issue without having to buy expensive replacements parts; you could try using tape (for example, duct tape) over cracked edges of plastic pieces still attached under each missing key so that pressing down on them still activates their respective functions behind-the-scenes even though their physical counterparts no longer exist anymore. 

Additionally, keeping an old spare laptop keyboard lying around (or buying one online) upon which replacement parts could be taken from if needed would provide another cheap alternative solution, too, just in case things get too complicated later on down the line.

Closing Thoughts

These are only some of the most common keyboard issues faced by laptop owners today. Still, there are many others out there, too, depending on what type of device you own.

Ultimately, prevention is always better than cure, so make sure you take care of your valuable electronic gadgets by keeping them safe from spills & dust particles while using good quality products whenever possible instead.

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