How to Fix Arrow Keys Not Working On Windows 10

Nothing is more frustrating than finding out the arrow keys not working windows 10, especially if you are a gamer or use a keyboard to navigate the office documents. Finding the cause can take ages when you don’t know where to start. 

Were you feeling stranded finding the solution for arrow keys not working on keyboard? Don’t worry; I got you back. I will guide you through the possible ways to find the reasons for the arrow key to stop working and how to bring them to life again.

You can check several things before assuming that your keyboard needs a replacement. I will explain later in the article if it may be a jammed key, problematic driver, active num lock, or other reasons. 

I will detail the issues and easy fixes on fixing the arrow keys that stopped working. Hopefully, you will learn the cause of the malfunction and fix the issues ASAP. So, without further ado, let’s more to the guide.

How to Fix Arrow Keys Stopped Working Windows 10

Identify the Issue and Run a Test

Before jumping to conclusions, it’s important to identify the issue and check whether the keyboard has malfunctioned or not. Identifying the issue can cause more headaches than a broken keyboard, as you have to follow a checklist to tick all the marks.

A computer setup utility is a far easier and more reliable way to check the keyboard. You can access the utility with only a few keypresses. You may have seen this screen before, but most users are unaware of its presence. 

There is a solid reason why this utility screen is useful in testing the keyboard arrow keys. It is the screen where you can only navigate the menus using only arrow keys. So if these keys are not working, you cannot navigate the menu.

Follow these steps to open the utility screen to test your computer arrow keys.

• Shut down the computer and reboot it.
• Ensure that you press the F10 key on reboot; try hitting the key repeatedly.
• It will eventually take you to the utility screen.
• Try using the arrow keys to navigate the menus. Using the up and down keys will let you move in the menu. If you observe that the menu doesn’t respond upon pressing the keys, there is some issue with the keys.
• Unplug the keyboard and plug it in again or change the USB port. 
• Again press the arrow keys and check whether it works or not.

Doing this drill can let you know whether your arrow keys are working or not in Windows 10. You can follow the methods below to resolve the issue.

Faulty Drivers

Sometimes the issue is not related to hardware, and it’s the software posing the problem. If arrow keys are not working in Windows 10, it may be due to the computer not receiving the inputs. It happens due to the faulty driver installation.

If you identify the faulty driver issue, you can reboot the computer. It can help to recover the issue on its own. However, it often leads to the driver uninstalling the remaining viable option.

You can go with the uninstall process by opening Device Manager from Start Menu. There you can find the keyboard driver and uninstall it. 

Once you have uninstalled the driver, restart the computer. Let the computer start and find its driver automatically from the updates. Mostly it can update the driver this way. However, sometimes you may need to download the driver from the manufacturer’s website and install it.

Try searching your keyboard model and installing the latest drivers.

Jammed Keys

Not every time, drivers are the culprit as keyboard keys can stop working after getting jammed. It can interfere with the normal keypress and prevent the keyboard from registering the keypress. There are several reasons why the keys are stuck, and arrow keys stop working.

One most common reason is the poor maintenance of the keyboard. Cleaning is a primary aspect of keeping the keyboard in pristine condition. When you neglect cleaning, the dirt accumulates between the keys and forces the keys to jam.

You can easily clean the dirt accumulated under jammed keys if it’s a mechanical keyboard. Use a keycap puller and remove the keycap. Clean the surface below the keycaps and further clean the surface with compressed air.

Disable Cursor

Arrow keys not working on Windows 10 HP laptop sometimes happens due to the disabled cursor. Few models of HP laptop offers this functionality. So, when the option is turned on, you cannot use the arrow keys like you normally do. Here are the steps that you can use to activate this function.

• Check whether your laptop keyboard offers dedicated keys for activating the function.
• Find the key with a touchpad symbol with a line passing through it.
• Pressing the key will let you activate and deactivate the arrow keys.

Arrow keys not working on Windows 10 Dell laptops can happen for some reason. However, the activation mechanism is somewhat different from other laptops. Dell laptop models mostly use the Fn key and a combination of other keys to activate the function. You can read your laptop manual to know the key combination.

Also Read: Do all Keycaps Fit all Switches?

Active Scroll Lock?

Like the disable cursor method, scroll lock can limit the keyboard functionality. If arrow keys not working Windows 10 not scroll lock issue, then there is a possibility of having bad keyboard hardware.

You can resolve the active scroll lock by again processing the scroll lock. It will disable the function, and the arrow keys will start to work again.

Get a new keyboard

I have highlighted a few things that can raise the arrow keys not working Windows 10 issue. I have also provided a few solutions to let you resolve the problem. However, chances are there that you remain unsuccessful in resolving the issues.

If you feel that all the above methods fail to resolve arrow keys not working on the keyboard issue, it’s time to get a new keyboard. You can buy a new keyboard according to your needs and budget. Choosing the mechanical keyboards will help you in the long run as they are sturdy, stylish, and usually come at a premium price.