Hardware Repair

How to Revive an Unresponsive Keyboard or Mouse

February 25, 2024

Introduction

Having an unresponsive keyboard or mouse can be extremely frustrating. However, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to try and revive them before having to replace the devices. In this article, I will provide an in-depth guide on how to troubleshoot and attempt to restore function to an unresponsive keyboard or mouse.

Check Physical Connections

The first step is to check the physical connections between the keyboard/mouse and computer.

For a wired keyboard/mouse, make sure the USB cable is securely plugged into the computer. Try unplugging and reinserting the USB connector. Inspect the USB port for any damage or blocked pins. Try plugging the keyboard/mouse into a different USB port on your computer.
For a wireless keyboard/mouse, check that the wireless receiver is securely plugged into a working USB port. Try unplugging and reinserting the receiver. If the keyboard/mouse uses batteries, replace the batteries with brand new ones.
For a Bluetooth keyboard/mouse, ensure Bluetooth is enabled on your computer. Remove and re-pair the keyboard/mouse. Make sure it is within range of the computer’s Bluetooth receiver.

Checking the physical connections can resolve many unresponsive keyboard/mouse issues. However, if the problem persists, further troubleshooting is required.

Check Keyboard/Mouse Settings

If the physical connections are fine, the issue may be related to the keyboard/mouse settings on your computer.

For a Keyboard

Go to your computer’s settings/control panel and ensure the keyboard is enabled and properly configured.
Toggle the “Key Repeat” or “Keyboard Repeat Rate” settings off and back on.
For wireless keyboards, check for options like “Connect Automatically” to ensure it is paired properly.
Temporary disable any active on-screen keyboards that could be interfering with the physical keyboard.

For a Mouse

Go to your mouse settings and toggle options like “Enhance pointer precision” off and back on.
Adjust the pointer speed/sensitivity settings.
Temporarily disable any trackpad/touchpad devices to prevent interference.
For wireless mice, ensure any connectivity options like “Connect Automatically” are enabled.

Adjusting the keyboard and mouse settings sometimes resolves unresponsive issues. If not, continue on to further troubleshooting steps.

Update or Reinstall Drivers

Outdated, corrupted, or missing drivers can cause keyboard and mouse issues.

For Keyboards

Open Device Manager and expand the “Keyboards” section.
Right click on your keyboard device and select “Update driver”. This will search for and install the latest driver.
If update does not work, uninstall the keyboard driver completely, restart your computer, and let Windows automatically reinstall the keyboard driver.

For Mice

Similarly, go to Device Manager, right click on your mouse/touchpad device, and try updating or reinstalling the driver.
For wireless mice, you may need to install software/drivers from the mouse manufacturer’s website instead of using Windows generic drivers.

Updating keyboard and mouse drivers often resolves unresponsive issues caused by driver problems.

Test with Another Keyboard/Mouse

If you have another available keyboard or mouse, connect it to your computer and see if it works properly.

If the new keyboard/mouse works, then the issue lies with the original keyboard/mouse, which may need to be repaired or replaced.
If the new keyboard/mouse does NOT work, then the issue is likely with your computer’s USB ports, settings, or drivers. Additional troubleshooting would be required.

Testing with alternate input devices is an easy way to determine if the problem is with the original keyboard/mouse or something on your computer.

Clean the Keyboard

Dirty, dusty, or greasy buildup on a keyboard can sometimes cause keys to become unresponsive.

Turn the keyboard upside down and gently shake it to dislodge any debris that may be stuck under the keys.
Use compressed air to blow out any particles or dust around and under the keys.
Dampen a soft cloth with isopropyl alcohol and gently wipe grime off the keys and keyboard surface.
Allow it to fully dry before reconnecting.

A good cleaning can help restore function to keyboard keys affected by particle buildup.

Restart Computer and Peripherals

Sometimes simply restarting your computer and keyboard/mouse can fix unresponsive issues:

For wired devices, unplug then reconnect them.
For wireless devices, remove batteries for 1 minute, reinsert, and re-pair/reconnect.
Fully shut down the computer, wait 30 seconds, then restart it.

This simple step reinitializes all connections and often resolves temporary glitches causing the unresponsiveness.

Restore Previous System State or Settings

If your keyboard and mouse were working fine until a recent change on your PC, restoring an earlier system state or settings may fix the issue:

In Windows, go to Settings > System > Recovery and select “Go back to the previous version of Windows 10” to undo recent system changes that may have caused problems.
Alternatively, go to Settings > System > System Restore and choose a recent restore point before the devices became unresponsive.
You can also undo any recent mouse/keyboard setting changes that seemed to trigger the unresponsive behavior.

Reverting previous system changes can easily resolve keyboard/mouse issues cause by software updates or configuration changes.

Consider Hardware Repair/Replacement

If all else fails, the unresponsive keyboard or mouse may have underlying hardware issues that require professional repair or replacement:

For a keyboard, keys may be mechanically stuck or defective switches/circuits on the mainboard.
For a mouse, the optical sensor or buttons/switches may have physical damage.
In these cases, take the device to a repair shop or purchase a replacement.

Hardware defects cannot be fixed through software troubleshooting – physical keyboard/mouse repair or replacement would be necessary.

Summary

Following these troubleshooting steps can help revive an unresponsive keyboard or mouse:

Check physical connections
Update keyboard/mouse settings
Update/reinstall drivers
Test with alternate devices
Clean the keyboard
Restart the computer and peripherals
Restore previous system state/settings
Consider hardware repair or replacement

Thoroughly working through these solutions can help isolate and resolve the root cause in software or hardware. In most cases, the keyboard or mouse can be restored to normal function without the need for replacement.