Few things are more frustrating than sitting down to work and having to face your HP laptop keyboard not working. I’ve run into this multiple times, and figuring out the cause isn’t always straightforward. Instead of jumping to conclusions or rushing to a repair center, there are steps you can try right now. This guide takes you through four proven fixes that help you solve this problem.
Reinstall Keyboard Drivers to Fix HP Keyboard Not Working
If you’ve faced your HP laptop keyboard not working, the issue is often simpler than it looks. In many cases I’ve handled, it turned out to be a driver glitch, something that happened after a Windows update or a sudden shutdown. Drivers help the hardware and operating system talk to each other, and when that connection breaks, your keyboard might just stop showing up. Luckily, you don’t need special tools or advanced knowledge to reset things. A clean reinstall of the driver can often bring the keyboard back to life within minutes. Here’s one way of fixing your HP keyboard not working
Step 1: Right-click the Start button and choose “Device Manager.”
Step 2: Expand “Keyboards,” then right-click your keyboard and choose “Uninstall device.”
Step 3: Restart your laptop. Windows will automatically reinstall the correct driver during boot-up.
Step 4: For good measure, visit the HP Support website and manually install the latest version of your keyboard driver.
Once, my spacebar and arrow keys stopped working out of nowhere, but after doing this reset and installing the latest HP drivers, everything worked like new again. If your keyboard responds right after the reboot, the driver was definitely the issue.
Test for Hardware Failure via BIOS or UEFI
If reinstalling the driver didn’t help, the next step is figuring out whether the keyboard itself is actually working. One quick way to check is through the BIOS or UEFI menu, which runs independently from Windows. I’ve used this method often when I wasn’t sure if it was a software glitch or something physically wrong with the keyboard. If your keys respond inside BIOS, that’s a strong sign the hardware is fine. But if nothing happens at all, you’re probably dealing with a hardware-level failure. Here’s how to test it without needing any extra tools.
Step 1: Restart your HP laptop and repeatedly press F10 or Esc right after powering it on.
Step 2: If the BIOS menu opens, try navigating with the arrow keys. If the keyboard works here, it means the problem is software-based.
Step 3: If you still can’t move around in BIOS, it’s likely a hardware failure, possibly the internal connector or the keyboard itself.
This quick test has helped me avoid costly repairs more than once. In one case, the BIOS menu worked fine, so I knew I didn’t have to replace anything physical.
Disable Fast Startup & Run System Scans
Sometimes, a perfectly good keyboard stops working simply because Windows didn’t load everything properly. I’ve run into this after updates or power interruptions where Fast Startup caused drivers to misbehave. Disabling that feature and running a couple of built-in scans can help clear out bugs and fix any corrupted files. It’s a low-risk fix that doesn’t take much time but often solves input-related issues. If your HP laptop keyboard is still unresponsive, this step is definitely worth a try. Here’s how to do it the right way.
Step 1: Open the Start Menu and search for the Control Panel.
Step 2: Open Hardware & Sound, select Power options and then click on Choose what the power buttons do.
Step 3: Uncheck the box at the bottom for Turn on fast startup (recommended).
Step 4: Open Command Prompt as Admin and run: sfc /scannow
Step 5: After that completes, run: chkdsk /f and follow the prompts to schedule a scan on your next restart.
When I disabled Fast Startup and ran these scans on a friend’s Pavilion laptop, several system errors popped up, and sure enough, the keyboard came back after reboot. It's worth doing even if just to rule out system corruption.
Stay Productive with WPS Office While You Fix It
While you’re troubleshooting, losing access to your keyboard doesn’t have to mean losing productivity. I often turn to WPS Office during hardware issues, it runs well even when everything else is acting up. You can control it with a touchscreen or mouse, and it doesn’t eat up your system’s limited resources post-recovery. WPS Office is fast, simple, and stable, exactly what you need when your system is recovering from a glitch. I’ve used it on both high-end and older HP models, and it consistently performed without freezing or lagging. Here’s what I found useful:
Smart AI Features in WPS Office
Beyond the basics, WPS Office includes a surprisingly useful set of AI tools that can save time during recovery or day-to-day work. I’ve used them to speed up everything from writing summaries to cleaning up repair notes. These features run smoothly in the background and don’t feel overwhelming. Here are the ones that actually helped me the most.
AI Resume Assistant: Came in handy when a friend needed to send job applications after his HP was repaired.
Spell & Grammar Check: Cleaned up rough documentation I jotted down with a virtual keyboard.
AI Slides Creator: Took a few bullet points from my repair notes and turned them into a decent visual summary.
PDF Smart Extractor: Saved me hours by pulling out the relevant bits from a 30-page service manual.
If your HP keyboard is down and you’re stuck using a touchscreen or external keyboard, WPS Office helps you stay in the flow without adding stress. It’s free, doesn’t need constant updates, and works entirely in-browser if needed.
FAQs
Q1: Is a non-working HP laptop keyboard always a hardware issue?
No, about 80% of the time it’s due to driver problems or OS settings. Try BIOS and driver resets before replacing anything.
Q2: Can a liquid spill permanently break the keyboard?
Sometimes. If you shut it down immediately and let it dry for at least 72 hours, you might get lucky. Still, long-term corrosion is a risk.
Q3: Are some HP models more prone to keyboard issues?
Yes. The HP Pavilion Gaming 15 and Envy x360 models from 2020–2022 have higher-than-average reports of keyboard problems.
Q4: What’s the cost to replace an HP laptop keyboard?
Anywhere from $50–$180, depending on the model and labor. DIY kits are cheaper but riskier if you’re not comfortable opening the laptop.
