IT-Questions.com

Hardware · 6 guides

Keyboards, mice, and audio

Dead keys, stuck keys, trackpads, headsets, webcams, and unrecognized USB devices.

My keyboard is not working

The built-in or external keyboard types nothing, misses keys, or only works after a delay.

EasyAbout 8 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • No characters appear
  • Only some keys work
  • The external keyboard is dead
  1. 01

    Rule out the obvious

    Toggle Caps Lock and Num Lock. Unplug the keyboard and try another USB port, preferably on the laptop itself rather than a hub. For wireless keyboards, replace batteries and re-pair Bluetooth.

  2. 02

    Test in another app and on the lock screen

    If the lock screen accepts the password but Word does not, the app is at fault. If nothing types anywhere, it is the device or driver.

  3. 03

    For a laptop keyboard, reseat and restart

    Turn the laptop off, wait 30 seconds, and power on. If a spill just happened, power off immediately and do not keep typing.

  4. 04

    Try an external keyboard as a workaround

    A USB keyboard lets you keep working while IT replaces a laptop keyboard. On company desktops, try a known-good keyboard from a nearby empty desk only if policy allows.

Keys are stuck, repeating, or typing the wrong characters

A key repeats on its own, the layout is wrong, or accessibility features changed how keys behave.

EasyAbout 6 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • A letter streams across the page
  • Symbols appear instead of numbers
  • You have to hold keys longer than usual
  1. 01

    Turn off Sticky Keys and Filter Keys

    Windows can enable these after Shift is pressed five times. Open Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard and turn them off if you did not mean to use them.

  2. 02

    Check the keyboard layout

    Look at the language icon on the taskbar. Switch back to your usual layout. A US/UK swap makes punctuation look “broken.”

  3. 03

    Clean around the key

    Power off and use a little compressed air. Do not pry keycaps off a laptop unless IT asks you to.

  4. 04

    Try another keyboard

    If the same key repeats on an external keyboard, it is software. If only the laptop repeats, it is hardware.

My mouse or trackpad is not working

The pointer does not move, jumps, or the trackpad is ignored while a mouse is connected.

EasyAbout 6 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • Cursor frozen
  • Trackpad dead
  • Bluetooth mouse disconnects
  1. 01

    Wake or reseat the device

    Move the mouse, replace batteries, and try another USB port. Toggle the mouse power switch. For Bluetooth, remove the device and pair it again.

  2. 02

    Turn the trackpad back on

    Some laptops disable the trackpad when a mouse is connected, or after a function-key press. Check Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad.

  3. 03

    Clean the surface and try another surface

    Optical mice fail on glass. Use a mousepad. A greasy trackpad can look “broken.”

  4. 04

    Restart and test in the BIOS or lock screen

    If the pointer works on the lock screen but not after sign-in, the profile or a driver is at fault.

Headphones or a headset are not detected

Sound still plays from the laptop speakers, or the mic is missing in calls.

EasyAbout 7 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • No device in the sound list
  • You can hear but cannot speak
  • Bluetooth pairs and then drops
  1. 01

    Select the device in Windows sound settings

    Click the speaker icon → the arrow → your headset for both output and input. USB headsets often appear as two devices.

  2. 02

    Reseat or re-pair

    Try another USB port. For Bluetooth, disconnect, forget, and pair again next to the laptop. Disable other paired audio devices that steal the profile.

  3. 03

    Allow the mic

    Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone must be on for desktop apps. Then allow Teams or Zoom specifically.

  4. 04

    Test in Sound settings

    Use the built-in test buttons. If Windows can play a sound and see mic levels, the meeting app just needs the same device selected.

My webcam is not working

The camera is black, shows another app is using it, or is missing from meeting settings.

EasyAbout 7 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • Black tile in the meeting
  • Camera in use by another application
  • Windows Camera app also fails
  1. 01

    Open the privacy shutter and remove the cover

    Many laptops have a sliding shutter next to the lens. A sticker or slider is the most common “broken camera.”

  2. 02

    Close other apps that use the camera

    Quit extra Teams windows, Zoom, Camera, and browser tabs. Then reopen one meeting app.

  3. 03

    Allow camera access

    Settings → Privacy & security → Camera must be enabled for desktop apps. Select the correct camera in the meeting device settings.

  4. 04

    Test in the Windows Camera app

    If Camera works and Teams does not, repair the meeting app. If Camera is also black, restart the laptop and try an external USB webcam as a workaround.

A USB device is not recognized

Windows plays no sound, shows an error, or never lists the drive or accessory.

ModerateAbout 8 minutes4 steps

You might notice

  • Unknown device in Device Manager
  • USB drive does not appear
  • The device works on another PC
  1. 01

    Try another port and another device

    Test a port on the laptop, not only the dock. If a known-good mouse works and the drive does not, the drive may be failing or blocked.

  2. 02

    Look for a security block

    Many companies block USB storage. Approved encrypted drives may still work. If policy blocks storage, IT will not “open the port” for a personal stick.

  3. 03

    Check Disk Management for a drive letter

    The volume may be mounted without a letter. Do not format a drive that might contain work files.

  4. 04

    Reboot and avoid unpowered hubs

    Unpowered hubs drop devices. Plug directly into the PC. Restart if Windows listed Code 43 or similar.