My dell laptop keyboard key not working

Provide the system model and the OS installed. Which key is not working?  What have you done to try and remedy the issue with the key?

If a key on your laptop is not working, follow these steps to troubleshoot the problem:

• Unresponsive Key: The key does not respond when pressed.
• Input Lag: There is a delay between pressing the key and the input appearing on the screen.
• Incorrect Characters: Pressing a key results in a different character appearing.

1. Inspect for Physical Damage or Debris:
   • Check the keyboard for any physical damage or debris that may be obstructing the key.
   • Use a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth to clean the keyboard and compressed air to remove dust.
2. Test the Keyboard Outside the Operating System:
   • Shut down your laptop and restart it.
   • Tap the F12 key at startup to access the boot menu. If it works, the keyboard is functioning.
3. Run Diagnostics:
   • Access the diagnostics menu and perform a custom test on the keyboard.
   • Note any error codes and contact Dell Technical Support if necessary.
4. Update Drivers and BIOS:
   • Use SupportAssist to check for driver and BIOS updates.
   • If SupportAssist is not installed, you can manually update drivers through the Device Manager.
5. Check Keyboard Layout:
   • Ensure the keyboard layout is set correctly in Windows Settings under Time & language.
6. Use an External Keyboard:
   • If the laptop keyboard is still not working, consider using an external USB or Bluetooth keyboard as a temporary solution.

• Restart your computer after making changes.
• If the issue persists, contact Dell Technical Support for further assistance.

To receive assistance from Dell chat support, they need to verify the warranty status and ownership. Then you must troubleshoot with them.  Click the "Get Help Now" icon on the right to start a live chat session. If already out of warranty, click here for the Dell out of warranty offering.