How to Fix Windows Key Not Working Windows 11. The Windows key on your keyboard is important for navigation. It opens the Start menu, and is needed for many keyboard shortcuts.
If it stops working, you can try to fix Windows key not working in Windows 11.
How to Fix Windows Key Not Working Windows 11?
Fix Windows Key Not Working (Basics)
When the entire keyboard isn’t working, it can be as simple as troubleshooting. Try reconnecting it by unplugging and replugging the keyboard cable. You can do this by first plugging it back into the USB port it’s already using. If that doesn’t work, try a different USB port.
Also try a different keyboard. If the Windows key works on another keyboard, the problem might be with the keyboard itself. However, if it still doesn’t work on the secondary keyboard, the problem is with the PC.
If that doesn’t work, try restarting your PC. This will close any potentially interfering applications and restart Windows. Hopefully one of these two options will make the Windows key work again. If not, continue with the more key-specific steps below.
Unlock the Windows Key Lock
Depending on your keyboard type, there may be a “Win Lock” button or switch. This is a common feature of mechanical gaming keyboards to help you avoid game crashes.
Look for the “Win Lock” key in the upper right corner of the keyboard. It can also be a mechanical switch on the side of the keyboard. Consult your manufacturer’s support documentation if you’re not sure if you have a Win Lock key or how to disable it.
Disable Game Mode
One of the common problems with a non-working Windows key is Game Mode. The game mode lets you make the most of your system resources for a better experience. It also disables selected background processes and keys, including the Windows key. After disabling the Windows key, the Start menu does not appear while playing a game.
Note that Game Mode is only available on select keyboards that support it – for example, Logitech gaming keyboards. If your keyboard has a “Gaming Mode” button, make sure it is turned off. You can also turn it on or off using the keyboard software.
You can also turn off game mode in Windows 11 by hitting Start, then typing game mode – select the best match result.
In the Settings menu that appears, slide the game mode switch to the off position.
Check Keyboard Drivers
One of the problems with your PC can be keyboard drivers, especially if you’re using an expensive gaming keyboard or specialized keyboard for accessibility.
To check for driver updates, right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
Scroll down and expand the Keyboards tree in the Device Manager window. Right-click the connected keyboard and select Update Driver. Follow any additional on-screen instructions.
You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. To do this, right-click the connected keyboard and select Uninstall, then restart your computer. Windows should automatically reinstall the keyboard driver when you restart your computer.
If Windows doesn’t find a driver, check the keyboard manufacturer’s support site for the latest drivers.
Turn Off Filter Keys
The Filter Keys option allows the keyboard to ignore repeated keystrokes. If the filter keys are enabled, this can cause the Windows key to stop working in Windows 11.
To make sure the filter keys are disabled, open the Start menu and select Settings. Then hit Accessibility> Keyboard. In the Keyboard menu, make sure Filter Keys is turned off.
Make Windows Rescan the Keyboard
Windows will store information about your keyboard layout using a special digital map called ScanMap. This is an area in the registry that allows Windows to determine what to do when you press a key on the keyboard.
If this data is corrupted in any way, you may need to reset Windows key information by modifying the registry.
Note: The Registry is the lifeblood of Windows. If you make the wrong change, your PC may become unstable (or worse). Be sure to back up the registry, create a restore point, or have a full system backup on hand before continuing. Additionally, the registry entry for this may not be available on your computer. But it’s worth checking it out.
To force Windows to rescan your keyboard mappings, right-click the Start button and select Run.
In the Run dialog box, type regedit and then click OK or press Enter.
Then navigate to the following path (you can copy and paste it):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout
On the right side, find and delete the Scan Code Map value. Restart your computer – Windows will remap your keyboard after restarting. Remember that if you don’t see the Scancode Map value, you don’t need to do anything. It just isn’t available on your computer, so this step won’t be available to you.
Run a PowerShell Command
If the Windows key is still disabled, you can use a PowerShell script to enable it. Do this by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Windows Terminal (Admin).
Note: This option is generally safe, but create a restore point first before proceeding. Then you can undo if something goes wrong.
Type the following command (you can copy and paste it) and hit Enter to restore the Windows key:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
After executing the command, the Windows key should work again.
Boot into Safe Mode
Booting Windows 11 into Safe Mode runs the minimum required processes, services, and applications. It also doesn’t have any fancy graphics – just the bare minimum to run Windows. This is a good troubleshooting step when one driver or application is interfering with another.
After booting into safe mode, open the run prompt (right-click the start menu and press run) and type msconfig to open the system configuration window. Click the Services tab and check the Hide all Microsoft services box.
Now it’s a long process. Disable each service one by one and restart your PC to see if that fixes the problem. You can also press Disable all and restart, then re-enable each service individually.
While this may take some time, it’s the best way to find third-party apps or services that might be preventing your keyboard (and Windows key) from working.
Using a Windows 11 keyboard
If your Windows key isn’t working in Windows 11, one of the steps above should help resolve the issue. If nothing works, there is most likely a problem with the hardware itself. No keyboard lasts forever and you may have to try replacing it.
Windows 11 may be stable, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. There are many troubleshooting tips you can try to resolve other issues. For example, if your Windows File Explorer isn’t working properly, you might be able to resolve the issue with some general troubleshooting steps.
If your Windows muscle memory is struggling with the new Start menu location, don’t panic. You can move the Start menu to the left to make the transition from Windows 10 to 11 easier.
That it! How How to Fix Windows Key Not Working in Windows 11. Thanks for visiting our site, Suntamah.com.