How to Reset Keyboard Settings on Windows 10 & Windows 11

December 26, 2025 Olajide

A malfunctioning keyboard can bring your productivity to a screeching halt. Whether you’re dealing with keys that type the wrong characters, a completely unresponsive keyboard, or strange behaviors like sticky modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, Alt), restoring your settings to default is often the fastest cure.

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step walkthrough of how to reset keyboard settings on Windows, progressing from simple, quick fixes to more comprehensive solutions. We’ll cover methods for Windows 10 and Windows 11, ensuring you can restore normal function regardless of your issue or skill level.

Table of Contents

Before You Begin: Quick Checks & Prerequisites

Run through this quick checklist before diving into resets. Sometimes the solution is simple!

Check Physical Connections: For wired keyboards, unplug and replug the USB cable. For wireless models, ensure the keyboard is charged, turned on, and re-paired via Bluetooth.
Try a Different USB Port or Computer: This helps determine if the issue is with the port or the keyboard itself.
Test with On-Screen Keyboard: Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and turn on On-Screen Keyboard. If it works, the issue is likely with your physical keyboard or its software.
Create a System Restore Point (Recommended): Before using advanced methods, it’s wise to create a restore point. Type “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar, select your system drive, and click “Create.” This allows you to undo changes if needed.

Method 1: The Simplest Fix – Reset Keyboard Settings in Windows

This is the first and safest method, addressing software-level settings like key repeat rate, sticky keys, and language layouts.

For Windows 11:

Open Settings (Win + I).
Go to Time & Language > Typing.
Scroll down and click on Advanced keyboard settings.
Click on Input language hot keys (or Language bar options in some builds).
In the Text Services and Input Languages window, go to the Advanced Key Settings tab.
Here, you can see and reset sequences for “Between input languages.” To reset more thoroughly, proceed to the next step.
Go back to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices.
Find your keyboard in the list, click the three dots (More options), and select “Remove device.” Then, reconnect it.

For Windows 10:

Open Settings (Win + I).
Go to Devices > Typing.
Scroll down and click on Advanced keyboard settings.
Click on Input language hot keys. This opens the classic Text Services and Input Languages dialog.
Navigate to the Advanced Key Settings tab. You can review and reset hotkeys for switching input methods here.
To reset ease-of-access settings: Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard. Toggle off any enabled features like Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, or Toggle Keys.

Also Read, How to Clear Cache on a Windows PC

Method 2: Reinstall the Keyboard Driver via Device Manager

This method is excellent for fixing driver corruption, which often causes keyboards to be unresponsive or detected incorrectly. It forces Windows to install a fresh, default driver.

Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Expand the Keyboards section.
Right-click on your keyboard device (e.g., Standard PS/2 Keyboard, HID Keyboard Device) and select Uninstall device.⚠️ Warning: Do not check “Delete the driver software for this device” unless you are an advanced user and have a backup driver. We want Windows to reinstall the default driver.
Click Uninstall.
Once uninstalled, click the Action menu at the top of Device Manager and select Scan for hardware changes. Windows will automatically detect the “new” hardware and reinstall the default driver.
Restart your computer to complete the process.

Method 3: Reset All Language & Region Input Settings

If you’re experiencing issues with incorrect characters (e.g., typing “@” instead of quotes), your keyboard layout or language pack may be corrupted.

Open Settings (Win + I).
Go to Time & Language > Language & region (Windows 11) or Time & Language > Language (Windows 10).
Under your preferred language (e.g., English (United States)), click the three dots (…) or Options button.
Remove all keyboard layouts except the one you primarily use (e.g., US QWERTY). You can remove extras by clicking on them and selecting Remove.
Add a new default layout: Click “Add a keyboard” and re-add your preferred layout (e.g., US). Then, remove any old or duplicate entries.
As a nuclear option: You can remove the language pack entirely and re-add it. Windows will rebuild all associated keyboard settings from scratch.

Method 4: How to Reset Keyboard Settings on Windows Using System Restore (For Widespread Issues)

If your keyboard problems started recently after a Windows update, driver installation, or software change, System Restore can revert your entire PC state to a point when the keyboard worked.

Type “Create a restore point” in the Windows search bar and open the result.
In the System Properties window, click the System Restore… button.
Click Next and choose a restore point from a date and time before the keyboard issues began.
Follow the on-screen prompts. Your PC will restart, and system files/settings (including drivers and registries related to keyboards) will be reverted.

✅ Tip: This does not affect your personal files like documents or photos, but it will uninstall apps and drivers installed after the restore point was created.

Method 5: Advanced – Reset via Group Policy Editor (Pro/Enterprise Editions)

If you are on Windows Pro, Enterprise, or Education editions and are dealing with enforced policy settings, you can check here.

Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter.
Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
In the right pane, look for policies related to the keyboard or input method. Double-click any that are Enabled and set them to Not Configured to revert to default.
Restart your PC.

Method 6: Last Resort – Clean Reinstall the Driver (Advanced)

If standard driver reinstallation fails, this more thorough method ensures a completely clean driver state.

Boot Windows in Safe Mode (search “msconfig” and under the Boot tab, check “Safe boot”).
Open Device Manager as in Method 2.
Uninstall your keyboard device, but this time, check the box that says “Delete the driver software for this device.”
Restart your PC. Windows will boot into normal mode and install the most basic default HID driver it can find.
For optimal functionality, you can then visit your PC or keyboard manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest official driver.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will resetting my keyboard settings delete my personal files?

No. None of the methods in this guide will delete documents, photos, or personal data. System Restore may uninstall recently added applications but leaves personal files untouched.

What if my keyboard still doesn’t work after all these steps?

This strongly indicates a hardware failure. Try the keyboard on another computer. If it fails there, the keyboard itself is likely faulty. If it works, the issue may be with your computer’s USB port, motherboard, or a deeper Windows system corruption, which may require a Windows Repair Install (Reset This PC while keeping files).

How do I reset a laptop’s built-in keyboard?

The process is identical. Laptop keyboards are listed in Device Manager under Keyboards and often as an “ACPI” or “PS/2” device. Follow Method 2 for driver reinstallation. Also, ensure you haven’t accidentally enabled an “On-Screen Keyboard” or “Filter Keys” setting that might interfere.

Can I reset just the sticky key or filter key settings?

Yes. Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard. You can individually toggle off Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Toggle Keys. Clicking on their names often provides additional options to reset their specific behaviors.

My keyboard types numbers instead of letters. How do I fix this?

This usually means Num Lock is on, activating the number pad on some laptop keyboards. Press the Num Lock key (often labeled NumLk or accessed via Fn + NumLk). If the problem persists, use Method 3 to ensure your keyboard layout is set correctly (e.g., US QWERTY, not US Numeric).

Conclusion: Start Simple, Then Progress

Keyboard issues can be frustrating, but a systematic approach usually resolves them. Start with Method 1 to reset basic settings. If the problem is driver-related (keys not registering, device not detected), Method 2 is your best bet. For character mapping issues, use Method 3. For problems that appeared after a system change, Method 4 (System Restore) is a powerful tool.

By following this guide, you’ve not only worked to fix your keyboard input but have also learned valuable Windows troubleshooting skills to tackle similar device problems in the future