At some point during the use of your PC, you may encounter shift keys that behave as if they were attached to the rest of the keyboard.
While inconvenient and somewhat awkward, it’s a fairly common problem for most users who spend a lot of time typing on their computers. Whether caused by an external source or just a simple software misconfiguration, this article will discuss ways to fix this problem.
Common signs of a Shift key not working problem
1. The Shift key cannot be used with other keys
Sometimes you will notice that your shift key doesn’t work. It also happens with other keys on the keyboard. One thing you should do when this happens is to try a different keyboard and see if it works. If not, you may need to change the entire keyboard for this to take effect.
2. When most keyboard keys stick or just won’t Cypress
If you find yourself in a stuck key situation, you’ll find that it may be a mechanical problem with your keyboard and shift key. You may need to replace it to avoid such problems in the future.
3. When most keyboard keys stick or just won’t Cypress
This can happen for a variety of reasons, but is usually caused by a loose connection between the keyboard keys and the motherboard. If this happens to your keyboard, it’s wise to replace it immediately before more damage occurs.
4. When some keys are not recognized
One of the most common symptoms of a shift key not working is that only some of the keys are recognized. For example, when pressing shift + 2 or @ doesn’t work, it may be because the keyboard doesn’t remember the SHIFT key on the right.
5. The entire keyboard does not respond.
It can sometimes happen after you spill something on the keyboard or drink alcohol while using the laptop. The good news is that this can be easily fixed by simply cleaning the keyboard with a damp cloth or vacuuming out any dust that might have gotten into the space between the keys.
6. Keyboard character mismatch
Here’s another example of a problem with the shift key not working. When you press the Shift key, nothing appears on the screen, or the characters that appear do not match what you typed. For example, when you press a capital “A”, a small “a” appears, or there is no output. This indicates that your keyboard keys are not working properly.
1. Run Safe Mode
If the problem only occurs in certain programs, it may be related to a software conflict problem (eg: if you type in Word but don’t encounter it in Notepad). Running in Safe Mode can help you determine if this is the case. Methods as below:
step 1: go start and select set up.
Step 2: click Updates and Security†
Step 3: click recover, then click restart Now under Advanced Startup.
Step 4: click Troubleshootingadvanced options, start up settings, then reboot.
2. Disable the Sticky Keys feature
Sticky Keys allows you to press a modifier key (i.e. Ctrl, Alt, Shift) and keep it active until another key is pressed. It is specially designed for people with physical limitations, but five consecutive mis-pressing of the shift key will cause the machine to be turned on by mistake.
The good news is that it can be easily turned off, as described above. This fix is known to work in many cases where the Shift key doesn’t work.
To disable this feature:
step 1: go control panel
Step 2: Accessibility Options
Step 3: go keyboard tab
Step 4: make sure to use sticky keys Option not selected.
3. Check your keyboard driver
You may find that your shift key does not work on your Windows computer due to the wrong keyboard driver installed on your system. Follow the steps below to check the driver.
Step 1: Right click Your PC and open properties
Step 2: click device Manager
Step 3: Find the keyboard under Device Manager.
Step 4: Right-click a standard PS/2 keyboard and click Uninstall Device.
4. Check your hardware
If you’re having trouble with your keyboard, the first thing to do is to check your hardware. A physical object may be blocking the shift key, or the key may be stuck where it was pressed. First check the area of the shift key to see if you can spot anything that might interfere with its function. If that doesn’t work, follow the process below:
step 1: Unplug the keyboard’s USB from the PC
Step 2: Gently turn the keyboard upside down.
Step 3: Look for any debris or dust inside the hole near the space bar. Make sure there is no dust or debris on the keyboard. If there is, clean it up and reinsert the keyboard.
5. Check the Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center software.
The software allows you to program mouse buttons with certain commands, such as opening a specific program when pressed. Mouse and Keyboard Center software has a similar function for your keyboard keys.
In some cases, this program may interfere with the proper function of a particular key when pressed at the same time as another key or button on the mouse. Try uninstalling this program to see if that solves your problem – you can always reinstall it if needed.
6. Use the latest drivers
The first thing you should do when installing Windows 10 is to check for updates or download the latest drivers for your hardware. This ensures that your hardware is compatible with Windows 10 and runs optimally. Suppose you don’t have access to newer hardware drivers.
In this case, you will need to manually update your drivers using Microsoft’s Upgrade Assistant tool before continuing with the installation.
wrap up
Needless to say, many things can cause pain when you’re trying to fix a computer problem, and there may be multiple ways to fix it. Your approach depends on your skill level and how much time and effort you wish to devote to the problem.