Windows Key Not Working on Windows 11? Here’s How to Fix It
Stop pressing it repeatedly in frustration
Doespressing the Windows key do nothingon your Windows 11 PC? There are various reasons this key stops working. Most often than not, the cause of the issue is a software or setting option, which you can resolve by toggling an option on or off. We’ll show you how to fix your Windows key.
Some reasonsyour Windows key doesn’t workare that your gaming keyboard or Game Mode has turned off the key, your PC has a minor glitch, your keyboard drivers are outdated, and more.
Before following the software troubleshooting tips below, ensure your Windows key isn’t physically stuck. If that’s the case, the methods below won’t work, as you’ll have to fix your key physically.
Turn On the Windows Key Option on Your Gaming Keyboard
Some gaming keyboards, such as the ones from Logitech, offer a button that lets you enable gaming mode andturn off your Windows key. These keyboards do that so you don’t interrupt your gaming experience by accidentally pressing the Windows key.
In this case, you can make your Win button work by turning off the toggle on your gaming keyboard. Look around the various feature keys on your keyboard, findthe key that stops the Windows buttonand enables gaming mode, and turn off that toggle.
Your Windows key will then start working.
Disable Game Mode on Microsoft Windows 11
In addition to enabling the Windows key on your gaming keyboard, disable Windows 11’s Game Mode to make your Windows button work. This mode optimizes your PC for gaming performance, which can sometimes affect the workings of your keyboard’s various keys.
Restart Your Windows 11 PC
Your PC’s minor glitches can sometimes cause your keyboard keys not to work. These minor problems often occur out of the blue. One way to fix these is toturn off and back on your Windows 11 PC.
Doing that turns off all your PC’s features and then reloads those features, resolving any minor problems with the system.
Disconnect and Reconnect Your Keyboard to Your PC
Sometimes,a faulty physical connection between your keyboard and your PCcan make your keys dysfunctional. In this case, you can try to fix the issue by disconnecting and reconnecting your keyboard to your computer.
Simply unplug the keyboard from your PC, wait for about 30 seconds, and then plug the keyboard back into the PC. If your Windows key still doesn’t work, use another port on your computer to connect your keyboard.
Use Windows 11’s Keyboard Troubleshooter
Windows 11 offers many troubleshooters to allow you to find and fix issues with various devices on your machine. One of these is a Keyboard troubleshooter, and as the name implies, this tool allows you to find andresolve issues with your PC’s keyboard.
The tool runs on its own for the most part and automatically detects and fixes your keyboard’s issues.
Update Keyboard Drivers on Your Windows PC
Your keyboard uses a piece of software called drivers to communicate with your PC. Sometimes, these drivers become corrupted, causing various issues with your devices. Outdated drivers can also cause specific keys to not work on your keyboard.
In this case,update your keyboard drivers on your PC, and your issue will be resolved.
Fix Windows Key by Disabling Windows 11’s Filter Keys
The Filters keys feature changes how your keys behaveon your Windows 11 PC. It’s worth toggling off this feature when you find that your keyboard keys aren’t working as you expect.
Force Windows 11 to Rescan Your Keyboard Mapping
Windows 11 scans your keyboard and stores the key mapping data in the registry. This registry entry might have become corrupt, causing your Windows key not to work.
In this case, delete that registry entry, andWindows will rescan your keyboardand create an error-free new entry.
Note that you don’t have to do anything if you don’t find theScancode Mapentry in your Windows registry.
Clean Boot Your Windows 11 Operating System
A malicious app installed on your PC can cause your Windows key not to work. If your key has stopped working after you installed a specific app on your PC, that app may be the culprit.
You can verify that by clean booting your Windows PC. Clean booting ensures your PC only loads the required files to turn on the system, letting you find out if your third-party apps are problematic.
Check out our guide onhow to clean boot your Windows PC. If your Windows button works in that mode,uninstall the recently installed appsfrom your PC by heading intoSettings>Apps>Apps & features.
Replace Your Keyboard
If your Windows key still doesn’t work, it’s likely your keyboard or your key is physically damaged. In this case, none of the above methods will fix your issue, as your key or your entire keyboard needs to be replaced.
There are many good keyboard options on the market, and you can get one from there to replace your faulty keyboard. This will resolve your issue, and you’ll be able to use your Windows key.
Make the Windows Key Works on Your Windows 11 PC
Your Win key stops working for various reasons on your Windows 11 PC. You may have configured an option that disables the key, or your keyboard has turned off the key’s function. Regardless of the cause, the guide above will help you fix the issue and get your Windows key working again.
Mahesh has been obsessed with technology since he got his first gadget a decade or so ago. Over the last few years, he’s written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm.Read Mahesh’s Full Bio
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