Laptop keys not working? Causes and fixes
Before you replace it, test this
Sometimes there's nothing wrong with the keyboard. Run these quick checks:
- Plug in a USB keyboard. If that one works fine, the problem really is the laptop's keyboard.
- Check Num Lock. If part of the keys type numbers, it's just Num Lock on.
- Confirm the keyboard language in Windows (Settings > Time & language). A Portuguese keyboard set to English swaps symbols — that's not a fault.
- Restart the laptop. A system freeze can lock keys too.
What usually kills a keyboard
- Liquids. Coffee or water get under the keys and corrode the contacts. It's the number-one cause.
- Wear. Heavily used keys (space, Enter, arrows) stop responding.
- Loose key. Sometimes it's just the little plastic clip under the key that popped off — and that's fixed without replacing the whole keyboard.
Replacing the keyboard — what to know
On laptops, the keyboard usually sits on top of the base, connected by a very thin ribbon (flat) cable. Replacing it means releasing that cable carefully, removing the old keyboard and clipping in the new one. On some models the keyboard comes off the top; on others you have to open the base. The ribbon cable is fragile — it's the part that breaks most when people rush.
Choosing the right keyboard
The keyboard has to match the exact laptop model and, ideally, the right layout (the Portuguese Ç, accents and tilde in the right place). Tell us the model and we'll confirm the part number and layout. Browse our keyboards:
If the keyboard got wet, don't power the laptop on — the sooner we see it, the less damage. Laptop repair in Lisbon.
Rather we did it for you?
We do this work every day at our shop in Entrecampos (Rua de Entrecampos 34A, Lisbon — right by the Entrecampos metro and train station). Over 8,000 devices repaired since 2023 and 4.9★ on Google.
New parts come with a 3-year legal guarantee (Portuguese law DL 84/2021). Tell us the model and we'll give you the price on the spot.