Fix: Windows Key Not Working on Windows 11/10

When you press it with other keys, it can also be a quick way to get to utilities that aren’t easy to get to through your computer’s GUI. But what if you Fix Windows Key Not Working?

This could be because of hardware, drivers, the game mode, physical damage, or a number of other things. You’ve come to the right place if you need help with this. Because we will show you several ways to fix a broken Windows key in this detailed guide.

8 Fix: Windows Key Not Working on Windows 11/10

Restart your Windows/File Explorer

1. Open your Task Manager. For this purpose, you can use the Ctrl+Alt+Delete or the Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut.
2. Navigate to the Details tab.
3. Locate explorer.exe. Right-click on it and select End task. After this procedure, your screen is supposed to go black. Do not worry – that’s part of the fix.
4. Open your Task Manager again.
5. Click File. Select Run new task from the drop-down menu.
6. The Create new task window will appear. Type ‘explorer.exe’ into it (without quotes).
7. Press Enter.

Enable the Windows logo key via Windows Registry

1. Right-click on your Start menu icon and opt for Run.
2. Type ‘regedit’ without quotes to launch Registry Editor.
3. Then navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout.
4. In the right pane, locate Scancode Map.
5. Right-click on it and select Delete.

Check your Start menu

1. Right-click on your Windows logo icon on the taskbar.
2. Select Run from the drop-down menu.
3. Type ‘regedit’ (without quotes).
4. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
5. Go to the right panel and click on it.
6. Select New -> DWORD (32-bit) value.
7. Call it EnableXamlStartMenu.

Disable the Filter Keys option

1. Right-click on your Start menu icon.
2. Select Settings from the menu.
3. Navigate to Ease of Access and click on it.
4. Go to the left pane and click Keyboard.
5. Locate the Filter Keys feature.
6. Toggle it off.

Update your keyboard drivers

1. Right-click on your Start menu icon.
2. Select Device Manager from the list of options.
3. Navigate to your keyboard.
4. Right-click on the device and select Update driver.
5. Let Device Manager search for the necessary driver online.

Run a full system scan

1. Open your Start menu and click the Settings gear.
2. Go to Update & Security. Select Windows Defender.
3. Then click Open Windows Defender.
4. Move to the shield icon, which is in the left pane.
5. Click Advanced scan and select Full scan.

Create a new user account

1. Click on the Start menu and choose “Settings.” You can alternatively use the Windows + I keyboard shortcut from the on-screen keyboard as well.
2. Click on the “Accounts” tile.
3. Switch to the “Family & other users” tab using the panel navigation on the left side.
4. Scroll down and click on the “Add someone else to this PC” button. The fastest way to create a new user for yourself is offline — we’ll be using this method to create the account.
5. Instead of signing in to a Microsoft account, click on the “I don’t have this person’s sign-in information” link.
6. Next, click on the “Add a user without a Microsoft account” link.
7. Type in a username and opt

Use the DISM from the Command Prompt

1. Press the Windows + R keys on the on-screen keyboard. This is going to bring up the Run utility.
2. Type in “cmd” and press the Ctrl + Shift + Enter keys on your keyboard. By doing so, you’re launching the Command Prompt with administrative permissions.
3. If prompted, click Yes to allow the Command Prompt to make changes on your device.
4. Once in the Command Prompt, type in the following command and press Enter to execute it: sfc /scannow
5. Wait for the SFC scan to finish scanning your computer and repairing corrupt files. This may take a long time; ensure that you don’t close the Command Prompt or shut your computer down.
6. Restart your device after the scan is complete.

What causes the Windows key not working issue?

• Hardware issue. If your keyboard is damaged physically, it could lead to issues with its functioning. This is most commonly damage to the cable used to connect the hardware to your PC. Wireless keyboards are less likely to have this issue.
• A new major Windows 10 update rolled out. Sometimes major Windows 10 updates can break things on your computer. It’s possible that a driver update is required to fix your hardware, especially if you use a gaming keyboard.
• Windows 10’s Game Mode interferes with your keyboard. Specific keyboards such as Razer Blackwidow are known to have conflicts with Windows 10’s Game Mode. Disable gaming mode to fix the error following our guide below.
• The Windows key has been disabled. Some users have noticed that the Windows key isn’t functioning because it’s been disabled in the system. It might’ve been disabled by an application, a person, malware, or Game Mode.
• Windows 10’s Filter Key bug. There’s a known bug in Windows 10’s Filter Key feature which causes issues with typing on the login screen.