Under the keyboard, a mechanical keyboard has a real switch. When the user hits a button, this switch decides. In comparison to membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards are more prone to damage since they have mechanical components.
The keys on a mechanical keyboard not working is one of the most frequent issues for most users, whether the cause is dirt and debris, physical damage, or a defective switch. Several techniques for mending mechanical keyboard keys are covered in this post.
Why Don’t The Keys On My Mechanical Keyboard Work?
Particularly if you munch close to your mechanical keyboard, dust and other debris might get inside the key switches. Dust can prevent a key from pressing its switch when you push it if it gets inside your keyboard far enough. Mechanical keys have also been reported to stop working due to worn cables or key switches. The keys on your mechanical keyboard could not be functioning for the following reasons.
- Debris and dust
- Broken battery
- Damaged cable
- Unreliable key switches
- Older operating systems or drivers
- An OS with a unique keyboard layout
- Filter keys are turned on
What Should I Do If My Key Doesn’t Work?
If only one key is malfunctioning, the problem is usually with the switch or the keycap. When one key isn’t working, concentrating on that key is the best course of action. Remove the keycap, then scan the area for trash. Use canned air to clear it out if you notice anything. Try cleaning the key with canned air or contact cleaner if that doesn’t work, and if all else fails, replace the switch.
Mechanical Keyboard Switches As Opposed To Membrane Switches
In cheaper keyboards, membrane switches are most frequently employed. However, the oldest switches still in use in expensive keyboards are mechanical switches. They’re renowned for their dependability and accurate actuation, but they’re also noisier than other kinds of switches.
The same procedures apply for replacing damaged keys on mechanical and membrane keyboards. Nevertheless, there is a distinction between mechanical and membrane keyboards in that you must replace the entire keyboard if a liquid is spilled on it; with mechanical keyboards, you may repair each component separately.
Not Working Mechanical Keyboard Key? The Solution Is Here
If a keyboard isn’t working, there may be a hardware problem or a problem with the OS’s internal components. To get your keyboard operating again, let’s quickly go through both of them.
Make The Keyboard Clean
Every keyboard will gradually build up dust if it isn’t cleaned. This dust might prevent the switches from being depressed on a mechanical keyboard. A key problem should be resolved by cleaning the keyboard.
You may either use a can of compressed air or remove all the keys from a mechanical keyboard to fully clean them. Compressed air should only be used sparingly since it can easily cause the keyboard’s keys to come off. Utilize a keycap puller to remove the keys. Clean the dust from the spots you can’t reach with compressed air after carefully removing the keys. Another effective method for cleaning your keyboard is to use 99% isopropyl alcohol.
Replace The Batteries In The Wireless Keyboard
If you’re using a wireless mechanical keyboard, your OS could not recognize a keypress if the keyboard’s batteries are running low. See whether replacing the keyboard’s batteries resolves the problem. Connect the keyboard to a charger if it is rechargeable.
Your rechargeable keyboard’s batteries might sustain harm as well. In this case, the keyboard will continue to function so long as it is plugged into a charger. However, if you take away the charger, the Device’s Battery will stop working and the keypress won’t be recorded.
Change The Cable
A detachable USB C cable may also be included with a mechanical keyboard. Some of the cable’s functions, such as keypress detection, may also stop working if the cord is destroyed. If you notice anyhttps://mediatakeoutnews.com/look-for-these-3-things-when-shopping-for-a-samsung-5g-phone/ worn-out areas of the cable, it’s possible that this is what’s preventing the keypress from being detected. Check to see whether the problem is resolved by replacing the damaged cable with a new one.
Change The Broken Switch
As was already explained, pressing a key on a mechanical keyboard activates a switch, which then alerts the operating system. The system won’t detect anything if this switch is destroyed or internally defective. And if none of the aforementioned fixes work, there is a good chance that the switch is broken.
If your keyboard contains a hot-swappable switch, you may remove and replace keys with ease by using a switch puller. To change the switches, you might need to solder, though, if you don’t have hot-swappable switches.It might be challenging to replace switches using solder. As a result, we advise having the keyboard switched at a nearby electronics store.
Alter The Keyboard Layout
Some keys may not operate as you would want depending on the keyboard layout you select. Shift + 2 will display the * symbol rather than the @ symbol, for instance, if the layout is set to English (UK). When using a different keyboard layout, pushing a key could make you believe that it is not working.
Disable The Filter Keys
When filter keys are enabled, multiple simultaneous keystrokes are ignored. For persons with hand tremors, using this option can help prevent errant keyboard input. Enabling this feature, though, can make it appear as though your keyboard’s keys aren’t functioning.
Final Words
As you can see, there are a few different techniques to attempt to fix the damaged keys on a mechanical keyboard. But depending on how it was broken in the first place, the actions you must do can be different. Cleaning it up or using compressed air would suffice if it is dust buildup.
If the problem is more significant, though, you’ll need the appropriate replacement part to finish the job, whether it’s a broken keycap or a damaged PCB. Keep in mind that if the problem isn’t confined to a few keys or if your keyboard isn’t functioning at all, it may always be a software-related problem or, worse, the consequence of a defective motherboard.
