Windows 11 keyboard or mouse not working? 7 fixes to try

2 min read · 7 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

A keyboard or mouse that stops responding is rarely broken. Far more often it is the port, the batteries or the wireless link. Start with the hardware and look at the drivers last.

These steps are for Windows 11. The pictures are simplified diagrams of the Settings window, not screenshots, so colours and spacing on your PC look a little different.

Step by step

1. Unplug it and plug it in again

   Pull out the USB cable, wait a little so that Windows unloads the driver, and plug it back in.

   Done

2. Try another USB port

   Use a different port, directly on the PC. If you use a USB hub, check that it has power, or leave it out for the test. Look at the cable for damage.

   Done

3. Wireless: check the batteries

   Put in fresh batteries or charge the device fully. Check that its power switch is on. Clean away dirt that blocks keys or the sensor under the mouse.

   Done

4. Wireless: reset the connection

   Unplug the small USB receiver, wait 10 seconds and plug it in again. Some devices and receivers also have a Reset or Connect button on the underside. Press it.

   Done

5. Bluetooth: pair it again

   For a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, remove the device under Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Devices, and pair it again. See Windows 11 Bluetooth not working: 8 fixes to try.

   Done

6. Test it on another computer

   If the device does not work on a second computer either, the device itself is faulty. If it works there, the problem is on your PC.

   Done

7. Install updates and update the driver

   Open Settings, Windows Update and click Check for updates. Then type device manager into the search box, open Keyboards or Mice and other pointing devices, double-click the device, open the Driver tab and click Update Driver.

   Done

Good to know

With no working mouse you can still get around: the Tab key moves between fields, Enter confirms, and Windows + I opens Settings. With no working keyboard, Windows has an on-screen keyboard under Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.

A laptop touchpad can be switched off by a function key, often F6 to F9 with a touchpad symbol, or under Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Touchpad.

If the whole PC is frozen and not only the keyboard, see Windows 11 black screen: 8 fixes to try for the forced restart.

In short: Replug, other port, batteries, receiver out for 10 seconds, pair again, test on another computer, updates and driver.