Lenovo laptop keyboard not working: some keys or all of them

A few dead keys, letters that type numbers, a keyboard that has stopped responding altogether: keyboard faults on Lenovo laptops are common, and they aren’t always hardware. Before you book a replacement, work through these checks. They take ten minutes and they will tell you whether it is a setting, Windows, or the keyboard itself.

Settings that make keys behave strangely

• FnLock. On most Lenovo laptops, Fn+Esc toggles FnLock, and a small light on the Esc key shows when it is on. If F1 to F12 change the volume and brightness instead of acting as function keys, or the other way round, this is why. The default can also be changed in Lenovo Vantage or the BIOS.
• Num Lock. IdeaPads and Legions with a number pad: if the numbers don’t work, press Num Lock. On some compact models without a number pad, certain letter keys type numbers when Num Lock is on.
• Filter Keys. Holding the right Shift key for eight seconds turns on Windows Filter Keys, which ignores quick keypresses and makes the keyboard seem dead. Check Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn it off.
• Keyboard backlight. If the keys work but the backlight doesn’t, try Fn+Space, which cycles the backlight on ThinkPads and most IdeaPads and Yogas.

Test it outside Windows

This one test separates software faults from hardware faults. Restart the laptop and open the BIOS: tap F2 as the logo appears on IdeaPad, Yoga and Legion models, or press Enter then F1 on a ThinkPad. Use the arrow keys to move around and look at nothing else.

• The keys work in the BIOS but not in Windows: it is software. In Device Manager, uninstall the keyboard device under Keyboards and restart so Windows reinstalls it. Also check for Windows updates and a Lenovo BIOS update. If it is still faulty, our software repair service can sort out driver problems or a damaged Windows installation.
• The same keys don’t work in the BIOS either: it is hardware. That means the keyboard itself, its ribbon cable, or occasionally the connector on the motherboard.

If you need to keep working in the meantime, a cheap USB keyboard or the Windows on-screen keyboard (Win+Ctrl+O) will do the job.

Common hardware causes

• A spill. Even a small spill can leave residue under the keys, causing sticky keys or a whole row that stops working. If something was spilled recently, read what to do after a spill, and see liquid damage repairs.
• A broken key clip. A single key that has come off or wobbles often just needs a new keycap and hinge clip.
• A loose ribbon cable after a drop, or after a repair elsewhere. The whole keyboard, or a block of keys, stops working.
• Wear. Heavily used keys eventually stop registering, especially on older ThinkPads and IdeaPads.

What a keyboard replacement involves

It depends on the model. Many ThinkPads have a keyboard that comes out as a separate part, which makes it a quick and inexpensive replacement. On many IdeaPads, Yogas and slimmer laptops, the keyboard is riveted to the top case around the trackpad, so we replace the keyboard and top case together as one part. We stock or source the correct UK layout, backlit where your model has a backlight.

See our Lenovo keyboard replacement service, or use the repair price calculator for an idea of the cost.

Book a Lenovo repair

Bring your laptop to our London SE1 workshop (Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm), or we can arrange a courier collection from anywhere in the UK. Tell us the model and which keys are affected, and we agree the price with you before any work starts.

Call 020 7394 2525, email info@creativeit.tv, or book a repair online.

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