Guide: Fix ‘Mouse and Keyboard Not Working’ Issue in Windows 10
Some Windows 10 users are unable to use their computers due to a mouse and keyboard malfunction. Fortunately, this post outlines solutions to help get them back up and running. It’s like having a car without wheels - completely useless - so don’t let your computer suffer the same fate!
After a recent OS update, some users have experienced mouse and keyboard malfunctions. Windows settings and configurations can also be the cause of these hardware issues. To get your mouse and keyboard working again, try the solutions provided.
1. Quick Solution: Restart your PC
If your mouse and keyboard suddenly stop working at the login screen, restarting your PC may be the solution. This can help Windows recognize and communicate with the drivers responsible for their operation, allowing them to function again.
If your computer isn’t responding, a hard reboot may be necessary. To do this, remove the battery if possible or press and hold the power button to manually turn it off. After a few seconds to a minute, tap the power button again to restart your PC.
If your mouse and keyboard are not working on the welcome/home page, try the following steps to resolve the issue. If it persists, move on to the next method.
2. Troubleshoot in Safe Mode
Windows users who have experienced issues in the past have found that they can use both mouse and keyboard in safe mode. To troubleshoot, boot your computer into safe mode and try the following steps: 1, 2, 3, 4.
If your mouse and keyboard aren’t responding, booting your PC in safe mode can help.
To power down your computer, press and hold the power button.
Press and hold the power button until the PC shuts down to restart it.
On the fourth boot, Windows will enter recovery mode, allowing users to boot into safe mode and fix any issues.
Tap Troubleshoot in the recovery environment to begin the process of fixing your device.
Choose Advanced options on the Troubleshoot screen to continue.
Users should select their startup settings to complete the setup process.
Tap the Restart button in the lower right corner of the Startup Settings page to restart your device.
You can select from multiple boot options.
Press ‘4’ on your keyboard to boot into Safe Mode with Networking.
Your PC has booted into Safe Mode, allowing your mouse and keyboard to work. To fix the issue preventing them from working in normal boot mode, use the troubleshooting options provided.
1. Update / change mouse and keyboard drivers
If your mouse and keyboard aren’t working when you turn on your computer, their drivers may be incompatible with the new operating system. To fix this, update or change the drivers.
Tap the Windows key + X on your keyboard to open the quick access menu and select Device Manager.
Tap the drop-down arrow next to Keyboards, then right-click the keyboard driver and select ‘Update driver’ to ensure it is up-to-date.
Choose “Browse my computer for driver software” on the following page.
Tap the option to select from a list of drivers available on your computer.
Uncheck the “Show compatible hardware” option to complete the installation process.
Tap ‘Next’ after selecting a different driver than the one currently in use.
After installing the driver for your computer and mouse, restart both devices to ensure they are working properly. If not, try another method.
2. Disable Fast Startup
Windows 10’s fast boot feature can speed up the startup process, but it has been known to cause issues with the shutdown process and prevent mouse and keyboard input. To fix this, users should disable fast boot while in safe mode.
To save energy and improve system performance, users can turn off Fast startup in Windows 10. To do so, open the Control Panel, select Power Options, click Choose what the power buttons do, then uncheck the box next to Turn on fast startup (recommended).
Search for “Control Panel” in the Windows search box and press enter to open it.
Tap the “Hardware and Sound” option in the Control Panel.
Choose Power Management from the available options.
Tap ‘Choose what the power button is doing’ in the left pane to customize your device’s power settings.
Tap the ‘Change settings that are currently unavailable’ option to make changes.
Uncheck the ‘Enable fast startup’ option to save changes.
3. Delete recent update
If an update causes your mouse and keyboard to stop working, you’ll need to uninstall it. Until a stable version is released, this is the only way to get your hardware functioning again.
To troubleshoot computer issues, start your device in Safe Mode and follow the instructions.
Open the Windows settings menu by tapping the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
Choose ‘Update and Security’ to proceed.
Go to Windows Update and select “View update history” to access a list of installed updates.
To uninstall updates, click the Uninstall Updates button.
Opening a new window will reveal a list of all updates installed on your computer, sorted by installation date. This makes it easy to pinpoint the update that caused issues with your mouse and keyboard.
Right-click the update you wish to remove, select Uninstall, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Once you’ve unplugged your mouse and keyboard, restart your computer to get them working again.
4. System recovery
If you’ve used Windows’ built-in backup tool to create a restore point before your mouse and keyboard stopped working, you can use it to get them back up and running. To do so, boot your PC into the advanced recovery environment and follow the instructions.
To fix a problem, select Troubleshoot from the menu.
Tap the Advanced options button to access additional settings.
Choose System Restore from the available options.
Select the account or user profile to which you wish to restore.
Enter your account password or leave the box blank and tap Continue to proceed.
Choose a backup and restore it following the instructions.
Warning: System recovery will erase any changes made to your PC since the last backup/ restore point. To avoid losing important data, back it up on an external drive before proceeding.
Get things working again
Windows updates may bring new features, but they can also cause disruption to your PC’s hardware, such as mouse and keyboard issues. If you’re experiencing this problem, one of the solutions listed above should help get your computer back in working order.
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Final note
If you’re having trouble with your mouse and keyboard in Windows 10, this guide can help. Got questions? Ask us. And don’t forget to share the love by sharing the article with your friends.
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