How To Fix Ctrl + F Not Working On Windows 11/10

Ctrl + F shortcut is such a handy and useful shortcut with which you can easily find words, phrases, or other data in an otherwise large document easily. But, what if this shortcut refuses to work out of the blue? Would you go through the difficulty of finding something important from an enormous ocean of data? Obviously not!

So, if Ctrl + F is not working on your Windows 11/10 PC, here are some ways you can fix the issue.

Probable Reasons Why Ctrl + F is Not Working

Presence of corrupted system files.
Sticky keys are not enabled.
Dirt, debris, and other foreign bodies under the keys of your keyboard.
Corrupt DLL files.
Outdated or corrupted keyboard driver

Also Read: How To Fix Alt + F4 Keyboard Shortcut Not Working on Windows 11

5 Best Solutions For “Ctrl + F Not Working” On Windows PC

Solution No. 1 – Perform A Hardware Check

Before jumping on any advanced troubleshooting steps, take a cotton swab or lint-free cloth and clean dirt, debris, or other foreign bodies that may have gotten under the keys of your keyboard. Pay special attention to both the Ctrl keys and make sure that you have cleaned it properly.

This will ensure that there is no problem with your keyboard – whether it is an external keyboard or your laptop’s keyboard.

Solution No. 2 – Take the Help of The Keyboard Troubleshooter

In case Ctrl + F is not working, chances are there are issues with your keyboard. Windows itself provides a facility with which you can scan for any issues related to your keyboard. Here are the steps to use Windows Keyboard Troubleshooter regardless of whether you are using Windows 11 or Windows 10 –

In Windows 10 –

Step 1 – Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.

Step 2 – Scroll down and click on Update & Security > Troubleshoot.

Step 3 – Click on Additional troubleshooters.

Step 4 – Select Keyboard and click on Run the troubleshooter.

In Windows 11 –

Step 1 – Open Settings, go to System.

Step 2 – From the right-hand side click on Troubleshoot.

Step 3 – Click on Other troubleshooters.

Step 4 – From the next screen, click on Run next to Keyboard.

In some versions of Windows 11, you may not find the “Keyboard troubleshooter”. In that case, you can move to the next step.

Solution No. 3 – Re-Register DLL File

One of the reasons why Ctrl + F might not be functioning properly could be that your DLL file has most likely become corrupted. Here’s how you can re-register it using the Command Prompt:

Step 1 – Type cmd in the Windows search bar and from the right-hand side, select Run as administrator.

Step 2 – When the Command Prompt opens copy and paste regsvr32 oleacc.dll and press Enter.

Step 3 – Restart your computer and check if Ctrl + F is working or not.

If not, keep the Command Prompt window open and head on to the next solution.

Solution No. 4 – Run The SFC Scan

Corrupted system files are often the reason behind many Windows-related issues and if Ctrl + F shortcut is not working, corrupt system files could be blamed. An SFC Scan via the Administrative Command prompt is probably the best way to fix them and here are the steps to do that –

Step 1 – In the Command Prompt window type sfc /scannow and press Enter

Step 2 – Wait for the scan to get over.

Solution No. 5 – Enable Sticky Keys

Sticky keys let you use shortcut keys like Ctrl, Shift, Alt, or Windows key by pressing one key at a time. This means, for example, after you have turned Sticky Keys on, you can simply press the Ctrl key once and then press the “C” key on the keyboard to copy things.

In Windows 11 –

Step 1 – Press Windows + I and open Settings.

Step 2 – Click on Accessibility from the left-hand pane.

Step 3 – From the right-hand side, scroll down and click on Keyboard.

Step 4 – Toggle on the switch next to Sticky keys.

Alternatively, you can switch on sticky keys, press the Shift key 5 times.