The Enter key or the Return key on the keyboard is one of the most important keys as it performs the most important function of carrying out a task. This key is used in word processing software to change the line only, but otherwise, it is used instead of the highlighted OK buttons on most applications and Windows dialog boxes. Unlike certain keys like the numbers, ALT, Shift, and CTRL, there is generally one Enter key on a keyboard. If this key is not working, it can cause quite a discomfort in using your PC. Hence before you consider replacing your keyboard, try these specific fixes that might help resolve this issue.
Steps On How To Fix Enter Key Not Working on Windows 10?
Option 1: Reboot Your System
The most common fix that has seemed to resolve many small and temporary issues is to power off your computer and restart it after a couple of minutes. There is no clear understanding of why this works or why the issue occurred in the first place.
In the case of a laptop, press the power button for 30 secs and let the system power off. Restart after a couple of minutes and check the Enter key on the Keyboard.
Option 2: Reinstall The Driver
The drivers are the tiny pieces of programs that help establish communication between the hardware and the Operating System. Any application that needs the hardware to display video or transmit sound needs to communicate with the OS, which sends the messages and commands to the drivers, and finally, they reach the actual hardware. Thus if the Enter key or a few other keys do not work on your keyboard, it is time to remove the existing drivers and install new ones. Here are the steps to accomplish this:
Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the RUN dialog box and then type “devmgmt.msc” in the text space.
Step 2: Press the OK button to open the Device Manager window.
Step 3: Among the list of drivers displayed, click on Keyboards to activate the dropdown. Choose your keyboard from the list and make a right-click on it.
Step 4: From the contextual menu, click on the Uninstall driver and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.
Step 5: Once the process is complete, restart your computer, and Windows 10 OS will automatically reinstall the keyboard drivers for you.
Note: A fresh copy of the keyboard drivers will be installed, which will replace any corrupted or missing files from the previous drivers installed.
Check if the Enter key on the keyboard is working fine; move to the next fix below.
Option 3: Update The Driver
The above method is used to reinstall the existing driver files. Still, if, due to certain changes or updates in the Operating System, your keyboard needs updated drivers, then you have to follow either of the two methods listed below.
Method 1: Manually Update Your Drivers
This method requires certain technical skills to identify your Keyboard model number, visit the official website, download the drivers, and finally install them on your system. The entire process has to be done by the user and consumes considerable time and effort.
Method 2: Automatically Update Your Drivers
The alternate method is an automatic method that involves using a driver updater software like Smart Driver Care to scan all the hardware and the drivers installed in your system. It will then search the internet for updated and newer versions of these drivers and prompt the user to replace them. Here is how the Smart Driver Care works on your system:
Step 1: Download and Install the Smart Driver Care from the link given below:
Step 2: Launch the application open and complete the registration process.
Step 3: Next, click on the Scan Now button to scan your PC for driver issues.
Step 4: Click on Update Driver to update drivers one by one. However, if you have a registered version, click on Update All and wait for the driver updating process.
This is a simple and swift method to update all the drivers in your PC in one go.
Smart Driver Care is a fantastic application that identifies outdated, missing, and corrupted drivers in your system and replaces them with the latest and most compatible ones. It also takes a backup of the existing drivers to restore them from if the newer ones are not compatible.
Option 4: Modify Keyboard Settings
Your keyboard has certain Ease-of-Access settings that make it convenient for you to use the keyboard. These settings include Sticky Keys, Toggle Keys, and Filter Keys that are enabled on your system and can cause issues with the functioning of the Enter Key on the Keyboard. To determine if these settings are at fault, you can turn them off by following the below-mentioned steps:
Step 1: Type Ease of Access in the search box located in the left bottom corner of the taskbar and check the results that appear on the top.
Step 2: Click on the result that states “Ease of Access Keyboard Settings,” and a new window will open.
Step 3: The new window will list three options: Use Sticky Keys, Use Toggle Keys, and Use Filter Keys. Turn the toggle switch beneath all these options toward the left and ensure they are turned off.
Step 4: Restart the system after all the settings have been turned off and check if the issue has been resolved.
The Final Word On How To Fix Enter Key Not Working on Windows 10?
The Enter Key is one of the most important keys on the keyboard and is also one of the most pressed keys. In some cases, for people using specialized software, the non-functioning of the Enter Key can bring their work to a standstill. Replacing the keyboard may not resolve the issue in every case as it can be due to outdated drivers or certain settings. Hence it is recommended to try the above options first before considering a hardware change.
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