Are you facing issues with your keyboard? You want to delete a file or text, but nothing happens when you press the delete key on your keyboard. This is a common problem and has been experienced by many Windows users across the globe. This guide will help you with basic and advanced troubleshooting methods to fix the delete button not working on your PC.
| Quick Tip: You can always use the Onscreen Keyboard to complete your work and then begin troubleshooting the issue by following the methods mentioned in this article. Press Win + R to open the RUN box, Type OSK, and hit the Enter key to launch the Onscreen Keyboard. |
There are several common reasons why the Delete key may stop working on a laptop.
“You are trying to press the delete key, and it is not working”.
Before we start troubleshooting the “delete key not working on keyboard” issue, let us carry out some basic checks to determine the gravity of the problem. Here is what you need to do.
If the delete key works in any of the cases above, then it is working fine. There could be a conflict only when you use a particular software. In this case, you could try to update or reinstall that software.
If the delete key does not work in any of the cases, then do the following.
Some experts have recommended cleaning the keyboard physically by following these steps.
If you find that the Delete key is not working after carrying out the steps mentioned above, and there is no physical damage to the keyboard, then we can conclude that there is an issue with the settings. Read the next set of troubleshooting methods to fix the delete key not working on laptop or desktop.
We will begin with the basic and easy troubleshooting methods first and then move on to the more complicated methods in order to fix the delete key not working. Try each method and check for the results by using the delete key. Once the issue is resolved, you can ignore the remaining methods.
There are a few troubleshooting tools provided by Microsoft to all Windows users that can help diagnose and fix issues. Let us begin with the Keyboard troubleshooter.
1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings box,
2. In the search bar, located top-center, type “find and fix keyboard problems” and click on the result that matches what you have typed.
3. A new box will open where you have to click on Advanced.
4. Make sure that the Apply Repairs Automatically option is checked and click on the next button.
5. This tool will start detecting the issue with your Keyboard and apply the fixes. Follow the onscreen steps to proceed further.
Read Also : How To Fix Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working On Windows
If the keyboard troubleshooting tool fails to determine any error, then you could try initiating the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter utility. Here are the steps on how to run this tool.
1. Press Windows + R to launch the RUN dialog box.
2. Type “msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic” and click on the OK button.
3. The Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter toolbox will open.
4. Click Advanced and check Apply repairs automatically.
5. Click on the Next button and adhere to the onscreen instructions.
Some experts have suggested running a malware scan when facing “all of a sudden” issues. Malware can cause different types of major and minor errors, especially if it infects system files. Try running a malware scan with your antivirus software. If you do not have any, then follow these steps to run the default Windows Security app.
1. Press Win + S and type “ Windows Security.”
2. Click on the same result under Best Match.
3. The Windows Security app will open. Click on the Virus & Threat Protection box.
4. Click on Scan Options and choose Full Scan.
5. Click on the Scan Now button.
6. Follow the onscreen steps to remove the malware and reboot your computer.
| Editor’s Tip : Use Systweak Antivirus If you do not use any third-party antivirus software, then your computer could be at risk. We recommend using a real-time monitoring system like Systweak Antivirus. This powerful antivirus software can detect all types of malware, viruses, spyware, adware, and all other types of infections. It also includes an ad-blocking extension, a Startup Manager module, and an extra firewall feature. |
Windows Updates are software rollouts carried out by Microsoft that contain bug fixes, security patches, new features, and more. There have been many cases where issues that occur unexpectedly get fixed by updating Windows. We have explained the steps to carry out a complete update of the Windows OS.
1. Press Win + I to open the Windows Settings box.
2. Click on the Windows Updates tab in the left panel.
3. In the right section, click on the Check For Updates button.
4. Wait for Windows to connect to the Microsoft server and download/install updates for you.
5. After the update process is complete, press the Check for Updates button a couple of times to check if any pending updates were not done in the first round.
6. Next, click on Advanced Options and then on Optional Updates.
7. Select all the updates displayed here and click on the Download & Install button.
8. Wait for all the updates to complete and reboot your PC.
Drivers are the small programs that are developed to bridge the communication gap between hardware and software. It is essential to keep your drivers updated at all times. Hardware issues can occur if the drivers are outdated, missing, corrupted, or incompatible. There are three ways to update drivers, and we have explained the steps in detail below.
The Device Manager is an in-built driver updater tool that helps to update all the drivers installed on a Windows PC. It can be used free of cost, but it does not search for updated drivers beyond Microsoft servers, which means that it cannot always find the most updated driver available. Here are the steps to use this tool.
1. Press Win + X to reveal the Windows Power Menu.
2. Select Device Manager from the list of options.
3. Locate the “Keyboards” driver category and click on it to reveal your keyboard.
4. Right-click on your keyboard and select Update from the context menu.
5. Adhere to the onscreen instructions to update the driver.
6. Reboot your computer.
If you do not find an updated driver for your keyboard using Device Manager, then you can search for it on the OEM website. However, this method is a bit technical as you need to know the exact model and make of your keyboard, and then download the appropriate driver before installing it manually.
Visit the support website of your keyboard manufacturer and search for the download drivers section. Select the model number of your keyboard and the driver you need to download. Once the file has been downloaded, double-click to run the installer and follow the onscreen instructions.
The easiest way to download, update, and install drivers with a few mouse clicks is possible by using the Advanced Driver Updater. Here are the instructions to use this tool.
1. Download and install Advanced Driver Updater from the official website or click the download link below.
2. Open the software and click the Start Scan Now button.
3. Wait for the scan to finish, and a list of driver issues will appear on the screen.
4. Locate the Keyboard Driver in the list and click on the update link next to it.
5. The update process will now commence. Wait for the driver to be updated completely and restart your computer.
Sometimes Windows accessibility features interfere with keys.
1. Go to Settings and type “Accessibility Keyboard Settings” in the search bar located at the top-center.
2. Click on the relevant result with the same name.
3. Ensure that the following options are disabled and the toggle button is towards the left.
4. Restart your PC if you have made any changes.
Some apps can override keyboard behavior, leading to conflicts. It is advised to turn off these apps and check if the delete button not working on the laptop keyboard is fixed.
Read Also : What to do If Special Characters are Not Working on the Keyboard
If you use PowerToys, open its settings and check the Keyboard Manager. A remapping might be affecting the delete key. Try disabling the remapping or temporarily closing PowerToys.
Some experts have recommended changing the Keyboard layout to fix the delete key not working on the keyboard. Here is what you need to do.
1. Press Win + I to open the Settings box.
2. Click on the
3. Click on Language & Region in the right section.
4. Locate the Preferred Languages section and then click on the three dots next to your preferred language.
5. Choose Language Options from the context menu.
6. Scroll down on the next window until you find the Keyboards section.
7. Click on the Add a keyboard button and select your preferred keyboard.
8. Now open Notepad and type anything. Press the Windows + Spacebar key to change the keyboard layout.
9. Select the layout that you have just added and press the Delete button to check if it is working.
Press Win + Space to switch layouts and check how many layouts you have. You can remove extra layouts by going to Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region → Remove.
This helps identify if a third-party app is blocking the Delete key.
1. Press Win + R, type msconfig.
2. Go to Boot → check Safe boot.
3. Restart the PC.
Note : If the Delete key works in Safe Mode → the problem is caused by any of the following.
We hope that the above fixes have helped you fix the delete key not working on keyboard issue. We would love to hear about your experience with how you solved the delete button not working error in the comments section below.
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