Finding that every letter you type is in uppercase is not something anyone wants. When encountering the Caps Lock Stuck On issue, the most common causes include a faulty keyboard key, an incompatible or outdated keyboard driver, a temporary Windows bug, or a problem in keyboard settings.
Luckily, you do not need the working Caps Lock key to disable it since Windows offers a variety of convenient solutions. Below you can find step-by-step instructions on how to turn off Caps Lock without the Caps Lock key and some additional useful tips.
Why Is Caps Lock Stuck On?
There are several common reasons why the Caps Lock key may fail to turn off, including:
- A faulty or physically stuck Caps Lock key.
- Malfunctioning or outdated keyboard drivers.
- A temporary Windows or software issue.
- Incorrect keyboard language or input settings.
- A problem with an external keyboard, such as synchronization issues.
- Dust or dirt on the keyboard.
Once you have identified the cause of the problem, proceed to the following solutions.
Keyboard Suddenly Stopped Working? Here’s How to Fix the Problem
Methods to Turn off Caps Lock Without the Caps Lock Key
Method 1: Use the Shift Key
Windows lets you change the Shift key to turn off Caps Lock. It can be a handy alternative if the Caps Lock key is not working.
How to do it:
1. Press Windows + I to bring up the Settings window.
2. Go to Time & Language then go to Typing and click on Advanced keyboard settings.
3. Click on the Language bar options
4. Switch to the Advanced Key Settings tab
5. You should see an option for To turn off Caps Lock. Choose Press the SHIFT key from the drop-down menu
6. Click Apply, and then click OK. The new setting will now take effect, and you will be able to use the Shift key to turn off the Caps Lock whenever you need to.
Method 2: Turn Off Caps Lock Using the On-Screen Keyboard
If the physical key is broken or unavailable, Windows’ On-Screen Keyboard can come to the rescue.
Here are the steps:
1. Firstly, click Windows + Ctrl + O.
2. If the On-Screen Keyboard utility did not launch, type On-Screen Keyboard in the Start menu.
3. Secondly, click the Caps Lock key on the appearing virtual keyboard.
4. Check if the Caps Lock indicator is off.
That was the easiest way to turn off Caps Lock without Caps Lock key.
Method 3: Restart Your Computer
A temporary malfunction of the system could prevent Windows from updating the status of the keyboard
Steps:
1. Before proceeding with the following procedures, make sure to save all your work.
2. Click on the Start button.
3. Now click on Power > Restart.
4. The computer will now restart. After the computer reboots, check if the problem is resolved.
Method 4: Reconnect an External Keyboard
If you are using a USB or Bluetooth keyboard, you can try reconnecting it.
USB Keyboard
- Unplug it, wait for a few seconds, and reconnect it to the computer.
Bluetooth Keyboard
- Toggle Bluetooth off and on and reconnect the keyboard.
See if you can turn off the Caps Lock.
Method 5: Update the Keyboard Driver
An outdated or faulty keyboard driver may cause this error on your keyboard, such as the Caps Lock key not working properly.
1. Press Windows + X and click on Device Manager.
2. Then, go to Keyboards and right-click your keyboard.
3. After that, click on Update driver and choose Search automatically for updated driver software option to update your keyboard driver.
Advanced Driver Updater can detect any outdated or incompatible drivers and update them automatically. The following are the steps to update outdated or damaged drivers using Advanced Driver Updater:
Step 1: Download and install Advanced Driver Updater.
Step 2: Open the application and let it scan the outdated drivers,
Step 3: Click on Update All and wait till it update all the drivers, you can also manually select the drivers you want to update.
Step 4: Restart the PC.
Method 6: Reinstall the Keyboard Driver
If you can’t fix the problem by updating your driver, you need to reinstall it.
How to do it:
1. Launch Device Manager by pressing Windows + X.
2. Expand the Keyboards section.
3. Right-click on your keyboard and choose Uninstall device .
4. Remove the driver.
5. Reboot your PC.
Your system will automatically install the necessary driver for your keyboard.
Method 7: Check for a Stuck Key
Sometimes the simplest solution is the correct one. Check if the Caps Lock key is not physically stuck.
Make sure that
1. There is no dirt or dust below the key,
2. The key is not broken,
3. It does not stay pressed when you release it,
4. And there is no liquid on the keyboard.
If there is some dirt beneath the key, removing it with compressed air will usually fix the problem.
Method 8: Check Keyboard Settings
Incorrect keyboard settings or several input languages can sometimes cause the keyboard to behave incorrectly.
How to check the settings:
1. Open the Settings app (Press Windows + I).
2. Go to Time & Language > Language and region. Click on three dots next to your current language and click on Language Options.
3. Scroll down to Keyboard and make sure that the keyboard layout is proper.
4. Click on the three dots and Remove the other keyboard layouts that you don’t need.
5. Make sure a keyboard layout you need is active, or switch the active keyboard layout to the one that used to work for you.
6. Reboot your computer and check if the Caps Lock not turning off problem is resolved.
What If Caps Lock Still Won’t Turn Off?
If the suggested methods did not help, please check the following:
- Try the keyboard on other computers to determine if the keyboard is faulty.
- Try another keyboard on the PC to see whether it will work.
- Make sure that the system does not require additional Windows updates.
- Turn off the Sticky Keys and Filter Keys if they are enabled on your PC.
- If you are using a laptop, there is a high chance that the keyboard needs to be replaced.
Conclusion
Learning how to turn off caps lock without caps lock key can help if your keyboard is malfunctioning. Usually, the easiest solution is using the Shift key, On-Screen Keyboard, reconnecting the keyboard, or updating the keyboard driver. However, if none of the proposed methods helps, the issue is most probably hardware-related and needs professional intervention.