The Windows key on your keyboard is not only used to open the Start menu, it is also an important shortcut key for quick access to various operating system functions. If your Windows button doesn’t work no matter how you press it, this time we provide several methods to help you troubleshoot the problem, whether it’s software or hardware, follow us to check.
Windows key (on keyboard) not working?Fixes you can try
Is the start menu working properly?
If the most basic function of the Windows key is to open the Start menu, if that does not work, the fault may be in the Start menu rather than the keyboard. If the core process has stopped functioning, the start menu may also stop. You can verify this by clicking the Start button on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen and see if the menu opens without any problems. Another telltale sign is that other Windows key combinations work, such as Windows + M to minimize all current windows.
restart
If the problem is temporarily caused by a software issue, a reboot should fix it. This includes the problem mentioned above, “the menu refuses to open” even after clicking start. When your PC turns on again, Windows will restart all of its core processes, and any third-party software (such as keyboard drivers and utilities) should work normally again.
Disable sticky keys and filter keys
Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature that uses modifier keys, such as the Windows key, to provide the convenience of pressing two buttons at the same time. Sticky keys allow you to customize in the modifier, and then press the corresponding single key to trigger using the Shift, Ctrl, Alt or Windows key shortcut instead of pressing two or more keys at the same time. Not everyone likes the usefulness of sticky keys, and the feature is a little too easy to trigger by mistake. Press the Shift key five times to disable sticky keys in Windows.
You can also disable sticky keys under the “Quick Settings” menu, click the Wi-Fi or battery icon in the system tray to open the tray, and you can see the switch under Accessibility.
Filter keys is another accessibility feature that can also interfere with the Windows keys. This feature has three modes: slow (ignores quick key presses), bounce (ignores accidental key presses) and key repeat (ignores repeated key presses). In addition to disabling it by pressing and holding the right Shift key for 8 seconds, you can also turn it off from “Settings >> Accessibility >> Keyboard”.
Charge or replace the battery for a wireless keyboard
If you use a wireless keyboard, a low battery can cause various problems, including keys not working. It’s worth noting that you may see issues with other keys as well, but charging or replacing any replaceable batteries might help rule it out, and it’s worth a try.
Check for hardware problems with the keyboard
While the Windows key may not wear out as easily as the Enter and Spacebars, you should also try to rule out miskeys and other hardware issues. The easiest way to do this is to plug the keyboard into another PC and try pressing the Windows key, you can also cross-exclude by connecting another keyboard to the PC in question. Mechanical keyboard users (in the case of hot swapping) can try to replace the key shaft, and the membrane keyboard can be replaced with a new one.
Some keyboards have a Windows key lock feature that lets you temporarily disable the Windows key. This is handy for gamers who don’t want to accidentally trigger the start menu while playing a game. This may be a key combination, or it may be a setting in any third-party keyboard management application. Check the relevant keyboard manual to see if your keyboard includes this function.
Disable Windows Game Mode
Gaming mode mainly optimizes the gaming experience by changing the way Windows handles background processes, driver updates, etc., and it may also interfere with the Windows key, so please consider setting in “Settings >> Gaming >> Gaming Mode” Disable it and see if that solves your problem.
If gaming is the primary use of your computer, you should probably enable Game Mode (or at least remember to turn it back on), and also check your auto HDR, GPU prioritization, and power management settings when you’re using it.
