My laptop keyboard some keys stopped working. Can I fix it?
Several keys on my laptop keyboard stopped responding. The letters E, R, T, and the spacebar don't work. It's a Dell laptop I've had for 3 years. I can't afford a new one right now. Is there any way to fix this without replacing the whole keyboard?
1 Answer(s)
This is actually a really common issue and there are several things you can try before spending money. First, try an external USB keyboard. If that works, the problem is definitely your laptop keyboard and not the motherboard. You can just use an external keyboard permanently — they cost $15-20 on Amazon.
If you want to try fixing the built-in keyboard, start with cleaning. Turn the laptop upside down and gently shake it. Sometimes crumbs or dust get under the keys. Use compressed air to blow out debris. For sticky keys, use a small amount of isopropyl alcohol (90%+) on a cotton swab around the edges of the key.
If cleaning doesn't work, the key mechanism might be broken. You can buy individual replacement keys on eBay for $5-10 and snap them on yourself. If multiple keys failed, the ribbon cable connecting the keyboard to the motherboard might be loose. Open the laptop (carefully) and reseat the cable — YouTube has tutorials for your specific model.
Worst case, replacement keyboards cost $20-40 on eBay. It takes about 30 minutes if you're careful. Worst case, just use an external keyboard — it's the cheapest and fastest solution.