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Arrow keys are surely one of the most used keypresses ever. That’s why when arrow keys are not working on the keyboard or behave abnormally, you may want to tackle the problems asap.
In this article, we will go through 9 effective ways to fix the arrow keys not working so you don’t need to buy a new keyboard. After that, we hope that your keyboard arrows will work like before so your character in-game can move up and down, or you can program as usual.
In fact, there are some differing reasons why arrow keys stopped working.
Firstly, the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter is a useful built-in tool in Windows that can help identify and resolve common hardware-related problems. If the issue with your arrow keys not working was due to a hardware problem that the troubleshooter detected and fixed, it should now be resolved.
To run this process in Windows, follow these steps:
However, in Mac, you can check out these steps:
If the previous ways can’t fix arrow keys, Keyboard Troubleshooter can be helpful:
Here are some steps for Windows:
BIOS stands for Basic Input/ Output System. Its main jobs are to recognize, set up, test, and connect hardware to the output system right at the moment your computer starting. Therefore, there is a high chance your arrow keys are not working caused by outdated BIOS settings.
One of the ways is to update BIOS settings. The thing is installing a new BIOS setting is risky, especially if you are computer literate. So, check out this video to know when and how to update BIOS.
When a USB port encounters issues, it can disrupt the communication between the keyboard and the computer, leading to non-responsive arrow keys.
Sometimes, a USB port can become temporarily unresponsive or have issues, and switching to a different port can help resolve the problem. If the arrow keys work when connected to a different USB port, it suggests that the original port may have been the issue.
You should unplug the Keyboard first, then choose and plug in a different USB Port. After plugging it in, test your keyboard to see if the arrow keys are now working properly.
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Another a-few-second method is restarting your computer. Well, you may encounter this method several times for almost any computer problem.
Here is how to restart your PC.
1 - Update Keyboard Driver
For Windows:
For Mac:
2 - Reinstall Keyboard Driver
For Windows:
When things above are not effective or when you feel typing on keyboard arrows is stiff and unusual, it’s time to check the sanity issue of arrow keys.
The easiest way is t.o open the keycaps and clean them with a computer dustpan. Or, you can use a vacuum, an air-compressed bottle, or a sticky slime to take out the dust and debris.
The arrow keys may not function well if there’s some dirt or debris lodged beneath them. Try cleaning your keyboard and make sure there’s no dirt blocking keys or sensors.
You can check some simple steps to clean the keycaps and keyboards via this article.
There are two main ways for Windows.
Using the Scroll Lock Key:
For Mac, there are also two main ways:
With Mac Short Keyboards
To activate or deactivate Scroll Lock on an Apple computer, use the key combination fn + Shift + F12. To deactivate Scroll Lock, press the same key combination once more.
With Mac Full-sized Keyboards
Turn on/off Scroll Lock by pressing F14. You may also require the combination of Shift + F14 to toggle Scroll Lock on and off using the Mac keyboard. These methods should be effective for the majority of Mac users. If you encounter issues, you can also attempt Command (CMD) + F14 as an alternative.
If your keyboard doesn't have the Scroll Lock key:
Cursor lock, also known as mouse lock or pointer lock, is a feature in computer software that confines the mouse cursor to the boundaries of a specific window or screen area.
This lock can disrupt arrow key functionality by prioritizing mouse or controller input over the keyboard, aggressively capturing mouse input, occasionally neglecting keyboard commands, and interfering with the operating system's input mechanisms.
To resolve this, pressing "Alt + Tab" can temporarily exit full-screen mode, allowing interaction with other windows or apps.
Num Lock is a keyboard function that allows you to toggle the functionality of the numeric keypad on a standard computer keyboard. The numeric keypad is the set of keys on the right side of most full-sized keyboards.
When Num Lock is turned on, these keys act as a numeric keypad, allowing you to input numbers and perform calculations more easily. When Num Lock is turned off, these keys typically function as navigation and editing keys, including the arrow keys.
To turn off Num Lock for Windows you can typically do one of the following:
Besides, for Mac, follow these steps:
Do all the above things. Troubleshoot many times. But, the worst-case scenario has still happened to you - arrow keys continue to refuse to work. Hold-off. You don’t need to go look for a new keyboard so fast.
Read this article on how to remap your keyboard easily if you want to reassign some unused keys to keyboard arrows.
However, you may not prefer the arrow keys in other positions after remapping. Besides, your keyboard encounter problems like double typing. Then, this is time to replace your keyboard.
A good keyboard can go with you for a long time with minimum issues. Therefore, we recommend you do the homework before going to the keyboard store.
Some keyboards have a Scroll Lock key, often labeled "Scroll Lock" or "ScrLk." If Scroll Lock is turned on, it can affect the behavior of arrow keys. Try pressing the Scroll Lock key to toggle it off. You can reread the previous part to find out the way to turn off Scroll Lock.
Occasionally, malfunctions related to the Sticky Keys functionality in Windows may lead Excel to perceive the Scroll Lock key as active, even when it's not. Deactivating Sticky Keys typically resolves this problem.
After you've disabled Sticky Keys, revisit the steps outlined in the first instruction to confirm that Scroll Lock is indeed turned off.
Upon accessing a safeguarded workbook or worksheet, cell selection and scrolling functionalities become restricted. To re-enable these features, you must first remove the protection from the sheet, allowing the arrow keys to function as intended. Once you've completed your tasks, you can reinstate the protection as needed.
Freezing panes in Excel alters arrow key behavior by locking specific rows or columns. Arrow keys then navigate within the visible area, excluding the frozen rows or columns. This can create the perception that arrow keys are malfunctioning, but they function within the frozen area.
To unfreeze panes in Excel, go to the "View" tab on the ribbon and click on the "Freeze Panes" dropdown. Then, select "Unfreeze Panes."
Third-party add-ins in Excel can interfere with arrow keys and other keyboard shortcuts because they may override or conflict with Excel's default keybindings, causing unexpected behavior.
To disable third-party add-ins in Excel:
Sometimes the calculation would take time to finish. Therefore, at that time, arrow keys would not work. To solve this problem, be patient and wait for this process.
So far so good? Have you solved the arrow keys not working issue? We hope you are so you can save some bucks from buying a brand new keyboard.
But, if you are in need of buying a new one, here we have these Best keyboard lists for you to check out:
That arrow keys are not working can cause you a lot of trouble. So, learning some ways to fix it will be in handy for you. Or, you can help a coworker and see her surprise at how good you are.
The arrow keys in Excel may stop working due to various issues and these reasons below are of the most common ones:
Here are the common reasons for arrow keys not working on a Mac:
Here are some possible ways to troubleshoot unresponsive arrow keys on a wireless keyboard which can be both applied to Mac and Windows:
There is only one most popular tip to fix arrow keys not working that is use On-Screen Keyboard, which is available on your computer.
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