Keyboard does not work unless I restart

If your keyboard is not working unless you restart your device, it may be related to a known issue that can occur after a Windows update. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

1. Check for Updates: Make sure your system is fully updated. Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for any available updates.
2. Reinstall Keyboard Drivers: Sometimes, the issue can be resolved by reinstalling the keyboard drivers. You can do this by going to Device Manager, finding your keyboard under Keyboards, right-clicking it, and selecting Uninstall device. After that, restart your computer, and Windows should automatically reinstall the driver.
3. Check Keyboard Settings: Ensure that your keyboard settings are correct. Go to Settings > Time & Language > Language and check your keyboard layout.
4. Registry Edit: If the issue persists, you might consider editing the registry. However, be cautious, as incorrect changes can cause system issues. Always back up the registry before making changes. You can refer to the registry settings mentioned in the context for specific guidance.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be necessary to wait for a fix from Microsoft in a future update, as they are aware of such issues following updates.

References:

• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 24H2
• Resolved issues in Windows 11, version 25H2

This is a widely reported problem at the moment, in October Microsoft released an update that had a bug that caused the keyboard and mouse not to function in the recovery environment, they then released an update to solve that and since then many people are reporting the keyboard will not work unless the system is restarted.

The best option is to open the Feedback Hub app in windows and report this problem there, the more people that report the problem to their developers, the sooner a fix will be released to resolve the problem.

In the meantime, some people have reported if you disable Fast Startup that ay resolve the problem until they release a fix for this.

Open the old Control Panel (not the settings app).

At the top of the old Control Panel, set view to icons

Open Power Options

On the left, click 'Choose what the power buttons do'

At the top right, click 'Change settings that are currently unavailable'

Under 'Shutdown settings' disable 'Turn on fast startup'

Save that and close Control Panel