Yes, you can reset your keyboard driver, and it often fixes unresponsive keys, lag, or keys that type the wrong character

A keyboard driver is the software that tells your operating system how to interpret the signals from your keyboard hardware. When it fails or becomes corrupted, your keyboard may stop working entirely, respond slowly, or produce unexpected behavior. Resetting or reinstalling the driver is one of the first troubleshooting steps to try before replacing the keyboard itself.

The process differs slightly between Windows and Mac, but both let you remove the driver and force your system to reinstall it automatically. You can also roll back to an older driver version if a recent update caused the problem.

Key Takeaways

  • Keyboard driver problems usually show up as unresponsive keys, typing delays, or keys producing wrong characters, and resetting the driver often fixes them.
  • On Windows, you uninstall the keyboard driver through Device Manager, restart your computer, and Windows reinstalls it automatically.
  • On Mac, keyboard drivers are part of the operating system and cannot be removed separately, but you can reset the System Management Controller (SMC) to fix hardware communication issues.
  • If a recent driver update caused the problem, you can roll back to the previous version through Device Manager on Windows.
  • Before resetting the driver, restart your computer and check that the keyboard is plugged in securely or fully charged if wireless.

How to reset your keyboard driver on Windows

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting "Device Manager," or press Windows key + X and choose it from the menu. Locate "Keyboards" in the list and click the arrow to expand it. You will see your keyboard listed — it may say "Standard PS/2 Keyboard," "USB Input Device," or the manufacturer name if it is a branded keyboard.

Right-click the keyboard entry and select "Uninstall device." A dialog will ask whether to delete the driver software as well — check that box. Click "Uninstall" to confirm. Restart your computer. When Windows boots, it will automatically detect the keyboard and reinstall the driver from its built-in library. Your keyboard should work normally after the restart.

If the keyboard does not work during startup or login, you can use an external USB keyboard or mouse to navigate, or restart again and Windows will try the installation a second time.

How to roll back a keyboard driver on Windows

If your keyboard worked fine until a recent driver update, rolling back to the previous version often solves the problem. Open Device Manager, expand "Keyboards," right-click your keyboard, and select "Properties." Click the "Driver" tab, then look for a "Roll Back Driver" button. If it is grayed out, no previous version is available to restore.

If the button is active, click it and confirm the rollback. Restart your computer. Windows will use the older driver version. If the problem returns after a few days or weeks, Windows may try to update the driver again — you can prevent this by opening Settings, going to "Update & Security" > "Windows Update" > "View optional updates," finding the keyboard driver update, and selecting "Don't show this again."

What to do on a Mac

Mac keyboards do not have separate drivers that you can uninstall the way Windows does. The keyboard driver is built into macOS itself. If your keyboard is not responding, the issue is usually a communication problem between the hardware and the system, not a corrupted driver file.

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC), which handles hardware communication on Intel Macs. Shut down your Mac completely. Press and hold Shift + Control + Option (all on the left side of the keyboard) and the Power button at the same time for 10 seconds, then release all keys. Wait a few seconds, then turn the Mac back on normally. On Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and newer), straightforward shut down, wait 30 seconds, and turn it back on — the SMC resets automatically.

If you are using an external keyboard on Mac, disconnect it, restart your Mac, and reconnect it. If it is a wireless keyboard, turn it off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on to re-pair it with your Mac.

When to check your keyboard hardware instead

Before assuming the driver is the problem, verify the keyboard itself is working. Restart your computer first — this fixes many temporary driver glitches without requiring you to uninstall anything. If you have a second keyboard available, plug it in and test whether it works. If the second keyboard works fine, the problem is with your original keyboard hardware, not the driver.

For wireless keyboards, check that the battery is not dead. Replace the batteries and wait 30 seconds for the keyboard to reconnect. For USB keyboards, try a different USB port on your computer. If the keyboard works in a different port, the original port may be damaged.

If your keyboard still does not respond after resetting the driver and testing with a different port or keyboard, the keyboard hardware itself has likely failed and will need to be replaced.

How to find and read a keyboard driver manually

Most of the time, Windows or Mac will reinstall the driver automatically and you will not need to read it yourself. However, if automatic reinstallation does not work, you can read a driver from the keyboard manufacturer's website.

Visit the manufacturer's support page — search "[keyboard brand] drivers" or "[keyboard model] drivers" in a search engine. read the driver file for your operating system and keyboard model. Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions, which usually involve running an installer file and restarting your computer. Some keyboards, especially gaming or ergonomic models, come with their own software that includes the driver and lets you customize key functions.

What happens if you cannot find a driver for your keyboard

If your keyboard is very old or the manufacturer no longer provides drivers, Windows will still detect it and use a generic keyboard driver from its built-in library. This generic driver handles standard key input and will work for typing, though you may not be able to use special keys or customization features that came with the original driver.

If the generic driver does not work, the keyboard may use a non-standard protocol that requires the manufacturer's specific driver. In that case, contact the manufacturer's support to ask whether drivers are still available for your model, or consider replacing the keyboard with a newer model that has current driver support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will resetting my keyboard driver erase any of my files or settings?

No. Resetting the driver only removes the software that communicates between your keyboard and your operating system. Your files, passwords, and system settings remain unchanged. The only thing that changes is that your keyboard will stop working temporarily until the driver is reinstalled, which happens automatically when you restart.

What if my keyboard stops working completely after I uninstall the driver?

This is normal during the uninstall process. Use an external USB keyboard, mouse, or trackpad to navigate and restart your computer. Once Windows boots, it will automatically reinstall the driver and your original keyboard will work again. If it does not work after restart, restart a second time — sometimes the installation takes two boot cycles.

Can I reset just one key instead of the whole driver?

No. Drivers control the entire keyboard as a unit. If only one key is not working, the problem is usually the key mechanism itself, not the driver. Try cleaning under the key with compressed air, or if the key is physically broken, you may need to replace the keyboard. Resetting the driver will not fix a stuck or broken key.

Do I need to restart my computer after rolling back the driver?

Yes. Always restart after rolling back or reinstalling a driver. The restart allows Windows to fully load the driver into memory and test it with your keyboard hardware. Without the restart, the new driver may not set up properly.

What if my keyboard works fine but one of the special keys does not work?

Special keys like volume, brightness, or media controls often require the manufacturer's custom driver software to function. The generic Windows driver handles basic typing but not those extra features. read the manufacturer's driver from their support website to enable those keys. If the manufacturer no longer provides drivers, those special keys may not work, but your keyboard will still type normally.