How to lock and unlock a laptop keyboard

Via BIOS

Many Acer, Lenovo, MSI models allow you to disable the keyboard via BIOS.

Advice! How to enter it is necessarily described in the instructions for the laptop. To do this, you need to press both one of the function keys and a special hardware button.

In one of the BIOS sections there is an item USB Support Via. To lock the keyboard on a laptop from a child while the operating system is running, the value of the parameter must be set in the BIOS. After this, exit to boot the system normally.

Advanced laptops that use the USB bus to connect the keyboard allow for a dangerous locking method. In the BIOS settings, in the USB Legacy Support item, just set the value to Disabled. In this case, turning on the keyboard can only be done by resetting the CMOS, which requires reaching the switch on the motherboard. External devices other than Bluetooth will also not work.

HP laptops only allow you to child lock the function keys . In the BIOS of many models from this manufacturer there is an Action Key Mode item. By setting its parameter value to Disabled, you can disable only the top row functional buttons. This will not allow you to adjust the sound, display brightness, or other operating modes.

Diagnosis of the problem

There is an easy way to check if the keyboard is working: restart the laptop and go into the BIOS. If the buttons work in the BIOS, then the error must be looked for in the software.

Roll back to a point where the keyboard was working correctly.
Run a virus scan.
Roll back your keyboard drivers or install the latest version.

If the keyboard does not print on the laptop (individual keys do not work), check whether the cause of the incorrect operation is excessive contamination of the device. Using a can of compressed air, remove small items stuck in the grooves.

If the keyboard turns off, check the USB ports, the RJ-45 connector (for the network cable) and the touchpad. If they don't work either, then the motherboard is faulty.

If the ports are working, then check the cable of the keyboard itself. Gently pry the latches to remove the module. Disconnect the cable and clean its contacts - they may have oxidized. After cleaning, reinstall the cable.

On some laptop models, the keyboard cannot be removed independently - for example, on the ASUS X550C there is no separate module; The buttons here are recessed into the body.

Fast way

The easiest way to disable letters on the keyboard is through the DOS command interface. This technique makes the keyboard completely inoperable. To open a window for entering commands, you will need:

press Win+R;

select Start, at the bottom of the menu click Run;
go to Start-Programs (All programs for Windows 7), find the Accessories subsection, find the Command Line item (for Win 95, XP);
Enter Start, find System Tools at the very bottom of the list of programs, select Command Prompt (for Windows 10).

After this action, a window with a black background will appear on the screen. In it you need to type the command rundll32 keyboard,disable and press enter. There is no need to confirm anything. If you make a shortcut to launch such a command, you can turn off the keyboard with just one click. This method relates to the operating system software environment and works on all laptops, be it Lenovo, Asus, Dell or Packard Bell. You can unlock the keyboard on a laptop in the same way, only in the command you write enable instead of disable.

Advice! How to enter characters when the buttons do not work? The on-screen keyboard is useful for this. You can call it through Start - Programs - Accessibility or activate it by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting Toolbars from the menu.

Disable in the device list

Locking the keyboard on a laptop through the device manager is a very effective method. It will be disabled even when booting into Safe Mode. You will need to call the device manager. You can do it like this:

go to the control panel (Start-Programs-Control Panel), select the System icon, launch the dispatcher with the corresponding button;
right-click (PC) on the Start icon and find the corresponding menu item (for Windows 10);

go to the command interface (as described above) and type devmgmt.msc.

In Device Manager, look for the Input Devices or Keyboards section in the list. There is a device there that is usually called the Standard Keyboard. On the line with the name, right-click on the touchpad or mouse and select Disable. If it is not there, the device must be removed. After this, the system will ask you to confirm your actions.

The method to enable the keyboard on a laptop through the device manager is almost the same as the steps to disable it. During the last operation, you need to select the Engage item in the right-click menu. And if the device was deleted, you will need to click PC on the computer name (the very first line in the list) and activate Update configuration.

Reason 3: Function key mode is active

Many laptops, including those made by Samsung, have keyboards, many of the keys of which have combined functions: for example, F-row elements can control multimedia capabilities. As a rule, the latter is an additional option and is activated together with holding down Fn, however, some devices allow you to switch operating modes - look carefully at the keys with icons of secondary functions, and also study the user manual, where such nuances are usually mentioned.

Disable the small numeric keypad

The right numbers on the keyboard operate in two modes. They can act as navigation controls but are capable of printing numbers. To disable the side keyboard in input mode, you can use BIOS tools. In one of its sections there is an item Boot Up Numlock Status. By setting the parameter value to Off, we get the laptop loading with navigation in the side. To enable the numeric keypad on the right side of your laptop, just press the Numlock key.

Reason 8: Viral infection

A rare but annoying cause of this problem is the activity of malware - for example, it could damage the aforementioned ctfmon process, or, in the worst case, it works as a keylogger, recording and transmitting to attackers everything that you typed or typed on the keyboard. In most cases, the actions of the malware can be determined by additional symptoms, such as the appearance of incomprehensible programs, the spontaneous launch of a browser with suspicious pages, and so on. If any are observed, read the instructions below to eliminate the potential threat.

Useful programs

Today, common programs allow you to do more than just disable letters on the keyboard. They can set key combinations to be blocked. This makes it easy to set up bans. For example, turn on the keyboard backlight, block service key combinations.

One such useful utility is called Toddler Keys, which is free. You just need to download and install the program. After the first launch, it appears in the tray near the clock. By right-clicking on it, you can disable and enable the keyboard.

Kid Key Lock is even more useful. It can not only completely disable the keyboard, but also block pressing of individual letters. This is useful not only as a child protection device, but also as a tool for restricting access to the functionality of a particular software.

Reason 2: Heavy pollution

If the keyboard has definitely not been subjected to abnormal loads, the source of the problem in question may be its contamination: sometimes a large amount of dust penetrates under the silicone backing of the keys, which interferes with normal contact with the board or membrane. In such a situation, the device should be cleaned: use toothpicks and/or cotton swabs soaked in regular alcohol. Using a compressor, a low-power vacuum cleaner, or a special cleaning tool can also be effective.

Read more: Cleaning the keyboard at home

The most difficult way

The keyboard can be literally disabled. To do this, you need to edit system policies. The procedure is as follows.

The device manager starts, as already written above.
Having found the keyboard, right-click on the line with its name.
By selecting Properties and going to the Information tab, we find in the lower list window the line ID of the device (equipment, instance).
By clicking on the value written on the right, select and copy it.
We go to the command window as described above.
Type gpedit.msc and press enter.
In the editor window that appears, go to Computer Configuration (these are settings that apply to all users).
Find Administrative Templates and expand the section by clicking on the plus sign.
Device management is located in the System section. It can also be expanded by clicking on the plus sign next to the name. Inside you will need the Device Installation subsection. You need to click on it.
In the right part of the window, where a list of available options will be displayed, select Prohibit the installation of devices with the specified codes.
Double click to enter the settings window. There is an Enable checkbox that you need to check.
Then go to the Settings tab. It has a Show button. Let's press it.
Then just paste the copied keyboard identifier value.

Close the windows one by one by clicking OK and confirming your selection if necessary. For the settings to take effect, you just need to restart the laptop. If this cannot be done at the moment, you can programmatically update the policies. To do this, go to the command prompt and type gpupdate /force and press enter. After this, the keyboard will be disabled.

Important! This blocking method is used not only for protection. It is optimal if you need to replace the keyboard on a laptop, since it disables only a unique product, and not the functionality of the input device.

Reason 7: Incorrect settings in the system registry

Sometimes problems with keyboard input occur due to an incorrect value in one of the system registry parameters. You can check it and set the correct settings using the following algorithm:

Call “Registry Editor” using the method suggested in the instructions for Reason 5.
Open the following location
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318
Take a look at the contents of the latter - there should be a parameter named “UpperFilters”, the value of which will be the combination “kbdclass”.

If the value is different, double-click on the entry, enter the correct sequence, then click “OK”.

If the parameter is missing, you need to add it: use the toolbar, where select “Edit” – “Create” – “Multi-line parameter”.
Give it the required name and meaning.

After completing all the above steps, close all running applications and restart your laptop.