How to Fix Left CTRL Key not Working on Windows?

In this tutorial, learn how to fix left CTRL Key not working on Windows 10 PC or laptop.

Many users have reported that the left CTRL key on their laptop or computer has suddenly become unusable. Some customers claim that the CTRL key does not work even when they attach an external keyboard. The problem isn’t limited to a single version of Windows; it’s been confirmed to occur on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

What is causing the ‘Left CTRL Key Not Working’ issue on Windows?

We looked at a number of user reports and analyzed a number of popular repair procedures suggested by impacted users. As it turns out, a variety of circumstances can contribute to the emergence of this problem. Here’s a rundown of possible suspects:

• Physical keyboard issue – Before looking into other possibilities, users should make sure they aren’t dealing with a malfunctioning keyboard button. The simplest way to see if this is true is to attach a different keyboard and see if the problem persists.
• The issue is caused by a bad Windows update – one specific Windows update targeted at adding additional shortcut options is known to cause this issue with the left Ctrl button. In this situation, you can cure the problem by installing every pending Windows update — this will ensure that the hotfix for the problem is installed.
• Corrupted / Improper HID Driver – The HID driver is frequently to blame for the appearance of this problem. Some keys may become unusable as a result of a corrupted instance. Affected customers have reported that reinstalling the driver using Device Manager fixed the problem.

If you’re seeking a solution to this problem, this post will walk you through a few possible repair options that will help you diagnose the problem. Below are numerous different repair procedures that previous users in a similar circumstance have used to effectively restore the Left Ctrl key’s regular functionality.

Because we categorized the potential fixes below by efficiency, we recommend that you follow them in order for the greatest results. Eventually, you should come across a method that will address the problem, regardless of the source of the problem.

Let’s get started!

Method 1: Testing for a physical problem

To avoid going through a lot of troubleshooting steps only to come up empty-handed, be sure you’re not dealing with a physical keyboard issue, such as a malfunctioning button.

With that in mind, try attaching an alternative keyboard to see if the problem persists. If you’re using a laptop, try plugging in a USB keyboard and seeing if the left CTRL-key works.

If the problem persists even while using a different keyboard, it’s apparent that it’s not a physical problem. In this case, proceed to the approach listed below.

Method 2: Install every pending Windows update

Next, make sure you’re running the most recent version of Windows. Several afflicted users have stated that the problem went away and the CTRL key began to work again after they installed every pending Windows update to guarantee that they were running the most recent build available.

Because this strategy worked for some people, it’s possible that Microsoft has released a remedy for this problem.

Here’s how to make sure you install all of the pending updates:

1. To launch the Run dialog box, press Windows key + R. Then, in the text box, write “ms-settings:windowsupdate” and hit Enter to open the Windows Update tab of the Settings app.

2. Click Check for Update once you’re on the Windows Update tab and wait for the initial scan to finish.

3. Once the scan has determined which updates need to be installed on your computer, simply follow the on-screen prompts to complete the process. If you’re prompted to restart before you’ve had a chance to install all of the updates, do so, but make sure to return to this screen at the next startup to finish the rest.

4. After you’ve completed installing all of the outstanding updates, restart your computer to see if the problem has been repaired.

If the left CTRL-key still doesn’t work, try the following way down below.

Method 3: Reinstalling HID Drivers

It’s also conceivable that you’re seeing this error because of a problem with your keyboard driver. Several people who were having the same issue claimed that they were able to repair it by uninstalling and reinstalling the HID drivers through Device Manager.

Here’s a short approach to reinstalling the Keyboards drivers using Device Manager:

1. To launch the Run dialog box, press Windows key + R. To open the Device Manager utility, type “devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter.

2. When you’re in Device Manager, scroll down through the list of installed items and expand the Keyboards drop-down option.

3. Right-click HID Keyboard Device and select Uninstall Device from the context menu that appears.

4. Confirm that you want to uninstall the driver by clicking Uninstall again, and then wait for it to finish.

5. On your computer, repeat step 4 and step 4 with the all HID drivers that you have installed.

6. Check to see whether the problem has been repaired by restarting your computer and allowing your operating system to reinstall the HID drivers during the next startup process.