Resetting your keyboard settings in Windows 11 isn’t as tricky as it sounds — but it can be a bit of a faff getting to the right spot sometimes. Maybe you played around with the language settings or some shortcut got activated, and now your keyboard’s acting up, or certain keys are not working properly. Not sure why it happens, but sometimes just removing and re-adding the keyboard layout does the trick and sorts it out.
How to Reset Your Keyboard in Windows 11
If your keyboard’s being stubborn or you’ve tinkered with its settings and now it’s a bit of a mess, these steps will get you back to square one. Basically, this refreshes the layout, which often fixes issues like wrong characters popping up or laggy responses.
Method 1: Reset via Settings
The easiest way is through the Settings app. It’s funny how Windows keeps some options tucked away. Here’s the quick version:
- Open the Settings by pressing Windows + I. You can also click the Start menu and choose the gear icon, but honestly, Win + I is quicker.
- Go to Time & Language. This is where all your language, keyboard, and regional settings live.
- Click on Language & Region. That’s where Windows manages your language packs and keyboard layouts.
- Find the language you’re using. Click the three dots (ellipsis) next to it, then select Language options.
- Scroll down to the Keyboards section. Pick your current keyboard, hit Remove, then click Add a keyboard. Choose the default layout for your language, usually “US” or whatever suits you best.
This will wipe any weird customisations or glitches, and pop in a fresh default layout. Sometimes Windows can throw in odd remappings or updates, and this sorts it out. In some cases, you might need to restart your PC a couple of times for everything to settle.
Method 2: Command Line Hack (For the Tech-Savvy)
If you’re comfy with a bit of command line action, you can run a quick PowerShell script to reset your input methods. It’s a bit overkill for most, but if the GUI isn’t doing the job, this could do the trick:
Get-WinUserLanguageList | ForEach {
$_.InputMethodTips.Clear()
Set-WinUserLanguageList $_ -Force
}
This command clears your input method tips, resetting your input methods to defaults. Just a heads up — if you’ve got custom language setups, you might need to tweak this or re-add your keyboards afterwards. It’s a bit hit or miss, but worth a try if the GUI stalls.
Tips for Resetting Your Keyboard in Windows 11
- Make sure you’re selecting the right language before removing or adding keyboards — mixing them up can cause more confusion.
- If you’ve got custom shortcuts, back them up before resetting — you don’t wanna lose those.
- It’s a good idea to check for driver updates, especially if resetting doesn’t fix the weird keys. Sometimes hardware issues get mistaken for software glitches.
- Test your keyboard after each step. Often, removing and re-adding the layout is enough on its own.
- If you’re using an external keyboard, try unplugging it, waiting a sec, then plugging it back in — Windows sometimes needs a nudge to get it recognised properly.
FAQs
Why isn’t my keyboard doing anything at all?
It could be driver issues, connection problems, or a corrupted profile. Try unplugging and plugging your keyboard back in, or updating the driver via Device Manager.
How do I switch to a new keyboard layout in Windows 11?
Head to Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region. From there, select your language, then add a new keyboard under the Keyboards section. Easy as!
Will resetting fix laggy typing or keys that get stuck?
If those issues are down to wrong settings or software conflicts, resetting can help. But if it’s a hardware problem, resetting probably won’t do much.
Will resetting delete my saved texts or files?
No worries — it only changes your keyboard setup, not your files or apps.
Do I need to restart after resetting?
Most times, no. But if stuff still acts weird, a quick reboot can help Windows get everything in order.
Quick Summary
- Open Settings (Win + I)
- Go to Time & Language
- Click on Language & Region
- Select your language, then Language options
- Remove any old keyboards and add the default ones
All up,
Messing with your keyboard settings isn’t the most fun, but once you know where everything is, it’s a quick fix. Resetting often clears up weird input issues, especially after Windows updates or if you’ve made accidental changes. Just double-check you’ve got the right language selected, or you might end up with more issues. And sometimes, a quick restart is all it takes if it’s still playing up after. Hope this helps you save some hassle and get back to typing smoothly in no time.