How To Fix The Shift Key Not Working Issue

How frustrating it is, when you are in the middle of an article, you press the shift key and it didn’t work. But not anymore as in this article, we are going to discuss all of the methods that one can take in order to solve the “Shift key not working” issue.

Before diving into the fixes it is good to understand your problem first. According to computer users, the following are some of the problems that they encounter related to the “Shift key not working” issue.

• One of the two shift keys is not working: This can either be a hardware problem or a software problem or can be because of wrongful setting twitches. We fix discuss fixes for this.

• The alphabets are not becoming capital: This is a very common problem that can be because of either wrongful setting twitches or some hotkey software such as AutoHotkey.
• Many keys along with Shift Key is not working: This is a fairly common problem happening due to hardware issues.

Fixes For Shift Key Not Working

Now, after knowing the common problems it is time to fix the problem. Hopefully, one of the following will fix your “Shift Key not working” problem.

1. Manage the Keyboard Driver

In a normal situation, we don’t really care about the Drivers as they are managed by the Windows itself by rolling out the updates. However, sometimes when the OS failed to do so. We gotta do it ourselves. There are three things you can do to manage the Keyboard Drivers, keep it up-to-date, reinstall the driver, or Roll Back the driver.

Update the Keyboard Driver:-

Microsoft tends to update the driver automatically or roll it with some of the Windows updates that you get. If it fails to do, you need to follow the prescribed steps to update your driver manually.

To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Launch the Device Manager by either searching it out of the start menu or by right-clicking on the start menu and then select “Device Manager” from the appeared list.

Step 2: Now, you need to navigate to the Keyboard expand it, right-click on the keyboard driver, and select Update Driver.

Step 3: The next window will ask you whether you want it to get searched automatically or search manually. In my opinion, you should click on the former.

This will scan your keyboard driver and then download it.

After this, you need to restart your computer and hopefully, the “Shift Key not working” issue is fixed.

Reinstall the Keybaord Driver:-

If the above procedure didn’t work then you need to persuade this step. This happens because of the improper download, your keyboard driver may get corrupted. But it has a pretty easy fix and in this section, we are going to discuss that.

To reinstall your Keyboard driver you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Launch the Device Manager by either searching it out of the start menu or by right-clicking on the start menu and then select “Device Manager” from the appeared list.

Step 2: Now, you need to navigate to the Keyboard expand it, right-click on the Keyboard driver, and select Uninstall Device.

You need to restart your computer afterward, to get things right.

This will uninstall the driver so that you can install the new and fresh one. To reinstall the graphic driver you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 3: Go to the device manager, right-click on the Keyboard, and select Scan for Hardware Changes.

After this, your graphic drivers will be downloaded properly. Eliminating the “Shift Key not working” issue.

Rollback to the previous version:-

If the above two don’t fix your problem then you should try this one. This might contradict a bit since we have discussed the ways to update your Driver. But here is the thing. The updates are notorious for infecting bugs in your system but lucky for you we can always go back to the previous version, i.e; Rollback.

To Rollback your graphic driver you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1:  Launch the Device Manager by either searching it out of the start menu or by right-clicking on the start menu and then select “Device Manager” from the appeared list.

Step 2: Now, you need to navigate to the Keyboard expand it, right-click on the intel graphic driver, and select Properties.

Step 3: From the appeared properties window, go to the Driver tab and then click on the Rollback driver button.

After this, you need to follow the on-screen instructions to get things right. Finally, restart your computer, and hopefully, the “Shift Key not working” issue will be eliminated.

2. Manage your language

When you set-up your Windows, you have to set a language. But because of some wrongful setting twitches intentionally or unintentionally it might get incorrect. Therefore, in this section, we are going to change your keyboard language.

To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Launch the Settings application by either searching it out of the start menu or by right-clicking on the start menu and then select “Settings” from the appeared list.

Step 2: From the appeared window select Time & Language option.

Step 3: Click on the Language option from the left panel of the window and then click on the Add Prefered Language option.

Now, select the desired language by searching it out of the search bar.

After this, you need to restart your computer and hopefully, the “Shift Key not working” issue is fixed.

3. Disable the Sticky Key

Sticky allows you to press one key at a time for keyboard Shortcuts. Therefore, it comes under one of those scenarios that we have mentioned earlier, i.e; wrongful setting twitches. So, we are going to disable the Sticky Key in order to fix the “Shift Key not working” issue.

To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1:  Launch the Settings application by either searching it out of the start menu or by right-clicking on the start menu and then select “Settings” from the appeared list.

Step 2: From the appeared window select Ease of Access option.

Step 3: Then from the appeared window, select the Keyboard tab from the left panel and then use the toggle from the sticky key section to disable the Sticky key.

After this, you need to restart your computer and hopefully, the “Shift Key not working” issue is fixed.

4. Troubleshoot your Keyboard

One of the best ways to fix any problem in Windows is just to use the built-in troubleshooting mechanism. This is a fairly easy process and it will fix any software error that your computer may have. Therefore, in this section, we are going to use the keyboard troubleshooting mechanism to fix the Shift Key not working problem.

To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Launch the Control by either searching it out of the start menu or by RUN(Win + R), type “control” and then hit enter.

Step 2: Now from the appeared screen select the Troubleshooting option.

Note: Make sure that you have set the View by to Large Icons.

Step 3: Click on the Hardware & Sound button from the appeared window.

Step 4: On the next screen, under the Windows section click on the Keyboard option to trigger the keyboard troubleshooter.

Step 5: From the appeared screen, click on Next to continue the procedure.

Follow the on-screen instruction to complete the troubleshooting process.

After this, you need to restart your computer and hopefully, the “Shift Key not working” issue is fixed.

5. Update your Operating System

Microsoft tends to update your Computer automatically, but as we have seen in the previous section that we have to manually update our keyboard drivers. There’s more to it, apart from an outdated driver, an outdated operating system can also cause problems for you. Therefore, in this method, we are going to update the operating system with the help of the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Launch the Settings window by either searching it out of the start menu or right-click on the start menu and then select “Settings” from the appeared list.

Step 2: Now, from the appeared window, select Update & Security.

Step 3: Make sure that you are on the Windows Update and select Check for Update(If no updates are showing) and or Download(if updates are showing).

This will download the update and then will ask you to restart your computer to get the updates right. Hopefully, this will fix the “Shift Key not working” issue.

6. Restore your OS

This may sound a little counterintuitive to the previous method but it can work. This is very a niche method and only application to those who have recently updated their computer.

You need to understand that with every update the developers tend to release a new feature to enhance the user experience but, since most of these features are still in beta mode they are not stable, hence the causes problems.

In this section, we are going to restore your OS to a point when the shift key was working perfectly fine. To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: You can either search from the start menu or by RUN(Win + R), type “rstrui.exe” and hit enter.

Step 2: Now, click Next on the appeared window, select a previously created restore point and then click Next.

This will restore your Windows to a point when the shift key was working well. 

7. Scan for Virus or Malware

As mentioned earlier, the virus can cause any problem, and Shift Key not working is one of them. So, if the above methods didn’t work then the chances of your computer being infected are high. Therefore, in this section, we are going to scan and delete all the viruses and malware that your computer may have.

You can use any anti-virus or anti-malware in the market, but the best option would be to use the Windows Defender. To do that, you need to follow the prescribed steps:-

Step 1: Launch the Settings window by either searching it out of the start menu or right-click on the start menu and then select “Settings” from the appeared list.

Step 2: Now, from the appeared window, select Update & Security.

 

Step 3: From the left panel of the Window select Windows Security and then click on the Open Windows Security button.

Step 4: You will be redirected to the Windows Security window, click on the Virus & Threat Protection from the left panel, and then on Scan Option.

Step 5: From the appeared screen, choose Microsoft Defender Offline Scan and then click on Scan Now.

This will scan and eliminate all the malicious material that you may have and eventually the “Shift Key not working” issue will be fixed.

8. Make sure that you have not disabled the Keys

This is again a very niche solution, but it is there for someone who likes to play with different software. So, if you have installed any software such as AutoHotKey or the Simple Disable Key then you should launch those applications and then enable those keys.

If you are not able to do so, then you should consider uninstalling them. It is a fairly simple process to uninstall an application but if you don’t then follow the prescribed steps to uninstall the Key Disabler.

Step 1: Launch the Settings by either searching it out of the start menu or by right-clicking on the start menu and then select “Settings” from the appeared list.

Step 2: Click on Apps from the appeared window.

Step 3: From the appeared screen, select the Disable key program that’s causing the trouble and then click Uninstall.

After this, you need to restart your computer and hopefully, the “Shift Key not working” issue is fixed.

9. Get a New Keyboard

Last but certainly not least, the hardware problem. It is pretty normal for a keyboard to get malfunctioned. It can be because of aging or any physical wear and tear. If your keyboard’s warranty has not expired then you need to consult customer care or just by a new one on Amazon.com.

Wrap-up:-

In this article, we have tried to fix the “Shift Key not working” issue. Many people tend to associate it with hardware problems but it can be because of software issues as well. Therefore, in this article, we have discussed various software and setting sides of things.

Hopefully, this will help in getting rid of the “Shift Key not working” issue.