Fix: Hashtag Key Not Working on Keyboard [How to Get Back]

by Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Milan Stanojevic
Windows & Software Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He's a PC enthusiast and he... read more
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The # key, commonly known as hashtag key, or pound, sharp or number key, on your keyboard is widely used today on social media, especially Twitter.

Ideally, # symbol or key is activated by pressing Shift+3, but can also be found from the symbols in Word program on Office.

It has been used for different purposes historically, from designating ordinal numbers, as an abbreviation for pounds, but as time went by, the # sign is now used as a metadata tag signifier on social media channels and is now referred to as the hashtag.

With the # or hashtag, on social media, you can reference many tweets and see which ones relate to your digital campaigns if you’re a brand, or even a digital agency monitoring your client’s social media activity.

But what happens then when you find the # key not working on your computer?

The solutions may not be as immediate or obvious because it may not be a regular occurrence, but when it does happen, we have just the right solutions you can use to restore your # key back to working condition.

Fix: # key not working on the keyboard

  1. Try on-screen keyboard
  2. Change Language in control panel
  3. Update keyboard and chipset drivers from the computer manufacturer’s website
  4. Run in Compatibility mode
  5. Use a different keyboard
  6. Run Hardware and Devices troubleshooter
  7. Disable Filter keys settings
  8. Uninstall and reinstall the keyboard driver from the manufacturer’s website

1. Try on-screen keyboard

Here’s how to turn it on:

  1. Click Start
  2. Select Settings# key not working
  3. Click Ease of Access
  4. Choose Keyboard# key not working
  5. Toggle the On-Screen keyboard to ON# key not working
  6. The keyboard will be displayed, try and check if # key works when using the on-screen keyboard

Does this fix the # key not working problem? If not, go to the next solution.

2. Change language in control panel

Sometimes when you find # key not working, it may have something to do with your Language settings.  Here’s how to check and change this:

  1. Click Start
  2. Select Settings
  3. Click Time and Language# key not working
  4. Click Region and Language# key not working
  5. Under Country or Region, click on English (United Kingdom), and if not there, you can add it using Add a Language button# key not working
  6. Click Windows display language# key not working
  7. Select Options
  8. Check what keyboard is selected under the Keyboards option# key not working
  9. Change the input language to English for your location

Did this resolve the # key not working problem? If not, try the next solution.

3. Update chipset drivers from the computer manufacturer’s website

You can find drivers from the manufacturer website’s support section for your laptop type.

Here’s how to update and install drivers from the manufacturer website:

  1. Go to the Software and Drivers sub-section (depending on the laptop brand this name can change), or search for drivers using Google so you can get a direct link to your device’s manufacturer website.
  2. Once you’re on the website, find and download
  3. Install the appropriate drivers missing from your laptop that can cause # key not working

Alternatively, you can use dedicated software such as Outbyte. It is safer because it finds the corresponding version of your driver with no mistake and you can schedule automatic driver updates and fixes.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

Check if this fixes the # key not working problem. If not, go to the next solution.

4. Run in Compatibility mode

You can also run your keyboard in compatibility mode to see if it helps.

Do the following:

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Device Manager
  3. Find Keyboards and click on it to expand the list
  4. Right click on Keyboard driver
  5. Select Uninstall
  6. Go to the Software and Drivers sub-section (depending on the laptop brand this name can change), or search for drivers using Google so you can get a direct link to your device’s manufacturer website.
  7. Once you’re on the website, find and download
  8. Install the appropriate drivers missing from your laptop that can cause # key not working
  9. Right click on the driver
  10. Select Properties
  11. Select the Compatibility tab
  12. Check the box Run this program in Compatibility Mode for
  13. Select the Windows 10 operating system from the drop down
  14. Click on Apply, then click OK and run the file to install it

Does this fix the # key not working problem? If not, go to the next solution.

5. Use a different keyboard

You can connect a different keyboard to your laptop and check if the # key works. If you’re planning to buy a new keyboard, we recommend looking into the best PC keyboards because they will serve you well in the long run.

You can find a good keyboard for your own personal preferences.  You can find light wireless options that are great for everyday use.

If you use your keyboard for gaming, you should consider a product with smooth key inputs as well as backlighting and programmable keys.

Most worthwhile keyboards can be used on multiple operating systems and include keys for all major controls you may need.

6. Run Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

If you find # key not working, then run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter to resolve the issue.  This checks for commonly occurring issues and ensures any new device or hardware is correctly installed on your computer.

Here’s how to go about it:

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Control PanelChanging DNS setting via admin tools
  3. Go to the “View by” option on the top right corner
  4. Click the drop-down arrow and select Large icons
  5. Click Troubleshooting
  6. Click View all option on the left pane
  7. Click Hardware and Devices
  8. Click Next to run the troubleshooter

Follow the instructions to run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.

The troubleshooter will begin detecting any issues that may be the cause of # key not working on your computer.

7. Disable Filter keys settings

Here’s how to do this:

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Control Panel
  3. Select Ease of Access
  4. Click on Change how your keyboard works
  5. Find the checkbox for Turn on Filter Keys
  6. Uncheck it if it has a mark, and check whether your keyboard works again

Check if this fixes the # key not working problem. If not, go to the next solution.

8. Uninstall and reinstall the keyboard driver from the manufacturer’s website

Here’s how to do this:

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Device Manager
  3. Search for Keyboards and click on it to expand the list
  4. Right click on the Keyboard driver
  5. Select Uninstall
  6. Go to the Software and Drivers sub-section (depending on the laptop brand this name can change), or search for drivers using Google so you can get a direct link to your device’s manufacturer website.
  7. Once you’re on the website, find and download
  8. Install the appropriate drivers missing from your laptop that can cause # key not working problem.

Did any of these solutions help you fix # key not working issue? Let us know in the comments section below.

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