How do I fix my keyboard @ key if it’s not working?

by Milan Stanojevic

Deputy Editor

June 10, 2020

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Problems with @ key on your laptop keyboard can cause various issues, but today, we’re going to show you how to easily fix this problem on your Windows 10 laptop.

The ampersat or @ sign on your keyboard still makes the list because it has been used since yesteryears for commercial purposes in accounting and invoicing to mean ‘at the rate of’, but today it is widely used in emails and social media handles.

This just means we’re not dropping it any time soon, but what happens then when you experience @ key not working in Windows 10 laptop keyboard?

It can be devastating especially for social media enthusiasts and if you’re a frequent sender of emails, because you may not be able to use the keyboard shortcuts, and the process of finding it from symbols option is just too long.

Worry not, there are solutions to fix the issue and get your ampersat key working again.

How do I fix an @ key on a Windows 10 laptop

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

1. Try on-screen keyboard

Here’s how to turn it on:

1. Click Start.
2. Select Settings.
   
   
3. Click Ease of Access.
4. Choose Keyboard.
   
   
5. Toggle the On-Screen keyboard to ON.
   
   
6. The keyboard will be displayed, try and check if @ key works when using the on-screen keyboard.
   

2. Use a different keyboard

If @ key isn’t working on your laptop keyboard, there’s a possibility that your keyboard is faulty. As a workaround, you can attach a USB keyboard to your laptop and use it as a temporary solution.

This isn’t the most elegant solution, but it should allow you to use your laptop until you manage to find the cause of the problem.

3. Change Language in Control Panel

Sometimes when you find @ key not working in Windows 10 laptop keyboard, 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. Select Time and Language.
   
   
4. Click Region and Language.
   
   
5. Under Country or Region, click on English (United Kingdom), and if not there, you can add it using Add a Language button.
   
6. Under Languages, click Windows display language.
7. Select Options.
   
   
8. Check what keyboard is selected under the Keyboards option.
   
9. Change the input language to English for your location.

Did this resolve the @ key not working in Windows 10 laptop keyboard problem? If not, try the next solution.

4. Use Two-button reset

If you’re using a Surface laptop, take the steps below to fix @ key not working in Windows 10 laptop keyboard problem:

1. Turn on the Surface and log in.
2. Attach the type or touch cover that isn’t working.
3. Hold the Volume Up key and Power key for 30 seconds then let go.
4. This will reboot the Surface and force it to reset all drivers – also called a Two-button reset.
5. Once you are back on log in screen, use your keyboard.

5. 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, 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 in Windows 10 laptop keyboard.
9. Right-click on the driver.
10. Select Properties.
    
    
11. Select Compatibility tab.
12. Check the box Run this program in Compatibility Mode for.
13. Select Windows 10 operating system from the drop-down.
14. Click on Apply, then click OK and run the file to install it.

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

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

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

1. Go to the Software and Drivers sub-section, 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 in Windows 10 laptop keyboard.

Another method you can use to update your drivers is by using third-party tools such as TweakBit Driver Updater. This is a simple tool that will allow you to update all outdated drivers on your PC automatically.

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Once you update your drivers, check if the problem is still there.

7. Run Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

If you find @ key not working in Windows 10 laptop keyboard, 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 Panel.
3. Go to 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 in Windows 10 laptop keyboard.

8. 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 see if your keyboard works again.

9. 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, 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 in Windows 10 laptop keyboard.

Did any of these solutions help you fix @ key not working in Windows 10 laptop keyboard issue? Let us know in the comments section below.

FAQ: Learn more about the @ key

• Why is my laptop keyboard not working?

If your laptop keyboard is not working in Windows 10, following the right troubleshooting steps should fix the problem.

• What to do if my keys swapped places in Windows 10?

Sometimes the @ and “ keys may switch places. When that happens, you. need to make sure that layout changes weren’t made by accident.

• Why doesn’t my Windows key work?

There are many reasons why your Windows key may not work, including bad keyboard drivers or system errors.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2019 and has been since revamped and updated in June 2020  for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.

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