Fix Keyboard Typing Wrong Letters and Symbols in Windows

A keyboard typing incorrect letters signals hardware issues, stuck keys or misconfigured settings. Below we’ll walk you thorugh tried and tested ways to fix this problem. Let’s get right to it.

What can I do if my keyboard is typing the wrong letters?

Here are some quick fixes to try first:

1. If you are using a wired keyboard, connect it to another port on the computer.
2. Make sure Num Lock is not enabled. If that’s the case, its indicator light would be turned on.
3. If you are using a laptop, ensure no pressure is exerted on its body. Oftentimes, this causes the touchpad or keyboard to act weirdly.

If you tried these and the keyboard is still nto showing the correct symbols, try the more advanced fixes below.

1. Override the default input method

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, select Time & language from the navigation pane, and then click on Typing.

   

2. Now, click on Advanced keyboard settings.

   

3. From the Override for default input method dropdown menu, choose English (United States) – US.

   

Resetart your PC to make sure the changes apply. If you can’t find the desired entry here, add the language pack for it.

2. Reinstall keyboard drivers

1. Press Windows + X to open the Power User menu, and select Device Manager.

   

2. Expand the Keyboards entry, right-click on the problematic keyboard, and choose Uninstall device.

   

3. Again, click Uninstall in the confirmation prompt.

   

4. Once done, restart the computer, and Windows will automatically download the best available drivers for the keyboard.

If this doesn’t work, you can update your keyboard drivers using a specialized tool, preventing PC damage by installing the wrong driver versions. For this, we highly recommend the easy-to-use and reliable PC Helpsoft Driver Updater.

3. Add the required language pack

1. Click a picture of your keyboard, and add it to Google Lens to perform a search to identify the keyboard layout.
2. Once you know the layout, press Windows + I to open Settings, choose Time & language, and click on Language & region.

   

3. Click on Add a language button.

   

4. Now, choose the relevant language pack, and click Next.

   

5. Click Install.

   

6. Once done, head to Advanced keyboard settings, and then choose the language pack you just downloaded from the dropdown menu.

   

4. Check AutoCorrect settings (for Microsoft Word)

1. Open Word, and click on the File menu.

   

2. Now, choose More, and then click on Options.

   

3. Navigate to Proofing and select AutoCorrect Options.

   

4. Uncheck the entries that seem to be causing the trouble, and click OK to save the changes.

   

Ensuring AutoCorrect is appropriately set up is a workaround, especially if your keyboard types the wrong letters in Word, but it works fine in other apps and programs.

In case the keyboard types the wrong characters in another program, make similar changes to it as well.

Why are my keys typing different symbols?

After some research, we could deduce a list of reasons the keyboard is typing different symbols or words.

• Hardware issues – In most cases, the issue lies with the keyboard itself. It could be a malfunctioning key or an object stuck under one. Cleaning the keyboard usually does the trick, but you might have to replace it.
• The Shift key might be stuck – If the Shift key is stuck or Num Lock is enabled, the keyboard behavior will be different from what you expect.
• Keyboard drivers are causing problems – Incompatible, corrupt, or outdated drivers usually trigger conflicts and may affect the effective functioning of the keyboard.
• The correct language pack is missing – A missing language pack can often be the underlying cause when your keyboard types the wrong characters. Simply adding the language pack should do the trick here.

Well, if nothing worked, then maybe your keyboard is faulty. In which case, you could either get it repaired, but that’s not often a sustainable option. Once a keyboard starts to fail, new problems keep coming up, and replacement only makes sense.

So, find out the best available keyboards, and get one for your computer. After you replace it, things should be up and running just fine.

Before you leave, find out the best ways to speed up Windows and get things done faster.

Other common keyboard problems that can be fixed with similar solutions include your keyboard automatically typing on its own, constant beeping while typing, not allowing double letters, or Windows 10 randomly switching keyboard language.

If you’ve got additional tips and suggestions on how to fix this issue, let us know in the comments below.