How to Fix a Stuck Keyboard Key - Punch Newspapers (2024)

As Ogunfuwa

Just as you're typing the last words of your quarterly report, one of your keyboard keys starts to freeze. Fortunately, you have a few simple options to clean your keyboard. Stuck keys can be the result of dirt and grime on the keyboard, but can also be the result of spilled drinks or other stickiness. These solutions from www.wikihow.com solve both problems.

Method 1:

Shakes out the keyboard

• Disconnect the keyboard. If you have a laptop, turn it off.
• Turn the keyboard upside down. You can also hold it at an angle, as long as part of the keyboard is pointing towards the ground.
• Shake the keyboard gently. Shake out the crumbs on the floor or table.
• Brush away any extra crumbs. If there is dirt on the keyboard, wipe it away.
• Check the keys again. See if they work.

Method 2:

Blows out the keyboard

• Buy a can of compressed air. You can find it almost anywhere electronics are sold.
• Turn off the computer. If you have a desk, remove the keyboard from the computer.
• Use the air to gently blow around and under the keys. Do not tilt the can as liquid may spill out.
• Wipe away any dirt. If dirt or food is blown out, wipe it away from the keyboard.
• Try the keys again. Check that the keys are not stuck.

Method 3:

Clean sticky keys

• Wipe up any spills as soon as they occur. If you spill a drink on your keyboard, unplug it and wipe it up.
• Clean the keys with alcohol when the liquor dries. Make sure the keyboard is disconnected first or your laptop is turned off. If the spill is mainly on the keys, use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to clean the keys.
• Rub the tops of the keys. Make sure they are free from stickiness.
• Use the cotton swab to go around the edges. Going around the edges should help with sticky keys as it will loosen the bottom part of the key from the keyboard.
• Check that your keys are not stuck. Once the alcohol is dry, check your keys to see if they are better.

Method 4:

Remove keys to clean the keyboard

• Carefully pry open the jammed key. Use a screwdriver or other flat object to reach under the key and pull up one of the edges slightly. You can also use your fingernail.
• If you're working on a laptop (PC or Mac), the key is held in place by a thin plastic clip that doubles as a spring. The keys are attached in slightly different ways on each type of keyboard; so removing them will be different for each type. If you're unsure if or how your portable keys will fall off, check your manual.
• Das keyboards (called by their company the best mechanical keyboards on the market) should not be repaired by prying off the keys. They offer a special clip that allows individual keys to be removed from the keyboard.
• Don't delete all the keys at once as you may have trouble remembering where they all go. Don't do more than a few at a time.
• Gently wipe the inside of the button and the opening from which it was removed. Remove any obstacles or crumbs stuck to the key or the hinges beneath it. You can use tweezers or toothpicks to help.
• Use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove any sticky spots. Make sure there is not so much alcohol on the cotton swab that it drips.

Allow the key and keyboard to dry completely. You don't want to leave any liquid under the keys, not even rubbing alcohol.

• Place the keys back in their original slots. Gently press the button down. It should click back into place.
• If you are using a laptop, return the clip to its original position before putting the key back in place.
• Check your keys. They should have been released by now. If not, you may need to take it to a computer repair person.

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All rights reserved. This material and other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed, in whole or in part, without the prior express written permission of PUNCH.

Contact:[email protected]