How to Disable Laptop Keyboard

If you are a messy human being like me, chances are that you have spilled water on your keyboard at least once— causing it to work aberrantly at the worst time possible. Now all you want is a quick fix to disable your laptop’s keyboard so you can think of a way that you can fix it, without messing the other parts of your computer.

Before you start: It is important to ensure that an external keyboard is able to perform the functions on your laptop properly. Make sure that you connect an external keyboard through USB or Bluetooth and check all the keys properly before you take the risk of disabling your laptop keyboard to avoid chances of confusion and chaos later on. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

Solution #1: Disable the Laptop Keyboard temporarily

Step 1: Click on the Start Menu

Step 2: On the search bar of the start menu, type ‘Device Manager’

Step 3: A list of options would appear. Left-Click on the Device Manager

Step 4: Find out ‘Keyboard’ in the Device Manager of your Laptop

Step 5: After you locate the keyboard, click on the PLUS sign (+) or an arrow which will further lead to a drop-down menu.

Step 6: Right Click on the name of the keyboard currently in use and click ‘Uninstall.

This method only works until your session is ongoing. The moment you restart your laptop, the drivers for the keyboard will be automatically reinstalled.

Solution # 2: Updating Incompatible Driver

Sometimes you need to mess things up more to fix them up. The second approach to disable a laptop keyboard that is not performing well is proof of that. Follow these steps to disable laptop keyboard using the incompatible driver approach

Step 1: Open the Device Manager of your Windows System by searching from the Search Bar on the Start Menu

Step 2: You’ll see an option of ‘Keyboards’. Click on it to expand the folder. A few other options would appear as a drop-down list. Right Click on the ‘Standard PS/2 Keyboard’ option. From the further list of options, click on ‘Update Driver’

Step 3: A command would appear asking you to choose from two options. Click on ‘Browse my Computer for Driver Software.’ This will help you locate and install the driver on your own.

Step 4: Click on ‘Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer’ and then uncheck the Show Compatible Hardware’ option

Step 5: Navigate through the window and find a manufacturer that is different than your original keyboard. Click on your desired model available and then click on the ‘Next’ option.

Step 6: A new command window would appear giving you a warning regarding your updated driver. Click on Yes to approve it.

Step 7: Click on the ‘Yes’ option when the command appears. This will reboot your computer and disable your laptop keyboard.

How to re-enable your laptop’s keyboard again:

Step 1: Go to Device Manager > Update Driver

Step 2: Click on ‘Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software’

Step 3: Click on ‘Close’. The keyboard will be re-enabled.

Solution #3: Short Method

Step 1: On your main Homepage, Press Windows key and R. A search bar would appear

Step 2: Enter ‘Gpedit.msc’ and click on Ok

Step 3: Go to Administrative Templates, click on System, then click on Device Installation, then click on Device Installation Restrictions.

Step 4: Select the option ‘Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings’ and click Edit

Step 5: Click on Enabled > Apply > OK.

Step 6: Press Windows key and X> Device Manager

Step 7: Expand Keyboards. Right Click ‘Standard Ps2/Keyboard’ > Uninstall device

Step 8: Click on Uninstall > Yes