Shift Key Not Working in Windows: How to Fix

Sadique Hassan•Updated Apr 30, 2022

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the issue of the Shift key not working on your Windows PC. The Shift key is one of the most frequently interacted keys. Whether it’s the Ctrl-Shift-Esc shortcut for opening Task Manager, Shift F10 for opening the context menu, Shift Del for permanently deleting a file, or just using the Shift key for capitalizing the letter, its use case scenario is far and wide.

And it could be equally troublesome as well as infuriating when the key refuses to function along the expected lines. As far as the plausible reason for this issue is concerned, it could be attributed to outdated or corrupt keyboard drivers, corrupt system files, or even hardware related issues in some instances, With that said, this guide will make you aware of a few nifty workarounds that shall help you fix the Shift key not working on your Windows PC. Follow along.

Table of Contents

How to Fix Shift Key Not Working in Windows

It is recommended that you try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one spells out success for you. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: Check for Hardware Issue

First and foremost, let’s verify whether it is a hardware issue or just a software one. If it turns out to be an issue on the hardware front, then there’s no point in carrying out the rest of the fixes. On the other hand, if it is software related bug, then it could easily be rectified via the below-given workarounds.

Head over to the Start Menu, search On-Screen Keyboard, and open it.
Then use the mouse cursor to click on the Shift buttons and try out the desired shortcut.
If it works out, then it points to a hardware issue, i.e. your keyboard might need a repair.

On the other hand, if the on-screen keyboard isn’t working either, then it is a software side issue and you should proceed ahead with the rest of the workarounds to resolve the issue of the Shift key not working on your Windows PC.

FIX 2: Disable Sticky Keys

Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature that helps the users to use the shortcut key combination one at a time, rather than using them all simultaneously. This option is triggered upon pressing the Shift key 5 times continuously, however, it could also conflict with the proper functioning of the Shift key. Therefore, you should consider temporarily disabling it and then check out the results. Here’s how-

Bring up the Settings menu via Windows+I shortcut keys.
Then go to Accessibility > Keyboard and disable the toggle next to Sticky Keys.
Check if it fixes the Shift key not working issue on your Windows PC.

FIX 3: Use the Keyboard Troubleshooter

Windows comes built in with quite a few troubleshooter apps, and one is specifically made to diagnose, debug, and then fix the keyword-related issues. So let’s put it to the test and check out the results.

Bring up the Settings menu via Windows+I shortcut keys.
Then go to System Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters.
After that, click on Run next to Keyboard.
Windows will now scan for underlying issues and subsequently bring out the fix.
Click on it to apply and then check if it fixes the Shift key not working issue on your Windows PC.

FIX 4: Update Keyboard Driver

Using old or outdated drivers could result in quite a few issues, including the one that we are currently dealing with. Therefore, it is recommended to update the drivers to the latest build, using the instructions given below-

Open Device Manager and expand the Keyboards section.
Now right-click on your keyboard and select Update Drivers.
Then choose Search automatically for drivers.
Windows will now search for the latest drivers online, and would subsequently install them.
Once done, restart your PC and check if the Shift key not working issue has been fixed.

FIX 5: Use SFC and DISM Commands

System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management are two command-line utility tools that scan for corrupt Windows files and then replace them with their working counterpart. The major difference between the two is whereas the SFC replaces the corrupt files with the working ones from the cached directory on your PC, DISM does so by downloading the working files from the online Microsoft servers. And as of now, we would be making use of both these tools to fix the underlying issue.

Head over to the Start Menu, search Command Prompt, and launch it as an administrator.
Then copy-paste the below command to open the SFC Tool:
```
sfc /scannow
```
Once the SFC Scanning is complete, it’s time to use the DISM Tool. So copy-paste the below command:
```
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
```
Once DISM finishes the scanning, it is recommended to reboot your PC.
Now check if the fixes the Shift key not working issue on your Windows PC.

FIX 6: Boot to Safe Mode

In some instances, a third-party app might conflict with the keyboard as well. The best way to verify and hence rectify this issue is to boot your PC to the Safe Mode. Doing so will disable all the third-party apps and give you the stock environment with just the system apps. If the Shift key works in this mode, then the culprit is an app or software. Therefore, you should consider uninstalling the recently installed apps after which the issue first came to light. Here’s how it could be done;

Bring up the Run dialog box via Windows+R shortcut keys.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter to open the System Configuration menu
```
msconfig
```
Now go to its Boot tab and checkmark Safe Mode under Boot Options.
Finally, click OK followed by Restart in the confirmation dialog box.
Your PC will now boot to Windows Recovery Environment.
Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Click Restart > Press 4 to boot to Safe Mode.
Now check if it fixes the Shift key not working issue on your Windows PC.

FIX 7: Disable Third-Party Services

A third-party service could also create a few roadblocks in the functioning of the Shift key. Therefore, you should consider disabling all the non-Microsoft-related services and then test out the results. Here’s how it could be done

Head over to the Start Menu, search System Configuration, and open it.
Then go to the Services tab, checkmark Hide All Microsoft Services, and click on the Disable All button.
Then go to the Startup tab and click on Open Task Manager.
Now select an app from the list and click Disable. Do so for all the running services.
Once done, restart your PC and then check if the fixes Shift key not working error on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 8: Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

In case the keyboard drivers or its configuration files are corrupted, then just updating them wouldn’t do any good. In that case, you will have to uninstall the currently installed one and then let Windows install the fresh ones. Here’s how it could be done-

Start off by right-clicking on the Windows menu and selecting Device Manager.
Then expand the Keyboard section, right-click on your keyboard, and select Properties.
Now go to the Drivers tab and note down the Driver Provider and Driver Version. We are doing this just to be on the safer side. If Windows does not automatically install these drivers, then we could do so manually using the details that we have in our hands.
Once you have copied the values, right-click on your keyboard and select Uninstall Device.
Then click Uninstall in the confirmation dialog box that appears. Once the drivers are removed, restart your PC.
As soon as the PC boots to the OS, it should install the keyboard drivers. If that doesn’t happen, then open the Device Manager, right-click on your PC name situated at the top, and select Scan for hardware changes.
Windows will now scan your PC for all the missing drivers (which in this case is the keyboard driver) and install them as well.
However, if that doesn’t happen, then head over to Google, copy-paste the keyboard driver details that you had earlier noted, and then download and install the said drivers.
Once done, restart your PC and it should fix the underlying keyboard issue.

So with this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the issue of Shift key not working on your Windows PC. We have listed six different fixes for the same. Do let us know which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, all your queries are welcomed in the comments section below.

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