If the Windows Period key is not working on your Windows 11/10 system, the solutions provided in this article will help you. This issue usually occurs due to a corrupt keyboard driver or an incorrect keyboard layout. In some cases, conflicting software is also a contributing factor to this problem.
Windows Period key is not working
Use the following fixes if the Windows Period key is not working on your system:
- Check the issue with the On-screen keyboard
- Reinstall the keyboard driver
- Try another keyboard
- Disable Sticky Keys and Filter Keys
- Did you map the keyboard?
All these fixes are explained below in detail.
1] Check the issue with the On-screen keyboard
Launch the On-screen keyboard and check if you can type the Period key with it. If it works, there might be a problem with your keyboard or its driver.
2] Reinstall the keyboard driver
Reinstall the keyboard driver by following the steps provided below:
- Open the Device Manager.
- Expand the Keyboards branch.
- Right-click on your keyboard driver and select Uninstall device.
- Restart your computer or scan for hardware changes to reinstall its driver.
If this does not work, there might be an issue with your keyboard.
3] Try another keyboard
Connect another keyboard to your computer and check if you can type the Period key. This step will help you narrow down the cause of the problem. If another keyboard works fine, the Period key of your keyboard might be damaged or have dust buildup. Open your keyboard carefully and clean it.
4] Disable Sticky Keys and Filter Keys
Sometimes, Sticky and Filter Keys conflict with the functionality of other keys and cause issues. Check if the Sticky and Filter keys are enabled on your system. If yes, disable them.
5] Did you map the keyboard?
Did you map your keyboard? If yes, you might have accidentally assigned another function to the Period key. In this case, you need to revert the changes using the same software you used to map the keys.
The Period key is not working, but working with the Shift key
Some users encountered a weird issue with their keyboards. According to them, the Period works only when they press it along with the Shift key. In this case, it is clear that there is no hardware issue. Hence, the cause of the problem lies somewhere else. If you encounter such an issue, use the following fixes to resolve the issue:
- Check the issue in the Clean Boot state
- Check your keyboard layout
- Reset your keyboard
- Create a new user profile
Let’s start.
1] Check the issue in the Clean Boot state
In the Clean Boot state, all the third-party services and applications remain disabled. Hence, the Clean Boot state helps you narrow down the cause of the problem. To enter the Clean Boot state, you need to disable all the third-party services using MSConfig. Be careful while performing this action, because if you disable all the services accidentally, you will be in trouble and you will have to reinstall Windows.
Once you are in the Clean Boot state, check if you can type the Period key. If yes, your next step will be to find the culprit third-party service.
2] Check your keyboard layout
You might have selected the wrong keyboard layout. Check this in Windows 11 Settings and change the layout if necessary. To check or change the keyboard layout, open Windows 11 Settings and go to Time & Language > Language & Region. Now, click on any of the installed languages and select Language Options. Scroll down and see if your preferred keyboard is added there. If not, click Add a keyboard and select the required keyboard layout.
3] Reset your keyboard
You can also reset your keyboard. This method is helpful to fix the issue when your keyboard keys are not working the way they should be. However, if there is a hardware fault, resetting the keyboard to the default will not work.
4] Create a new user profile
If the problem persists, your user profile might have been corrupted. To confirm this, create a new user account. Log in to that account and test your keyboard functionality. If your keyboard works flawlessly in the new user account, you can transfer all your data from the previous account to the new account and delete the previous account later. For this, you can use a third-party tool like Transwiz.
That’s it. I hope this helps.
How do I fix my Windows key not working?
If the Windows key or Win key is not working on your system, check if the Game Mode is enabled. If yes, disable it. Other fixes you can try include cleaning your keyboard, troubleshooting in a Clean Boot state, disabling the Filter and Sticky keys, creating a new user account, and so on.
How do I fix unresponsive keys?
If some keys on your keyboard are unresponsive, there might be dust buildup beneath them. Clean your keyboard and see if it helps. If you use a wireless keyboard, replace its batteries. You can also try reinstalling the keyboard driver.
Read next: Keyboard Input Lag in Games on Windows.
