Windows Key Not Working? 9 Fixes for Windows 11 and 10

You press the Windows key and nothing happens: no Start menu, and shortcuts like Win + E, Win + D or Win + Shift + S stop working. It's one of the most searched Windows problems, and the cause is usually something small.

Work through these fixes in order. The first three solve the problem for most people in under a minute.

First, find out what's really broken

• Only the Windows key fails, but the Start button works when clicked? The problem is the key or a setting that blocks it (fixes 1 to 6).
• The Start menu doesn't open even when you click it? The problem is Windows itself, not the keyboard (fixes 7 to 9).
• Test the key: press Win + R, type osk and press Enter to open the On-Screen Keyboard. If its Windows key works, your physical key or keyboard driver is the problem.

1. Turn off "Win Lock" or Game Mode on your keyboard

This is the most common cause. Gaming keyboards and many laptops have a key that disables the Windows key so you don't minimize a game by accident.

• Look for a Win Lock key, a key with a lock or joystick icon, or a Game Mode light.
• On many laptops, try Fn + F6, Fn + F2 or Fn + Windows key (it depends on the brand; check the small icons on your F-keys).
• Gaming keyboards from Logitech, Razer, Corsair, HyperX and others can also disable the key in their software (G HUB, Synapse, iCUE). Open the app and switch off Game Mode.

2. Restart Windows Explorer

A frozen Explorer process stops the Start menu and many Win-key shortcuts. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click it and choose Restart. Your taskbar will disappear for a second and come back.

3. Turn off Filter Keys and Sticky Keys

Accessibility features can change how keys respond. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn off Sticky keys and Filter keys, then test again.

4. Check the keyboard and its driver

• For a USB keyboard, try a different USB port, or plug in another keyboard to see if the problem follows the keyboard.
• For Bluetooth keyboards, remove and pair the keyboard again.
• Open Device Manager (right-click Start), expand Keyboards, right-click your keyboard and choose Uninstall device. Restart the PC and Windows reinstalls the driver automatically.
• On laptops, install the latest keyboard and chipset drivers from your manufacturer's support app (for example Lenovo Vantage).

5. Remove a registry setting that disables the Windows key

Some "tweak" tools and games add a Scancode Map entry that remaps or disables the Windows key. Before editing the registry, create a restore point.

1. Press Win + R (or open Run from the Start button), type regedit and press Enter.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout.
3. If you see a value named Scancode Map, right-click it and choose Delete. (If it isn't there, skip this fix.)
4. Restart your PC.

6. Check Group Policy (Windows Pro and work PCs)

On Windows Pro, Enterprise and Education, a policy can turn off Windows key shortcuts. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Open Turn off Windows Key hotkeys and set it to Not Configured.

On an office laptop, this may be set by your IT department on purpose, so check with them before changing it.

7. Repair Windows system files

If the Start menu itself won't open, corrupted system files are a likely cause. Right-click the Start button (or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and choose Run new task), open Terminal (Admin) and run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Restart after both commands finish.

8. Install pending Windows updates

Start menu bugs are often fixed in cumulative updates. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install everything. If your PC is on Windows 11 version 24H2 Home or Pro, note that it stopped receiving security updates on October 13, 2026, so update to 25H2 or 26H2. If updates fail, see our Windows Update fixes guide.

9. Test with a new user account

If the Windows key works in a fresh account, your user profile is damaged. Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account, create a local test account, sign in and test. If it works there, move your files to the new account.

Quick workaround while you fix it

• Press Ctrl + Esc to open the Start menu without the Windows key.
• Use the On-Screen Keyboard (osk) for Win-key shortcuts.
• Right-click the Start button for a quick menu with Terminal, Settings, Device Manager and more.

FAQ

Why did my Windows key suddenly stop working?

Most often, Game Mode or Win Lock was switched on by accident with an Fn key combination. Other causes are a stuck Explorer process, a keyboard driver problem or a registry tweak that disabled the key.

How do I unlock the Windows key on an HP, Dell, Lenovo or ASUS laptop?

Look for a lock or Windows icon on one of the F-keys and press it together with Fn. Gaming laptops usually control it in the brand's app (Armoury Crate, Omen Gaming Hub, Alienware Command Center, Legion Space).

Is the Windows key broken if the on-screen keyboard works?

If the On-Screen Keyboard's Windows key works but the physical one doesn't, the problem is the keyboard, its lock setting or its driver, not Windows.

Windows feeling sluggish too? Try our 12 fixes for a slow Windows 11 PC.