How to fix Tab key not working on Windows

The Tab key on your keyboard often allows you to quickly move from one field to another when filling out forms or navigating a web page. But sometimes you may notice that the Tab key doesn't work as expected. This can be really frustrating, especially if you rely on the Tab key for everyday tasks.

Read this guide to learn how to troubleshoot and fix Tab key not working on Windows.

1. Restart the computer

If the Tab key on your keyboard doesn't work, the first and easiest thing to do is restart your computer. Sometimes this can fix minor glitches that could be causing the problem. Before restarting your computer, save any open documents or work you have.

2. Check for any physical damage or debris

If the Tab key is physically damaged, its functionality may be affected. To make sure your Tab key is working properly, disconnect the keyboard from the computer and check for any physical damage to the key. If damage is found, replace the Tab key. Also, if debris is blocking the operation of the keyboard, use compressed air to clean the dirt.

If you need help cleaning your keyboard, see our guide on how to clean your keyboard for more details.

3. Run the keyboard troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooter for keyboard problems that you can use to solve the Tab key not working problem. It will scan your system for errors and suggest potential solutions.

To run the keyboard troubleshooter, follow these steps:

1. Press Win + I on your keyboard to open the Settings menu.

2. From the left pane, select System > Troubleshoot .

3. On the next page, click Other troubleshooters .

4. Locate the Keyboard in the Other section and click Run .

Wait for the troubleshooter to finish running and follow any instructions the troubleshooter provides. If no problems are found, move on to the next solution.

4. Run the hardware and device troubleshooter

If the keyboard troubleshooter doesn't solve the problem, you can try running the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. This program will scan for hardware related problems and offer solutions to fix them.

To run the hardware and device troubleshooter, do the following:

1. Run Command Prompt with admin rights.
2. In the CMd window, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter.

The hardware and device troubleshooter will open. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process. Once the troubleshooting is done, restart your computer and try using the Tab key again.

5. Update the keyboard driver

Outdated drivers can cause a number of problems including keyboard problems. So try updating your keyboard driver if you still have this problem.

To update your keyboard driver, follow these steps:

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager from the Power User menu.

2. In the Device Manager window , double-click Keyboards to expand it.

3. Right click on the keyboard driver and select Update driver .

4. Select Search automatically for drivers and let Windows find the latest driver versions.

Once the driver is updated, restart the computer and check if the Tab key works.

6. Reinstall the keyboard driver

If the keyboard driver fails to update, you can reinstall it. This will overwrite any existing files and may solve the problem.

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Launch Device Manager.

2. Right click on your keyboard driver and select Uninstall device .

3. A confirmation dialog may appear, asking if you want to uninstall the device.

4. Confirm the uninstallation and restart the computer.

When your system is back online, Windows will automatically detect and reinstall the keyboard driver. Check if this solves the Tab key problem.

7. Disable Sticky and Filter Keys

Sticky and Filter Keys are accessibility features of Microsoft Windows, but sometimes they interfere with the normal operation of other keys on your keyboard. So try disabling both of these features to see if they cause problems with the Tab key on your keyboard.

To disable Sticky and Filter Keys, follow these steps:

1. Right-click Start and select Settings from the menu list.
2. On the Settings menu , click the Accessibility tab.
3. Scroll down to the Interaction section and click on Keyboard .
4. On the next page, turn the Sticky keys and Filter keys options to off.

Once you've disabled both of these features, restart your computer and check if the Tab key works again.

8. Close TeamViewer

If you are using TeamViewer, it is possible that the application is interfering with the Tab key. So try ending the TeamViewer process and see if the Tab key works.

To end the TeamViewer process, follow these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Task Manager.

2. In the Processes tab , find TeamViewer and right click on it.

3. Select End task from the menu list to end the TeamViewer process.

After doing the above, check if you can now use the Tab key on your keyboard.

9. Scan your computer for malware

Malware can sometimes interfere with the normal operation of the keyboard and cause various problems including this one. To make sure your computer is free of malware, scan it. You can also use a reputable antivirus to scan for malware and remove any programs that might be causing your keyboard problems.

Once you've finished scanning, restart your computer and see if the keyboard issue is resolved. If not, you can continue to troubleshoot using other methods.

10. Use the virtual keyboard

If none of the above methods solve your keyboard problem, try using the virtual keyboard on Windows. Here's how to access the virtual keyboard on Windows.

The virtual keyboard is a great way to check if your physical keyboard is the problem. If you can enter text with the on-screen keyboard but cannot with the physical keyboard, the physical keyboard probably needs to be replaced.

11. Do some general fixes

There are a few general fixes for this problem. Run the System File Checker command first to repair corrupted or incorrect system files. This tool scans for corrupted files and replaces them with the original versions.

If you recently downloaded or installed a program, it is possible that the installation did not complete properly and caused your keyboard problems.

To test this, you can do a clean boot. This process starts Windows with only basic drivers and services, allowing you to fix any software conflicts that might be causing the problem.

David Pac

Update 27 June 2023