How to Fix ‘Laptop Keyboard Typing Wrong Characters’ Issue

I once had a frustrating experience where my laptop keyboard started typing the wrong characters. Pressing “M” would type “0,” and some keys wouldn’t respond correctly. I was in the middle of an important document, and every word I typed was a mess. After trying a few basic fixes, I realized that a simple setting change had caused the issue.

If you’re facing a similar problem, don’t worry. Many users encounter keyboard misbehavior due to incorrect settings, driver issues, or physical damage. Whether your laptop keyboard is typing symbols instead of letters, numbers instead of letters, or completely wrong characters, this guide will help you fix it step by step.

Understanding the Issue

Before jumping into fixes, let’s understand why your laptop keyboard is typing incorrect characters.

Possible Causes:

• Incorrect keyboard layout settings (e.g., switched to a different language).
• Num Lock is enabled, causing certain keys to act as a numeric keypad.
• Sticky Keys or Filter Keys interfering with normal typing.
• Corrupted keyboard drivers affecting key mapping.
• Physical damage due to liquid spills or worn-out keys.
• Malware infections modifying keyboard behavior.

Now, let’s go through the best solutions in detail.

Fixes for ‘Laptop Keyboard Typing Wrong Characters’ Issue

1. Check Keyboard Language & Layout Settings

Tools Needed: None

Steps:

1. Press Windows + Spacebar to switch keyboard layouts quickly.
2. If the issue persists, open Settings (Windows + I).
3. Navigate to Time & Language > Language & Region.
4. Under Preferred languages, select your correct language (e.g., English (United States)).
5. Click Keyboard options and ensure the correct layout (e.g., US QWERTY) is selected.
6. If incorrect layouts exist, remove them by clicking Remove.
7. Restart your laptop and check if the keyboard types correctly.

Why This Works:

A wrong keyboard layout can cause keys to be mapped differently, leading to incorrect characters when typing.

2. Turn Off Num Lock (If Letters Are Typing Numbers)

Tools Needed: None

Steps:

1. Check if your keyboard has a Num Lock key (usually labeled as NumLk).
2. Press Num Lock to toggle it off. If your laptop has a function key (Fn), try Fn + Num Lock.
3. If your keyboard doesn’t have a Num Lock key, open On-Screen Keyboard (Windows + R, type osk, and press Enter).
4. Click Num Lock to disable it.
5. Test your keyboard to see if the issue is resolved.

Why This Works:

Many laptops use Num Lock to enable a hidden numeric keypad, which can cause letters to type numbers instead.

3. Disable Sticky Keys & Filter Keys

Tools Needed: None

Steps:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Go to Accessibility > Keyboard.
3. Under Sticky Keys, toggle it Off.
4. Scroll down to Filter Keys and turn it Off as well.
5. Restart your laptop and check if the issue is resolved.

Why This Works:

Sticky Keys and Filter Keys can alter keyboard behavior, leading to unexpected character inputs.

4. Run the Keyboard Troubleshooter

Tools Needed: None

Steps:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Navigate to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Scroll down and find Keyboard.
4. Click Run the troubleshooter.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions and apply any suggested fixes.

Why This Works:

The Windows Troubleshooter automatically detects and fixes software-related keyboard issues.

5. Reinstall Keyboard Drivers

Tools Needed: None

Steps:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Keyboards and right-click on your keyboard device.
3. Click Uninstall device, then confirm.
4. Restart your laptop—Windows will automatically reinstall the keyboard driver.
5. Test if the issue is resolved.

Why This Works:

Corrupted keyboard drivers can cause incorrect key mappings. Reinstalling them refreshes keyboard functionality.

6. Scan for Malware or Viruses

Tools Needed: Windows Security or third-party antivirus

Steps:

1. Open Windows Security (Windows + I, then go to Privacy & security > Windows Security).
2. Click Virus & threat protection.
3. Select Quick Scan (or Full Scan for a deeper check).
4. If malware is found, follow the removal instructions.
5. Restart your laptop and check if the keyboard works correctly.

Why This Works:

Some malware programs modify keyboard inputs, causing random or incorrect characters to appear.

7. Check for Windows Updates

Tools Needed: None

Steps:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Go to Windows Update and click Check for updates.
3. If updates are available, install them and restart your laptop.

Why This Works:

An outdated Windows version may have bugs affecting keyboard performance, which updates can fix.

8. Use an External Keyboard (If Hardware Issue Suspected)

Tools Needed: External USB or Bluetooth keyboard

Steps:

1. Connect an external keyboard to your laptop via USB or Bluetooth.
2. Test if the external keyboard types correctly.
3. If the external keyboard works fine, the issue is likely hardware-related (e.g., faulty laptop keyboard).

Why This Works:

If an external keyboard works normally, your laptop’s built-in keyboard may need repair or replacement.

9. Reset Your Laptop’s Keyboard Settings

Tools Needed: None

Steps:

1. Open Settings (Windows + I).
2. Go to Time & Language > Language & Region.
3. Remove all keyboard layouts except the default one.
4. Restart your laptop and check if the keyboard works correctly.

Why This Works:

Resetting keyboard settings eliminates incorrect configurations that may be causing typing errors.

Pros and Cons of Each Fix

Fix	Pros	Cons
Changing keyboard layout	Quick and easy	Might not fix hardware-related issues
Disabling Num Lock	Works for number-typing issues	Not applicable to all keyboards
Running a troubleshooter	Automatic fix	May not detect all issues
Reinstalling keyboard drivers	Refreshes driver functionality	Requires restart
Scanning for malware	Prevents malicious modifications	Takes time for a full scan
Using an external keyboard	Confirms hardware failure	Not a permanent fix

Conclusion

If your laptop keyboard is typing the wrong characters, the first thing to check is keyboard settings like language layout and Num Lock. If the issue persists, reinstall the keyboard drivers, scan for malware, or reset network settings.

If none of these fixes work, your keyboard may have physical damage—in which case, using an external keyboard or replacing the built-in one may be necessary.

Which solution worked for you? Let me know in the comments!