It is almost impossible for an individual to operate their desktop or PC without a keyboard. But, do you know there are certain situations when people despise hitting the keys and wonder if a method exists to disable the keyboard entirely on Windows PCs? Surprising? Well, that’s true! You may want to disable this input device for a variety of reasons. If the laptop keyboard starts acting up, you must attach an external keyboard to the machine to continue the work. But, there is always a possibility of unexpected or unauthorized keystrokes that may accidentally happen on the malfunctioning keyboard. To prevent such a situation, it is advised to disable the Windows keyboard. It becomes essential to disable the keyboard when you’re frantically attempting to clean it to eliminate the dust and debris. Once the keyboard is disabled, you are free to clean it thoroughly or can even replace the keys if some of them are unresponsive. You may also want to disable the keyboard when your pets or kids are around so that they do not smash the keys, ruin the important document you are working on or pause the movie you’re enjoying. Likewise, professional gamers prefer gaming keyboards and make sure to disable their in-built keyboards before commencing the gaming session to avoid unwanted interruption. There are two methods to disable the laptop keyboard, and you can employ any of them depending on whether you want to disable the keyboard permanently or for a short period.Fortunately, it is possible to accomplish the intended purpose with just a few clicks without adversely affecting the normal functioning of the Windows PC. Below, we have explained the step-by-step procedure to disable the laptop keyboard for a short time, and the method to do it permanently follows. You can quickly jump to the section depending on what your goal is.
Temporarily disable the keyboard using Device Manager
Microsoft allows you to disable the Windows keyboard from the Device Manager. Hence, it is possible to accomplish the intended task without a third-party application. Here’s how to go about it:
Right, Click the Start Menu to access the Power User Menu and click on the Device Manager option. Alternatively, you can use the Windows + R key combination to summon the Run dialog box. Now type devmgmt.msc in the command box and hit the Enter key.
In the Device Manager window, you will see that all the connected devices are mentioned here. Click on the inverted triangle next to the Keyboards category to reveal the list of connected keyboards.
Select the keyboard you wish to disable and right-click it to access the Context menu. Here, choose the Disable option. If you have more than one keyboard attached, you must disable them one at a time. If the Disable option is not visible, choose the Uninstall option.
A confirmation dialogue box for uninstalling the device will appear. Select the Disable/Uninstall option to confirm the action.
Your keyboard will remain non-functional until the time you restart your keyboard. This is because your Windows PC automatically reinstalls the missing drivers whenever you reboot it. Whenever you need to re-enable the Windows keyboard, go to the Device Manager window once again and access the context menu of the keyboard. This time, choose the Enable or Install option. As inferred, this method temporarily disables the Windows keyboard. If you want a permanent solution to keep your keyboard disabled, go through the method described below.
Permanently Disable your laptop’s keyboard.
To permanently disable a Windows keyboard, uninstall the keyboard driver from your Windows PC. The idea is to prevent Windows from automatically installing the missing keyboard driver whenever the system reboots. The process is more advanced, but no worries, we are here to guide you! Here are the steps to permanently disable the Windows keyboard.
Use the Windows + R shortcut to open the Run dialog box and type gpedit.msc in the command box.
In the left sidebar, expand Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions folder.
Several options will appear on the right pane of the window. Select the Prevent Installation of Devices Not Described by Other Policy Settings option and edit it.
In the dialog box that opens, enable the radio button next to the Enabled option and press the OK button.
After the settings are applied, follow the steps mentioned in the previous method to uninstall or disable the keyboard driver. This time, Windows will not re-install the keyboard driver automatically, and your Windows keyboard will be disabled permanently. If you want to use the Windows keyboard again, summon the Group Policy Editor and revert the changes. Now reboot your PC, so the missing driver gets re-installed automatically, and your keyboard will be functional again.
Conclusion
Now you know how to disable your Windows keyboard whenever you need to clean the debris or prevent accidental keystrokes. Uninstalling the keyboard driver technique is a charm when you want to disable the peripheral for a short period. We’ve also explained how you can prevent Windows PC from automatically installing the missing driver forcing the keyboard to be non-functional; use this trick whenever you need to disable the keyboard for a long time. You may also read about the best software to manage laptop battery life and performance.
