Escape, or simply the Esc key, is quite useful when we want to quit a certain process. Often, we use it when a program stops responding, or an operation starts taking a long time to execute.
But what if the Esc key stops working all of a sudden? Indeed, there can be several causes that are stopping you from using it. Well, you could be facing hardware issues, or there could be a problem within your operating system.
Whatever the reason, this article will help you fix the Esc key that’s not working on your keyboard.
Why is Esc Key Not Working?
The Esc Key is located on thetop-left corner of your keyboard. And it helps you close a dialogue box, navigate to the game menu, or is even used as a shortcut key.
10 Ways to Fix Esc Key Not Working on Windows 11
Indeed, there are various alternatives to the Esc key. But you certainly do not want to leave it just like that. So, you may start using the fixes provided below, as one of them should work for you.
However, before moving forward, we suggestconnecting another keyboardand checking if the Esc key works fine. This lets you know whether the problem lies within your system or the hardware. Also, you couldshow the keyboard on your screento examine the problem.
Furthermore, we recommend trying general fixes first. For example, you canrestart your PCas most issues are resolved when doing so. Also, you may tryupdating Windows. Now, let’s move on with the major fixes.
Interestingly, some manufacturers have adopted the use of the Shift + Esc key to close running programs. This is because many users reported that their running apps closed when pressing the key accidentally.
Basically, this shortcut key works just as an alternative to the Esc key. Thus, we first recommend pressing the Shift and Esc keys to see if this functions as the Esc key on your PC.
One of the silliest mistakes we make is turning on the sticky keys, pressing a modified key, and then thumbing the Esc key. What this does is it registers a modifier key first and then the latter key,provoking a shortcut function.
For example, if you press the Ctrl key and then the Esc key, the Start Menu appears rather than exiting the window you’re trying. Moreover, if your Ctrl key gets stuck when you’re pressing the Esc key, you may experience the same thing. So, we recommend turning off the sticky keys and checking if this resolves your issue:
Try Switching the Port
Sometimes, your port could make your keyboard malfunction. If you cannot connect your peripheral properly, you might face errors with certain keys.
