Windows key not working: how to fix it in Windows 11 and 10

Test first: dead key or broken Start menu?

“Windows key not working” covers two different faults, and the fix depends on which one you have. These checks take under a minute:

Test	If it works	If it doesn’t
Win + R (Run) or Win + I (Settings)	The key is fine. Go to the Start menu fixes	The key is blocked or faulty. Keep reading
Ctrl + Esc	Start itself opens, so the Windows key is the problem	Start is broken as well; see the Start menu section
On-Screen Keyboard (type osk in Run or search) and click its Windows key	Windows accepts the key, so suspect the physical keyboard or its software	Something in Windows blocks the key: policy, registry or a remap tool
A different USB or Bluetooth keyboard	The original keyboard is the cause (lock key, firmware or hardware)	The cause is in Windows, not the keyboard

Microsoft’s shortcut list confirms what to expect: pressing the Windows logo key on its own opens or closes Start, and Win + X opens the Quick Link menu, the same as right-clicking Start.

Check for a Win Lock or Game Mode key

On gaming keyboards and many gaming laptops, this is a likely cause. The feature exists so a stray tap doesn’t minimise a full-screen game, and it’s easy to switch on by accident.

• Look for a lock or joystick icon on a key, often near the right Ctrl key, on F-keys, or as a dedicated button. Many keyboards light an LED when it’s on.
• Logitech: Logitech’s support page says that in Game Mode the Windows and Context Menu keys are disabled. Press the Game Mode button to turn it off, or change which keys it blocks in G HUB.
• Other brands: Win Lock is often a Fn combination, but the key differs by model, so check the manual or the vendor’s support page rather than trying random Fn keys.
• Laptop gaming apps such as the maker’s control centre sometimes include their own Windows key lock. Open the app and look for a game or key-lock setting.

Windows’ own Game Mode in Settings is a different thing. There’s no Microsoft documentation saying it disables the Windows key, so switching it off is unlikely to help.

Keyboard software and PowerToys remaps

Any program that remaps keys can disable the Windows key without telling you. Check these first:

• PowerToys Keyboard Manager. Open PowerToys, select Keyboard Manager and look under Remap a key and Remap a shortcut for an entry that changes the Win key. Microsoft notes that remaps only apply while PowerToys runs, and that closing PowerToys or turning off Keyboard Manager stops them. That makes it a quick test.
• Vendor apps such as Logitech G HUB, Razer Synapse or Corsair iCUE can store per-profile remaps and per-game locks.
• Other remappers such as AutoHotkey scripts. Exit them from the notification area and test again.

Windows key shortcuts turned off by policy

If the key fails on a work or school PC, an administrator may have switched off Windows key shortcuts on purpose. The setting is the NoWinKeys policy, shown in Group Policy under User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer (older versions say Windows Explorer) as Turn off Windows Key hotkeys. On a managed device, ask your IT team rather than changing it.

On your own PC you can check whether it’s set. Open Command Prompt and run:

reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoWinKeys
reg query "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoWinKeys

“The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value” means it isn’t set. A value of 0x1 means Windows key combinations are disabled. On Pro editions, set the Group Policy above to Not Configured. On Home, delete the value in Registry Editor, then sign out and back in.

A Scancode Map in the registry

Key-remapping tools such as SharpKeys, and some “disable the Windows key” guides, write a binary value called Scancode Map. It applies to every keyboard and every user on the PC, and it survives keyboard swaps. Check for it from an elevated Command Prompt:

reg query "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout" /v "Scancode Map"

Before you delete it, export a backup. The value holds every custom key remap on the PC, not just the Windows key, so removing it resets all of them:

reg export "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\keyboard-layout-backup.reg"

Then open Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout, delete Scancode Map and restart. The change only takes effect after a reboot. If you used a tool like SharpKeys, you can instead open it, remove the Windows key entry and write the change back.

Filter Keys and other accessibility settings

Filter Keys tells Windows to ignore brief or repeated keystrokes, so a quick tap of the Windows key can be dropped. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn off Filter keys. While you’re there, make sure Sticky keys isn’t on if shortcuts behave oddly. This is less often the cause than a lock key, but it’s quick to rule out.

When only the Start menu is broken

If Win + R works but tapping the Windows key doesn’t open Start, the key is fine and the shell needs a restart:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. On the Processes tab, find Windows Explorer, right-click it and choose Restart. The taskbar disappears for a moment and comes back.
3. Test the Windows key again. If it still fails, restart the PC.

If Start keeps breaking, repair system files with sfc /scannow. If the taskbar is also misbehaving, this taskbar guide covers related fixes. Many guides suggest a PowerShell command that re-registers every built-in app; it changes far more than the Start menu and often prints errors, so treat it as a last resort and not a first step.

Reinstall the keyboard driver

If another keyboard works but yours doesn’t, and no lock or remap explains it, reinstall the driver. Right-click Start (or press Win + X if that still works), open Device Manager, expand Keyboards, right-click your keyboard and choose Uninstall device. Unplug and reconnect it, or restart, and Windows reinstalls the driver. For a wireless keyboard, also try a fresh battery and re-pairing.

You may see older advice to run the built-in Keyboard troubleshooter. Microsoft lists it among the troubleshooters being removed from Windows, so it may not be on your PC. If other keys misbehave too, see Num Lock not working for checks that apply to the whole keyboard. A key that still does nothing on several PCs is a hardware fault; a stuck or dirty key switch is worth cleaning before you replace the keyboard.

Related guides

• Num Lock Not Working in Windows 11/10: 6 Ways to Fix It
• Taskbar icons missing in Windows 11 or 10: how to get them back
• Mouse moves but won’t click: 7 fixes for Windows 11 and 10
• How to run sfc /scannow in Windows 11 and 10 (and read the results)

Official sources:

• Microsoft Support: Keyboard shortcuts in Windows
• Microsoft Learn: PowerToys Keyboard Manager
• Microsoft Support: Deprecation of MSDT troubleshooters
• Logitech Support: What is Game Mode on Logitech gaming keyboards