How to Fix Delete Key Not Working in Windows 11

Experiencing issues with the ‘Delete’ key on your Windows 11 PC can be quite frustrating. While it doesn’t render your computer unusable, it can hinder your productivity by forcing you to find alternative ways to perform simple tasks. Fortunately, there are several solutions you can try to fix this problem. This guide will walk you through the most effective methods to get your ‘Delete’ key working again.

1. Update Keyboard Drivers

A common cause for the ‘Delete’ key not functioning is outdated or corrupted keyboard drivers. Updating these drivers can often resolve the issue. You can update the drivers through the Settings app or the Device Manager.

Click on the Start menu and select the Settings icon to open the Settings app.

In the Settings window, choose the Windows Update tab from the left sidebar.

Click on Advanced options in the right pane.

Under the Additional options section, click on Optional updates.

Locate updates related to your keyboard, select them by checking the corresponding boxes, and then click on Download & install.

Once the updates are installed, restart your PC and check if the ‘Delete’ key is working properly.

If you prefer using the Device Manager to update the drivers:

Open the Start menu, type Device Manager in the search bar, and click on the app to open it.

In the Device Manager window, expand the Keyboards category by double-clicking on it.

Right-click on your keyboard device (e.g., Standard PS/2 Keyboard) and select Update driver from the context menu.

In the Update Drivers window, choose Search automatically for drivers to let Windows search for the latest driver software.

After updating the driver, restart your computer and see if the issue has been resolved.

2. Run the Keyboard Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes a built-in keyboard troubleshooter that can help identify and fix problems with your keyboard, including non-working keys.

Open the Start menu and click on the Settings icon to open the Settings app.

Ensure that the System tab is selected on the left sidebar.

On the right pane, scroll down and select Troubleshoot.

Click on Other troubleshooters to view all available troubleshooters.

Locate the Keyboard troubleshooter and click on the Run button next to it.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process. Once finished, check if your ‘Delete’ key is operational.

3. Check for Physical Issues

Before diving into software fixes, it’s important to rule out any physical problems with your keyboard. Make sure there’s no dust, debris, or damage affecting the ‘Delete’ key.

Inspect your keyboard for any visible signs of wear or damage. Press the ‘Delete’ key several times to see if it feels normal. If the key is sticky, unresponsive, or makes unusual sounds, there might be a mechanical issue. Cleaning the keyboard or replacing the key might be necessary in such cases.

4. Connect an External Keyboard

To determine if the issue is with your keyboard hardware, try connecting an external keyboard to your computer.

If the ‘Delete’ key works on the external keyboard, it’s likely that your built-in keyboard has a hardware problem. This helps rule out software issues and indicates that you might need to repair or replace the built-in keyboard.

5. Force Keyboard Rescan

If the problem persists, you can force Windows to rescan your keyboard by deleting the current keyboard layout registry or using PowerShell.

Using Registry Editor:

Open the Start menu, type Registry Editor, and click on the app to open it.

If prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow changes.

In the Registry Editor, navigate to:

Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout

In the right pane, locate the Scancode Map entry. Right-click on it and select Delete.

Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes in the dialog box.

Restart your computer and see if the ‘Delete’ key is now working.

Using PowerShell:

If you’re uncomfortable editing the registry or the Scancode Map entry doesn’t exist, you can use PowerShell to rescan the keyboard layout.

Open the Start menu, type Terminal, right-click on the app, and select Run as administrator.

If prompted by UAC, click Yes to proceed.

In the Terminal window, type or paste the following command and press Enter:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

After the command executes, restart your PC and check if the ‘Delete’ key functions properly.

6. Enable Keyboard and Tablet Input Service

If multiple keys on your keyboard are not working, it’s possible that the keyboard services are disabled. Enabling these services might fix the issue.

Open the Start menu, type Services, and click on the app to open it.

In the Services window, scroll down and locate Microsoft Keyboard Filter. Double-click on it to open its properties.

In the properties window, set the Startup type to Automatic. Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Repeat the same steps for the Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service.

After enabling these services, restart your computer and test if the ‘Delete’ key is working.

7. Run DISM and SFC

System file corruption can cause keys to malfunction. Running the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool and the System File Checker (SFC) can repair corrupted system files.

Open the Start menu, type Terminal, right-click on the app, and select Run as administrator.

If prompted by UAC, click Yes.

In the Terminal window, click on the downward arrow icon and select Command Prompt from the dropdown menu.

Type the following command and press Enter to run DISM:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Once DISM completes, run the SFC command by typing:

sfc /scannow

After both scans are finished, restart your PC and check if the ‘Delete’ key issue is resolved.

8. Roll Back to a System Restore

If the ‘Delete’ key stopped working after a recent update or software installation, rolling back your system to an earlier restore point might fix the problem.

Open the Start menu, type Control Panel, and click on the app to open it.

In the Control Panel, click on Recovery from the list of options.

Click on Open System Restore to launch the System Restore wizard.

In the System Restore window, click Next.

Select a restore point from before the issue occurred and click Next to proceed.

To see which programs will be affected, click on Scan for affected programs. Review the list, then click Close.

Click Finish to start the system restore process.

After the system restores, check if the ‘Delete’ key is functioning correctly.

9. Reset Your PC

If none of the above methods work, resetting your PC might be the last resort. This process reinstalls Windows but lets you choose to keep your personal files.

Open the Settings app from the Start menu.

In Settings, select the System tab from the left sidebar.

Scroll down and click on Recovery.

Under the Recovery options section, click on Reset PC next to Reset this PC.

In the Reset this PC window, choose Keep my files to retain your personal data.

Select Cloud download to reinstall Windows from the cloud. Note that this requires an internet connection and will use over 4 GB of data.

Review the settings and click Next to proceed.

Click Reset to start the reset process.

Once the reset is complete, check if the ‘Delete’ key is working. Remember that this process reinstalls Windows but keeps your personal files; however, you may need to reinstall some apps.

Hopefully, one of these methods has helped you fix the problem with your ‘Delete’ key not working in Windows 11.