Has your laptop got a few broken keys that are making typing a bit of a nightmare? Then it might be best to deactivate its built-in keyboard and hook your machine up to an external keyboard instead.
In this guide, we’re going to teach you how to disable the keyboard on your laptop — temporarily or permanently. Whether it’s a Windows 11 or 10 laptop, or even a Macbook.
If you’re rocking a laptop running Windows 10 or 11, then turning off its keyboard won't take long. And there are a few different ways you can do it…
Disable temporarily with Device Manager
Using Device Manager is the easiest and safest way to disable a laptop keyboard:
Find and open the app by typing “device manager” into your Windows search bar. Or you can press Windows + R together and type "devmgmt.msc" into the Run dialog box instead.
You’ll see a list of devices. Click on the arrow next to 'Keyboards' to see all connected keyboards.
Right-click on your laptop's keyboard (it should be ‘Standard PS/2 Keyboard’ or similar) and choose the 'Disable device' or ‘Uninstall device’ option.
Confirm your choice by clicking 'Yes' on the pop-up window that appears.
You should have now disabled the keyboard on your laptop. If you restart your machine though, then the built-in keyboard will become functional again. But if you ever want to turn it back on without having to restart, just go into the Device Manager again > right-click on your laptop's keyboard > click 'Enable device'.
Deactivate permanently via Command Prompt
Want to permanently disable your Windows laptop's keyboard? Follow these steps instead:
Disable your laptop's keyboard using Device Manager first (see our step-by-step instructions for that above).
Type "cmd" into the Windows search bar and click on 'Run as administrator' beneath the app options.
Select 'Yes' to allow the Command Prompt app to make changes to your computer.
Type this command line into the Command Prompt window: sc config i8042prt start= disabled
Hit the enter key, then close the app and restart your machine.
This process should stop your laptop from automatically reactivating its keyboard when you start it up. To reverse this, just follow the steps above but type this command into the Command Prompt app instead: sc config i8042prt start= auto
Selecting the wrong driver
This laptop keyboard disabler method is unconventional, so you should only try it as a last resort. If you want to disable your Windows laptop's keyboard by pairing it with a driver that’s incompatible, here's how to do it:
Open Device Manager by typing it into your Windows search bar, or by pressing Windows + R and typing "devmgmt.msc" into the Run dialog box that appears.
Click on the 'Keyboards' dropdown and right-click on your laptop's built-in keyboard.
Choose the 'Update driver' option.
In the window that pops up, click on 'Browse my computer for drivers'.
Another window will open. Select 'Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer'.
You'll now see a list of options. Click on a brand and model that's different to your laptop's integrated keyboard and hit 'Next'.
Click on 'Yes' on the Windows pop-up that appears. This will warn you about the driver being incompatible with your system.
Once you've done that, just close the window and restart your laptop. When it starts up, the keyboard will no longer work.
If you want to reverse this and use your laptop's keyboard again, just follow steps 1 to 3 but choose 'Search automatically for drivers' instead.
There's quite a lot of confusion around how to disable a MacBook's keyboard. Different versions of macOS seem to affect previously known solutions, so you'd be better off downloading a third-party app that’ll allow you to easily take control of your Apple laptop’s keyboard.
KeyboardCleanTool and Karabiner-Elements are popular bits of software, as well as KeyRemap4MacBook. Most Mac users will download these apps to customise their keyboard layouts by remapping keys. But they can also be used to turn off your entire keyboard by disabling all keys at once.
Why should I disable my laptop's keyboard?
There could be a few reasons why you’d want to deactivate the keyboard on your laptop. But the most common cause for disabling a laptop keyboard would be because of damage. Like all tech, laptops aren’t immune to wear and tear. So, if a couple of essential keys break off or just stop working after a while — the keyboard won’t be very functional anymore.
It might cost a pretty penny to get your laptop’s built-in keyboard properly fixed. Plus, it might mean going a few days without it. So it’d probably be cheaper to simply buy an external USB keyboard that you can plug in, or a wireless keyboard that you can connect wirelessly. And if you do go that route, then it’d best to turn off your laptop’s keyboard to prevent any accidental inputs.
How do you temporarily disable a laptop’s keyboard?
On a Windows 10 or 11 laptop, the best way to temporarily disable its keyboard is through Device Manager. Just search for Device Manager in the Start menu and open the app > click the ‘Keyboards’ drop-down > right-click on your laptop's built-in keyboard > select 'Disable device' from the context menu.
Your laptop’s keyboard will now be disabled. But it will automatically reactivate itself when you restart your computer.
How do I disable the keyboard on my laptop’s screen?
Windows computers have an Accessibility tool called On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) built in. This is a feature that can be used instead of a physical keyboard and it’s primarily designed for people who may have difficulty typing. It displays a visual keyboard on your screen with all the standard keys, which means that you can just use your mouse to select keys. Or if you’ve got a laptop with a touchscreen, you can use that instead.
To turn the OSK on and off on a Windows laptop, go to your Start menu > select ‘Settings’ > click ‘Ease of Access’ (on Windows 10) or ‘Accessibility’ (on Windows 11) > choose ‘Keyboard’ > switch the On-Screen Keyboard on or off. You can also just click on the ‘X’ in the top-right corner of the On-Screen Keyboard to turn it off.
Can you disable keys on a laptop keyboard?
Disabling keys on a laptop keyboard can be useful, especially when a key is sticking or is accidentally being pressed repeatedly. Free downloadable apps like KeyTweak and AutoHotkey are great at helping you to disable a key or several keys on your Windows laptop. Or if you're running a MacBook, try Karabiner-Elements or KeyRemap4MacBook instead.
How do I lock my laptop keyboard?
If you want to lock the keyboard on your laptop so you can leave it unattended without someone using it, just follow these steps:
Press the Windows key + L at the same time.
This will bring up the lock screen, and your keyboard will be locked.
To unlock your keyboard, enter your password or PIN on the lock screen.
Any more questions?
We hope that our guide has helped you turn off your laptop’s built-in keyboard. Make sure to check out our full selection of external computer keyboards to get typing fast again. And if you’re a PC gamer, we’ve got high-performance gaming keyboards that should give you a competitive edge!
