How to Disable a Laptop Keyboard in Windows 10

To disable a laptop keyboard in Windows 10, connect an external keyboard or have a mouse ready. Then right-click Start, open Device Manager, and expand Keyboards. Right-click the built-in keyboard, often called Standard PS/2 Keyboard, and select Disable device if it’s there. Otherwise select Uninstall device.

Applies to: Windows 10. Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, so a PC without Extended Security Updates no longer receives security fixes; that program runs until October 12, 2027.

Uninstall device is temporary. After a restart, Windows finds the keyboard again and reinstalls it. That’s the safe way to turn it off for a while, such as when a key is stuck or a pet walks on the keys.

Before you start

• Plug in a USB or Bluetooth keyboard, or make sure you can use the mouse and the On-Screen Keyboard. You’ll need another way to type while the built-in keyboard is off.
• You need an administrator account.

Turn off the keyboard in Device Manager

1. Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Keyboards. The built-in keyboard is usually Standard PS/2 Keyboard. An external USB keyboard usually shows as HID Keyboard Device.
3. Right-click the built-in keyboard.
4. Select Disable device if you see it. Many laptops only show Uninstall device, so select that.

5. Select Uninstall (or Yes) to confirm.

The built-in keyboard should stop responding. Don’t restart until you want it back, because a restart reinstalls it.

Keep it off after a restart (Group Policy)

A keyboard you uninstall in Device Manager usually comes back the next time Windows starts. On Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise or Education, you can stop Windows from reinstalling it. Keep an external keyboard plugged in before you start.

1. In Device Manager, expand Keyboards, right-click the built-in keyboard (often Standard PS/2 Keyboard), and select Properties.
2. On the Details tab, choose Hardware Ids, right-click the first value, and select Copy.
3. Press Windows logo key + R, type gpedit.msc, and go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions.
4. Open Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device IDs, select Enabled, select Show, paste the ID, and select OK twice.
5. Back in Device Manager, right-click the keyboard, select Uninstall device, and restart.

To undo it, set the policy to Not Configured, then in Device Manager select Action > Scan for hardware changes.

Turn the keyboard back on

• If you used Uninstall device: restart the laptop. Windows reinstalls the keyboard.
• If you used Disable device: in Device Manager, right-click the keyboard and select Enable device.
• If it still doesn’t come back, select Action > Scan for hardware changes in Device Manager.

If the keyboard is locked, not disabled

If keys stopped working on their own, it may be a setting such as Filter Keys, not a driver. In that case, unlocking the keyboard is what you need.

If it doesn’t work as expected

• There’s no Disable device option. Many built-in laptop keyboards only offer Uninstall device. Use that, and remember it lasts until the next restart.
• You’re not sure which keyboard is the built-in one. Unplug your external keyboard and watch the Keyboards list. The entry that stays is the laptop’s own keyboard, often Standard PS/2 Keyboard. External ones usually show as HID Keyboard Device.
• Your external keyboard stopped too. You picked the wrong entry. Plug the external keyboard into a different USB port, or restart the laptop to reinstall everything.
• The keyboard comes back after a few seconds. Windows scanned for hardware and reinstalled it. Use Disable device if it’s offered, or close Device Manager right after uninstalling.

Frequently asked questions

Can I turn off the laptop keyboard for good?

Windows 10 doesn’t have a simple setting for that. Uninstall device lasts until the next restart. Tools that block the driver permanently can leave you without a keyboard, so this guide doesn’t cover them.

Will this also turn off my touchpad?

Not usually. The touchpad is listed separately under Mice and other pointing devices.

Why would I disable a laptop keyboard?

Common reasons are a stuck or broken key that types on its own, cleaning the keys, or using the laptop with an external keyboard on top of it. For cleaning, shutting the laptop down is simpler and safer.

Can I type without any keyboard?

Yes. Use the On-Screen Keyboard: select Start, type On-Screen Keyboard, and open it. Click the keys with your mouse or touchpad.

Will this work on Windows 11?

Yes. Device Manager and the Keyboards list work the same way in Windows 11.

A key types by itself. Should I disable the keyboard or fix it?

Try cleaning around the key with compressed air first, and check for spills. If it keeps happening, disable the keyboard for now and contact the laptop maker about a repair, since a faulty keyboard usually needs a replacement.

Can I disable just one key?

Not with built-in settings. Microsoft PowerToys, a free app from Microsoft, includes Keyboard Manager, which can turn off or remap a single key.

If the Insert key is the one causing trouble, you can turn off the Insert key in Windows 10 on its own.

Removing and reinstalling devices is also covered in Microsoft’s Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows.

Related: disabling a laptop keyboard in Windows 11.