Have you ever sat down to work on your Windows 11 PC, only to find that your USB keyboard and mouse just… stopped responding? It’s one of those moments that feels like the universe is playing a joke on you. You tap the keyboard, jiggle the mouse, check the USB ports, and still nothing. Frustrating, right? I’ve been there more than once, and trust me — it’s not fun.
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably dealing with the Windows 11 USB keyboard mouse issue and wondering how to fix it quickly without tearing your hair out. Let’s walk through what’s going on and how you can make things work again — step by step, no confusing jargon, just real‑world fixes that actually help.
Why Your USB Keyboard and Mouse Might Stop Working
Before we jump into solutions, it helps to know what can cause the problem.
A lot of times, this issue shows up after a Windows update — especially big ones like the October 2025 patch that caused USB keyboards and mice to stop working in the recovery screen on lots of systems. The hardware will still work fine inside Windows most of the time. It’s when you try to troubleshoot your computer, enter recovery mode, or fix boot issues that suddenly nothing responds. It’s like your keyboard and mouse decide to take a break right when you need them most.
Sometimes it’s a driver problem, other times a settings mismatch or a bug in the update itself. Whatever the cause, the good news is — there are ways to fix it.
Quick Fixes to Try First
Check the USB Ports
It sounds too simple, but sometimes the fix is right in front of us.
Unplug your keyboard and mouse and try plugging them into different USB ports. Preferably use the ports on the back of a desktop or the main side of your laptop. USB hubs and front ports can be finicky, and switching ports sometimes wakes everything back up.
Also, make sure the cables aren’t damaged. It happens more often than you think.
Update or Reinstall Drivers
If your keyboard and mouse worked fine before, outdated or corrupted drivers might be the culprit.
- Press Windows + R to open the Run box.
- Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
- In Device Manager, look for Keyboards and Mice and other pointing devices.
- Right‑click your device and choose Update driver — let Windows search automatically.
If updating doesn’t help, you can uninstall the device and restart your PC. Windows will reinstall drivers fresh when you boot up again.
Check Power Management Settings
Sometimes Windows turns off USB devices to save power, and that can stop your keyboard or mouse from waking up properly.
- Go to Device Manager again.
- Expand the Universal Serial Bus controllers section.
- Right‑click a USB Root Hub and choose Properties.
- Go to the Power Management tab.
- Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
Repeat this for each USB Root Hub you see. It’s a small change, but it can make everything more responsive.
Update Windows Properly
Sometimes the update itself causes the problem, like the Windows 11 patch that affected recovery mode. Microsoft often releases fixes fast, so make sure your system is up to date:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Windows Update.
- Click Check for updates.
Let Windows install anything waiting and restart your machine. These patches sometimes include fixes for USB issues.
Try a Different Keyboard or Mouse
This one feels odd, but it works often.
If you have a Bluetooth keyboard or another USB device lying around, plug it in and test. If that one works, your original keyboard might be the issue — not Windows. It’s not dramatic, but it’s worth checking.
Entering Recovery Mode Without USB
If your USB devices don’t work when Windows won’t boot, here’s a trick that’s helped me:
- Restart your computer.
- When the Windows logo shows up, hold the Power button until it shuts off.
- Repeat that 2–3 times.
Windows should boot into the Recovery Environment on the next start.
Sometimes the built‑in keyboard support works here even when USB doesn’t — it’s not perfect, but it’s saved me more than once.
When Nothing Else Works…
If you’re still struggling after trying all of the above, here are a couple of deeper steps:
Check BIOS/UEFI Settings
Reboot your PC and enter the BIOS settings (usually by pressing F2, Del, or Esc as the computer boots). Look for settings like USB Legacy Support or USB Configuration and ensure they’re enabled.
Sometimes Windows changes these during updates — it’s rare, but it happens.
Restore to a Previous Point
If this issue started after a specific update, restoring Windows to a point before the update can bring your keyboard and mouse back. Search for Create a restore point in the Start menu, open it, and choose an earlier snapshot.
My Two Cents
I’ve seen this issue tempers flaring more than once. You’re trying to fix your computer, and suddenly your tools — your keyboard and mouse — stop working. It feels personal. But the fixes above usually do the trick. Most of the time you’re dealing with a system setting, an update glitch, or a driver hiccup — all of which you can sort out with a few minutes and a bit of patience.
The biggest thing is to stay calm, try each step one by one, and don’t rush into deep changes without backing up your data first.
FAQs You Might Be Asking
Why won’t my USB keyboard work even though it worked before?
Updates can reset or corrupt drivers, or change USB behavior in recovery mode. Checking drivers and power settings usually helps.
Can Bluetooth keyboards work when USB ones don’t?
Sometimes, yes. Bluetooth uses a different connection method, so it might still respond even when USB devices fail.
Do I need technical skills to fix this?
Not really. Most fixes are straightforward and use built‑in Windows tools.
Why did this start after a Windows update?
Software updates sometimes affect hardware drivers or system configurations. It’s annoying, but often solvable with patches and settings tweaks.
What’s the fastest fix?
Switching USB ports or updating drivers usually resolves the issue quickly for most people.
