The Windows logo key is unquestionably a necessary part of your keyboard since it activates your Start menu and participates in several shortcuts. As you can see, this key is really helpful, thus any Windows user may become frustrated if it doesn’t work.

There could be a lot of reasons why Windows Key Not Working, but we’ve looked into it in-depth and compiled a comprehensive list of tried-and-true solutions. Therefore, since we think we have solved your issue, make sure to look over them all.

There are multiple methods to determine the cause of your Windows key issues. Let’s talk about them.

Determine if there is a hardware problem

Verify whether pressing the Windows logo key consistently results in it not working. Check the functionality of the other keys on your keyboard. You may test it by using an online keyboard tester that records every keystroke and lets you see if the key is allocated correctly and functioning. 

It is likely that your keyboard was covered in dust or that you spilled anything on it if the test reveals several problems with your keys. To check whether it helps, try cleaning your keyboard. 

However, if the Windows key is the only one that is not working, you might want to replace the key physically as it might be the cause.

If you use an external keyboard, see if the WinKey problem persists when connected to a different computer. Your keyboard may need to be replaced if it is and changing the key did not resolve the issue.

Examine the Start menu

Now see whether you can reach your Start menu at all. The difficulty is that your Start menu may be the source of the issue, but you may have been tricked into believing that your Windows logo key was broken.

Turn off the game mode

It may be in gaming mode if you are using a gaming keyboard. Your Windows key may become unresponsive as a result. In this situation, look for a key that activates or deactivates gaming mode and press it; typically, this key has a drawing of a joystick or something similar on it.

Use the Win Lock key

A unique key on some keyboards is used to activate or deactivate the Windows logo key. It’s possible that you deactivated your Windows logo key by inadvertently pressing the Win Lock key. If that is the case, simply pressing the Win Lock key again will fix the problem.

Restart File Explorer or Windows

You may need to restart your computer’s explorer.exe process if the Windows logo key problem continues. Many users claim that this easy fix helped them get WinKey back on track. This is the way to do it:

Launch the Task Manager. The shortcuts Ctrl + Alt + Delete and Ctrl + Shift + Esc can be used for this.

Go to the tab for Details.

Find the file explorer.exe. To end the task, right-click on it and choose End task. Your screen should turn black after this process. That is part of the solution, so do not worry.

Conclusion:

It can be annoying when a Windows key doesn’t work, but you can easily fix it with the correct troubleshooting techniques. There are several ways to resolve keyboard issues, including hardware issues, software interference, driver problems, and system settings. Start with easy fixes like updating drivers, activating the Windows key via Group Policy or the registry, and inspecting for physical damage. Try restoring the system or utilizing the built-in Windows troubleshooting tools if none of these resolve the issue.