What to Know
This article explains how to suspend the keyboard on a laptop in Windows 10.
We’ll use rig Manager to uninstall the keyboard and then stop Windows 10 from installing it again.
Open gear Managerfrom the Run dialog box (Win+R): enterdevmgmt.mscin the command line.
Or, right-clickStartand choose the gadget Manager tool from there.
Expand theKeyboardssection to see a list of devices.
Right-clickStandard PS/2 Keyboardand chooseUninstall rig>Uninstall.
At this point, the keyboard is disabled but it will work again the next time yourestart the computer.
The local group policy editor is only available with Windows Pro and Windows Enterprise.
SelectWin+Xand then selectDevice Manager.
Right-clickStandard PS/2 Keyboardand chooseProperties.
Go to theDetailstab and change thePropertydrop-down option toHardware Ids.
Open theRundialog box (Win+R) and entergpedit.mscin the command line.
UnderComputer Configuration, navigate toAdministrative Templates>System>gadget Installation>gadget Installation Restrictions.
Right-clickPrevent installation of devices that match any of these rig instance IDs, and selectEdit.
SelectEnabledand then chooseShowfrom the area below it.
Return to where you were in unit Manager in Step 4.
Right-nudge the first entry in the list, and chooseCopy.
ChooseOKon that screen, and thenOKon the policy screen.
Find the gadget again in gadget Manager, right-click it, and chooseUninstall gadget.
Accept any prompts that show up.
Restart the computer to permanently turn off the laptop keyboard.
If the keyboard still works, repeat Steps 9 and 10 with any other hardware IDs listed.
There’s a possibility that the one you used didn’t take.
In that case, add every ID from the list to be sure.
A reboot will then re-activate the laptop keyboard.
Wipe the keyboard with a slightly dampened microfiber cloth.
Use a can of compressed air to remove debris between keys.
To disinfect, wipe it with a non-bleach disinfectant wipe.
You should also try updating or reinstalling keyboard drivers.
Next, reset your machine.
Windows will reinstall the keyboard with the latest drivers.
