I was having this issue for a very long time. In my case, just sharing a probable reason that helped me, it was a (lock symbol) button that was on the top right corner of my MSI keyboard that didn't allow my window button to work. I found out b y using a keyboard tester online, and checked that each button sent a working signal.

Hope this helps some of you out there in the future.

Answer from samjrdiaz on learn.microsoft.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/windows10techsupport › left control key not working for shortcuts
r/Windows10TechSupport on Reddit: left control key not working for shortcuts
October 20, 2025 -

i use keyboard shortcuts involving the control key pretty often on my desktop. i recently got a laptop (it's a thinkpad. no idea the model. uses windows 10), and for some reason the left control key specifically doesn't work for shortcuts. i used a keyboard tester online and it IS pressing, but only the right key works when i'm trying to copy, paste, cut, undo, etc.

how do i fix this? is there an option in settings? i tried looking up stuff related to "default control key" but nothing came up since i don't know the terminology. the right control key is really uncomfortable and weird for me to use

Discussions

Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V stopped working
After working perfectly for years usin my Lenovo laptop, now when I try to copy or paste using the keyboard shortcuts they do not work. For... More on techcommunity.microsoft.com
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February 8, 2024
Keyboard shortcuts no longer working
It slowly got annoying through ... (Windows 10 Desktop). Then the right CTRL also stopped working alongside alt and windows keys for shortcuts. I can't CTRL V, A, C, X, anything - I also can't Alt TAB or Windows L, R or anything else. I have tried everything under the sun that I could find online. I didn't touch or change anything to make it do this, all I did was turn it on in the morning for work. ... Not a hardware ... More on learn.microsoft.com
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October 12, 2023
Ctrl, Windows and alt keys not working.
Fixed for now! I went into msconfig and did a clean boot, that completely fixed my issue for now, I'll update if I find out which service exactly caused my issue. Tutorial for how to do a clean boot: https://rtech.support/docs/factoids/cleanboot.html More on reddit.com
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September 24, 2023
All shortcuts with CTRL-button do not work. Not selecting,
All shortcuts with CTRL-button do not work. Not selecting, no copy, no paste, not even ctrl-alt-del. Seems to be More on justanswer.com
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May 1, 2024
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How do I fix ctrl shortcuts not working in specific programs?
When ctrl shortcuts work everywhere except certain programs, that software likely has custom keyboard handling. First, check the program's settings for keyboard shortcuts or hotkey options. Some programs require running as administrator for all shortcuts to work. Also verify no other software is capturing ctrl key combinations – gaming software and macro programs often do this.
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whoismcafee.com
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Fix Your Ctrl Key Not Working on Windows 10/11 | October 2026
Why did both my ctrl keys stop working after a Windows update?
Windows updates can reset keyboard drivers or change system files. When both ctrl keys fail simultaneously after an update, it's usually a driver compatibility issue. First, check Windows Update for additional patches. If none are available, roll back the keyboard driver in Device Manager to the previous version. You can also try System Restore to return to a point before the update.
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whoismcafee.com
whoismcafee.com › ctrl-key-not-working
Fix Your Ctrl Key Not Working on Windows 10/11 | October 2026
Why does my left ctrl key work but not the right one?
When only one ctrl key fails, it's usually a hardware issue with that specific key. First, check Device Manager for any yellow warning signs on keyboard devices. Try the on-screen keyboard test – if the right ctrl works there, your physical key has failed. For laptops, check your laptop model and specs to find replacement keyboard options.
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GeeksforGeeks
geeksforgeeks.org › techtips › fix-windows-keyboard-shortcut-issues
How to Fix Common issues with Windows Keyboard Shortcuts? - GeeksforGeeks
July 23, 2025 - Keyboard shortcuts are a special technique to navigate and operate Windows efficiently. The biggest challenge is to find the actual issue in the system properly. However, users can discover and resolve all the initial problems by following the mentioned methods. How to Fix Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V Not Working ...
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MakeUseOf
makeuseof.com › home › windows › 9 ways to fix keyboard shortcuts not working in windows
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August 15, 2023 - A quick and simple solution to fix your problem is to use Windows 10 Keyboard Troubleshooter. Here is how you can do it: Click Start, then head to Settings > System > Update & Security.
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 4092783 › keyboard-shortcuts-no-longer-working
Keyboard shortcuts no longer working - Microsoft Q&A
October 12, 2023 - It slowly got annoying through the day so I restarted my PC (Windows 10 Desktop). Then the right CTRL also stopped working alongside alt and windows keys for shortcuts. I can't CTRL V, A, C, X, anything - I also can't Alt TAB or Windows L, R or anything else. I have tried everything under the sun that I could find online. I didn't touch or change anything to make it do this, all I did was turn it on in the morning for work. ... Not a hardware issue as I have tried other keyboards and the issue persists, issue is not present with same keyboard on alt PC
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Who Is McAfee?
whoismcafee.com › ctrl-key-not-working
Fix Your Ctrl Key Not Working on Windows 10/11 | October 2026
September 23, 2025 - If that doesn’t work, press Fn + Esc to toggle Function Lock, or open Device Manager and reinstall your keyboard drivers. For Windows 10 Ctrl shortcut not working issues, disable Sticky Keys in Accessibility settings.
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Fortect
fortect.com › windows errors › solved: windows keyboard shortcuts not working
SOLVED: Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working
March 7, 2026 - Fix Windows keyboard shortcuts not working with simple steps like restarting Explorer, updating drivers, and using Fortect.
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Guiding Tech
guidingtech.com › home › a guide to fixing keyboard shortcuts not working on windows 10
A Guide to Fixing Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working on Windows 10
July 13, 2021 - Step 4: Make sure it is set to Disabled (or Not Configured). Click Apply and OK to proceed. If keyboard shortcuts still don’t work as expected after doing the above, restart your computer and try again. So that’s how you fix the problem when keyboard shortcuts stop working on your Windows 10 computer.
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Fonepaw
blog.fonepaw.com › home
Fixed - Windows 10/8/7 Keyboard Shortcuts Not working
June 14, 2022 - With Sticky Keys enabled, when you need to use Ctrl+Alt+Del shortcut, you don't have press all the three buttons all at once. Instead, you can press Ctrl, then Alt, and then Del to activate the shortcut. If keyboard shortcuts stop working, disabling sticky keys may help to fix the problem.
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TechWiser
techwiser.com › home › windows › 14 ways to fix keyboard shortcuts not working on windows 11/10
14 Ways to Fix Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working on Windows 11/10 - TechWiser
April 27, 2023 - On Windows 10, open the Settings app > Ease of Access and then select Keyboard. 2. In the Keyboard settings, make sure the toggle beside the Sticky Keys is turned off. If none of the above options worked, try resetting the Keyboard Settings.
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The Windows Club
thewindowsclub.com › the windows club › keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys are not working in windows 11/10
Keyboard shortcuts and Hotkeys are not working in Windows 11/10
Just restart your computer, and Windows 10 will automatically reinstall the keyboard driver. Let’s be very clear about this. If the HID is disabled, then your hotkeys will never work. Therefore, it’s best to check if all is well by restarting the service, and that’s not difficult.
Published: December 27, 2023
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Driver Easy
drivereasy.com › home › knowledge base › others › how to fix ctrl key not working on windows 11/10 (2026)
How to Fix Ctrl Key Not Working on Windows 11/10 (2026) - Driver Easy
August 24, 2026 - Open Settings with Win + I. Go to Accessibility > Keyboard. (On Windows 10, go to Ease of Access > Keyboard). Turn off Sticky keys and Filter keys. Test Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V in Notepad to see how they work.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/windows10techsupport › ctrl, windows and alt keys not working.
r/Windows10TechSupport on Reddit: Ctrl, Windows and alt keys not working.
September 24, 2023 -

So my issue is basically as the title says, at first I thought it was an issue with my keyboard but I tested it on another computer were it worked normally. When looking at a keyboard tester website Ctrl, alt and the windows key are read as Left Click, but they don't work as a left click. I tried repairing Windows, updating and reinstalling drivers, I looked through every Windows keyboard setting, and changed the language and keyboard layout. I looked everywhere on Google but no one seems to be having the same issue as myself. If you have any ideas help would be appreciated.

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The Windows Club
thewindowsclub.com › the windows club › ctrl key not working on windows 11 [fix]
Ctrl Key not working on Windows 11 [Fix]
In this case, you can either update ... Hope this helps! To fix Ctrl shortcuts not working, start by restarting your computer to resolve minor software glitches....
Published: February 28, 2025
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MiniTool
minitool.com › home › news › windows keyboard shortcuts not working? please try these 7 fixes
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Not Working? Please Try These 7 Fixes - MiniTool
September 21, 2020 - There are mainly two types of keyboard shortcuts: the Windows-based shortcuts (like Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, and Ctrl + X) and manufacturer-based hotkeys (the buttons to control volume/wireless connection). It’s very convenient to open certain programs and windows by pressing corresponding shortcuts. However, the computer doesn’t respond sometimes when you press the keyboard shortcuts. You may find certain keys not working on Windows 7/8/10:
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 5618502 › shortcuts-not-working
Shortcuts Not working - Microsoft Q&A
Some applications may override default shortcuts. Update Keyboard Drivers: Make sure your keyboard drivers are up to date. You can check this in the Device Manager. Check Keyboard Settings: Go to Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard and ensure ...
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Super User
superuser.com › questions › 1789592 › whats-wrong-with-my-ctrl-keys
windows - What's wrong with my CTRL keys? - Super User
June 17, 2023 - Since the Ctrl key works in Linux, you know there is no issue with the physical keyboard or related circuitry; the issue must be something in Windows stealing the key press. Look to 1. Windows Accessibility Features, such as Sticky Keys: helpdeskgeek.com/windows-10/… and 2. Third-party tools that hook into the keyboard, such as AutoHotkey and Clavier+. ... check who steals the combo: How to identify what program is stealing keyboard input shortcuts...