Outlook Keyboard Not Working? Here’s How to Fix It!

Outlook is a popular email client used by millions of people around the world. However, sometimes users may experience problems with their keyboard not working in Outlook. This can be a frustrating issue, especially if you need to use Outlook for work or school.

There are a few different reasons why your keyboard may not be working in Outlook. One possibility is that there is a problem with the Outlook application itself. 

In this article, we will discuss some of the most common reasons why your keyboard may not be working in Outlook and provide you with some solutions to fix the problem.

Why Keyboard Isn’t Working in Outlook?

There are a few different reasons why your keyboard may not be working in Outlook. Here are some of the most common causes:

Problem with the Outlook application: Sometimes, a problem with the Outlook application itself can cause your keyboard to stop working. This could be due to a bug in the software or a corrupted file.

Problem with your keyboard: If your keyboard is not working properly, it will not work in Outlook either. This could be due to a hardware problem with the keyboard itself or a problem with the keyboard drivers.

Problem with your computer: If there is a problem with your computer, such as a virus or malware infection, this can also cause your keyboard to stop working in Outlook.

Conflicting add-ins: Some Outlook add-ins can conflict with the Outlook application and cause your keyboard to stop working.

What to Do to Make the Keyboard Function in Outlook?

If your keyboard is not working in Outlook, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

Restart Outlook

The first thing you should try is restarting Outlook. This can often fix minor problems with the application. First close Outlook, right-click on the Outlook taskbar icon, and select Close window. Once Outlook is closed, you can reopen it by clicking on the Outlook icon on your desktop or in your Start menu.

Check for Updates

Checking for updates in Outlook is a simple way to make sure that you are using the latest version of the application. Microsoft regularly releases updates for Outlook that fix bugs and improve performance.

To check for updates in Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Store.
2. Search for Outlook.
3. If you find Update is available, then update.

Disable Add-ins 

Disabling add-ins in Outlook is a simple way to troubleshoot problems with the application. Add-ins are third-party programs that can be used to add new features or functionality to Outlook. However, add-ins can sometimes conflict with the Outlook application and cause problems. 

You can find out that by doing a few simple things. You will need to launch Outlook in safe mode and if you find that your keyboard is working there then the add-ins are the culprits for the issue you are having. To launch in safe mode, press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box, type Outlook /safe and press Enter. Now check and if you find the keyboard is working there then proceed to the steps below –

• Open Outlook.
• Click on the File tab.
• Click on Options.
• Click on Add-ins.
• Select COM Add-ins and click on Go.

A dialog box will appear with a list of all of the COM add-ins that are installed on your computer. Uncheck the box next to any add-ins that you want to disable and click on OK.

Once you have disabled the add-ins, restart Outlook. If the problem that you were experiencing is resolved, then you know that one of the disabled add-ins was the cause of the problem. You can then try enabling the add-ins one by one to see which one is causing the problem.

Repair Outlook

If you are still having problems, you can try repairing Outlook. This will scan the Outlook application for errors and attempt to fix them. 

To repair Outlook, follow these steps:

• Open Outlook.
• Click on the File tab.
• Click on Help.
• Click on Repair Outlook.

Contact Microsoft Support

If you have tried all of the above troubleshooting tips and your keyboard is still not working in Outlook, you may need to contact Microsoft support for assistance.

Additional Tips for Preventing Keyboard Not Working Issues in the Future

Here are some additional tips to help you prevent your keyboard from stopping working in Outlook:

Keep your Outlook application up to date: Make sure that you are using the latest version of Outlook. Microsoft regularly releases updates for Outlook that fix bugs and improve performance.

Use a reliable keyboard: If you are having problems with your keyboard, try using a different keyboard to see if this fixes the problem. If the problem is resolved with a different keyboard, then your original keyboard is likely the problem.

Avoid using third-party add-ins: Third-party add-ins can conflict with the Outlook application and cause problems. If you do need to use add-ins, only use add-ins from reputable developers.

Why is my Outlook unresponsive?

There are a few reasons why your Outlook may be unresponsive. Here are some of the most common one’s computer is low on resources, the Outlook data file is corrupted, too many add-ins are installed, and so on.

How do I enable keyboard shortcuts in Outlook?

To enable, click on File tab > options > Customize Ribbon > keyboard shortcuts button > Select Outlook from Customize section > In the Commands section, select the command > In the Press new shortcut key box, press the keyboard d > Assign > Close.