Keyboard Shortcuts Stop Working | Windows Update Fix

Windows updates occasionally reset regional and language settings to a default, especially after a major feature update. If Alt codes for accented letters stopped working specifically, check Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region — a layout switch here changes which characters your numpad sequences produce, even though the physical keys and NumLock state haven't changed. See our full guide on wrong keyboard layout diagnostics and our Alt code master table.

If the affected shortcut involves the numpad specifically, a graphics or keyboard driver updated alongside Windows can reset NumLock state at boot — the same root cause covered in our numpad not working guide. Post-update, check driver versions specifically (Device Manager → Keyboards) rather than just toggling NumLock; a driver rollback may be the actual fix if the problem recurs after every reboot.

Windows updates have, at various points, altered default states for Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, and Mouse Keys — the same three accessibility features covered in our keyboard typing symbols instead of letters guide. Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard is the single place to check all three at once after any update.

If the broken shortcut is app-specific, the update may have changed a system-level API the app depends on, and the app itself needs its own patch to catch up — common with Office apps, IMEs, and third-party utility software immediately following a major Windows feature update.

Roll back the most recent update. Settings → Windows Update → Update history → Uninstall updates lets you remove the most recent quality or feature update while keeping your files intact. This isn't a permanent fix, but it confirms whether the update itself is the cause. If keyboard shortcuts are central to your workflow, it's worth pausing updates for a set number of days so a breaking update doesn't land overnight.