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How to Disable Laptop Keyboard and Use External Keyboard: A Complete Guide

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Laptops are made to be portable and easy to use but there are moments where the inbuilt keyboard proves inconvenient. It can happen that some of the keys are broken, the keyboard itself is faulty or you find it more convenient to use an external keyboard. In such instances, you might wish to disable your laptop’s inbuilt keyboard and work with a good quality external keyboard.

This tutorial will teach you how to disable laptop keyboard and use external keyboard on Windows, macOS and Linux operating systems. We will also mention day to day scenarios, step by step process and troubleshooting tips.

Also read – Is It Safe to Use Laptop While Charging?

Why Disable Your Laptop Keyboard?

It is essential to know why one would disable their laptop keyboard before going through the steps:

  • Faulty Keyboard: A faulty or broken keyboard can produce random keystrokes.
  • Spilled Liquid Damage: When the keyboard is working halfway after liquid damage, it avoids erratic typing.
  • Preference for Ergonomics: External mechanical keyboards or ergonomic keyboards are usually more comfortable.
  • Cleaning or Repairs: Disabling the keyboard temporarily may be necessary in order to clean or repair the laptop.
  • Accessibility Needs: Custom external keyboards designed for certain needs might be used by some users.

No matter why, it is perfectly possible to disable the internal keyboard and connect an external one.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Disabling

  • Always turn on your external keyboard first before closing the laptop’s internal keyboard.
  • If you shut down the keyboard incorrectly, you can lose typing function until you boot it up again.
  • On some laptops, system updates will reinstall the keyboard drivers, enabling it again. 
  • Disabling the keyboard is reversible you can always enable it again when needed.

How to Disable Laptop Keyboard in Windows

Windows laptops are the most common and fortunately, disabling the keyboard is straightforward. Here are a few methods:

1. Disable Keyboard via Device Manager

This is the most reliable way.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand Keyboards.
  3. Right-click on your laptop keyboard driver (often listed as “Standard PS/2 Keyboard”).
  4. Select Disable device.
  5. Confirm and restart your computer.

Now, your laptop keyboard will stop functioning. You can continue using your external keyboard without issues.

2. Uninstall the Keyboard Driver

If the disable option is not available, you can uninstall the driver.

Steps:

  1. Go to Device Manager again.
  2. Right-click on your laptop keyboard under Keyboards.
  3. Choose Uninstall device.
  4. Restart your laptop.

⚠️ Note: Windows may reinstall the driver during the next reboot. To prevent this, you can disable automatic driver updates.

3. Disable Keyboard Using Group Policy (Advanced)

For advanced users, you can use the Group Policy Editor to block driver installation.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc, and hit Enter.
  2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions.
  3. Enable “Prevent installation of devices not described by other policy settings.”
  4. Apply the settings and restart.

This prevents Windows from reinstalling the keyboard driver after removal.

  1. Utilize Third Party Tools

Applications such as KeyFreeze or KidKeyLock enable you to disable or lock the on board keyboard without having to alter system settings. They come in handy where you require temporary disabling.

How to Disable Laptop Keyboard in macOS

Linux users have multiple ways to disable a laptop keyboard using terminal commands.

  1. Open Terminal.

Type:
 xinput list

  1.  This will display all input devices.
  2. Find your laptop keyboard’s ID.
  1. Disable it with:
     xinput set-prop [device ID] “Device Enabled” 0

5. Re-enable it with:
 xinput set-prop [device ID] “Device Enabled” 1

You can write a small shell script to disable the keyboard automatically on startup. This is useful for long term use.

Temporary vs Permanent Disabling

  • Temporary Disable: Utilities such as KeyFreeze or terminal commands provide temporary disabling (beneficial for testing or cleaning).
  • Permanent Disable: Driver removal or Group Policy ensures the system keyboard remains disabled until manually enabled.

Select the option based on whether you desire a quick remedy or a long term remedy.

Best Practices when Employing an External Keyboard

  1. Employ a Quality Keyboard: Mechanic or ergonomic keyboards reduce strain on typing long documents.
  2. Correct Placement: Place your external keyboard at the correct position to avoid putting strain on your wrist.
  3. Employ a Keyboard Stand: A stand can facilitate typing posture when you employ a mini external keyboard.
  4. Updated Drivers: Ensure your external keyboard drivers are installed and updated.
  5. Test Before Disabling: Always test your external keyboard thoroughly first before disabling the laptop’s internal keyboard.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • External Keyboard Not Detected? Check the USB/Bluetooth connection, update drivers or restart your laptop.
  • Laptop Keyboard Reactivates After Update? Use Group Policy (Windows) or third party apps to prevent reinstallation.
  • Accidentally Disabled All Keyboards? Reboot into Safe Mode, where default drivers are reloaded and re-enable them.

Final Thoughts

Being aware of how to turn off your laptop keyboard and utilize an external keyboard may rescue you from irritating typos, broken keys or discomfort. No matter if you are on Windows, macOS or Linux, there are several methods for achieving this varying from easy driver removal to complex policy settings.

Always plug in your external keyboard first, ensure it is thoroughly tested and lastly disable the internal one. This guarantees unbroken productivity and smoother typing.

Also read – Types of Laptop Ports: A Complete Guide for Students and Professionals

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes, but it is not recommended unless you are comfortable with hardware disassembly. Disabling via software is safer.

No, they are separate devices. Only the keyboard will be disabled.

 Yes, simply reinstall or re-enable the driver in Device Manager (Windows) or recheck settings (Mac/Linux).

Not directly, but it can improve typing speed, comfort and reduce errors compared to a faulty built-in keyboard.

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