So you guys came across the term HID keyboard in your computer’s Device Manager and are thinking exactly what it is. Or how it is different from your regular keyboards, or also even what HID means in the first place. Well, here is each and everything you have to know about HID Keyboard Devices and how you can solve a few issues that plague them. In this article, we are going to talk about What is HID Keyboard and How to Install it. Let’s begin!
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What is HID Keyboard Device?
Human Interface Devices (or HIDs) are actually a class of computer peripherals along with that you input commands. It’s a term used typically for mice and keyboards, however, gamepads and joysticks make up this category as well
HID keyboards are actually no different from the Standard PS/2 keyboards in laptops, except that they are plugged in through the USB rather than be inbuilt. Contrary to famous belief, the HID acronym isn’t a term that was first used via Microsoft. It actually comes from USB specifications, like USB HID is basically the parent class.
Install HID Keyboard drivers
If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 10, reinstalled, or updated it, then you may have found that you have to install (or update) your HID Keyboard drivers as well.
In most of the cases, you don’t actually have to do anything, or manually download and then install the keyboard drivers. Windows updates mostly take care of it and the process completes in the background without even a hiccup. However, there are instances whenever your keyboard might start behaving oddly like registering random inputs and ignoring actual ones. Or also stop working altogether when you boot Windows after a reinstall.
Here are a few ways that you can update and reinstall your keyboard drivers and fix the problems that you guys may be experiencing with it.
Update Keyboard drivers from Device Manager
- In order to install/update your keyboard drivers, open RUN via pressing Winkey+R, type “devmgmt.msc” and then tap Enter.
- In Device Manager, just expand the Keyboards branch.
- Then right-tap on your keyboard and choose Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- The drivers will install or update automatically. Restart your computer for the changes in order to take effect.
- You can also Browse (your) computer for drivers if you guys have already downloaded the drivers from your computer or keyboard manufacturer’s website as well.
- Tap on Browse, then locate the folder along with the driver file and click on Next.
- Just like that, you can also tap on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer and see what suggestions Windows actually has for you.
- Then choose from the options provided and click on Next.
- If you guys don’t find an option, then uncheck the Show compatible hardware box and get the complete list of drivers from different manufacturers in order to pick from. Then click Next.
- Your keyboard drivers should be updated as well. Now restart your computer for the changes in order to take effect.
Delete and reinstall drivers
A faulty driver is actually a common cause of keyboards that start to develop problems on their own. The simplest way out of this bind is just to uninstall the current drivers and all their files and then reinstall the drivers again. This clears up any problems that might be associated along with the defective drivers.
- Open Device Manager as shown before (Win+X) as well. You can also use just the mouse to do that: Right-tap on the Start button and then choose Device Manager.
- Then right-tap on your keyboard in the Keyboards branch and choose Uninstall device.
- Tap on Uninstall again.
- Select Yes and restart your computer in order to uninstall.
- Upon restarting, Windows will install the default keyboard drivers automatically and then get your keyboard working again.
If the keyboard isn’t working after restart, then that means you guys have to reinstall or update the drivers yourself from the Device Manager. However, since you can go through the steps to do that (described above) along with the mouse alone, it shouldn’t be an issue actually.
Keyboard not working
Most of the aforementioned problems can also be resolved via simply updating or reinstalling your drivers as shown in an earlier section. However, if the issue persists along with your keyboard, you guys might want to take a look at the following as well:
Make sure USB port is working
It sounds obvious enough, however, it is never a pleasant surprise whenever we eventually find the problem where we least wanted to look – hardware. If your HID keyboard starts to develop odd issues. Like refreshing on its own every now and then, then one (or more) of the following could be the cause:
- A defective keyboard.
- Also a defective cable.
- A defective USB port.
In order to check if the USB port is functional, unplug your HID keyboard and then plug in another USB device – such as a thumb drive or a mouse as well. If it isn’t recognize either, then you have a hardware issue on your hands. Other than correcting the basic infrastructure, you guys should also bypass any USB hubs that you may be using and connect the keyboard directly to the PC as well.
Turn off Filter Keys
Lastly, FilterKeys – an ‘ease of access’ feature that also tells Windows to ignore keystrokes that are either repeated or too brief as well. But, this setting can also make keyboards behave oddly. Like registering a keystroke when there wasn’t one made, or not registering a keystroke at all as well.
- It is better to leave Filter Keys turned off actually. In order to ensure this, just tap on Win+I and open Settings. Tap on Ease of access.
- Scroll down and select Keyboard in the left panel.
- Now on the right, under Use Filter Keys, you have to toggle Off the button and uncheck the “Allow the shortcut ket to start Filet Keys” option as well.
- You guys may also want to update/reinstall your drivers once, just to make sure. Then restart your computer as well. This method should refresh the drivers and also keep other features from meddling along with the input.
Windows 10 Driver update conflict
Some of the users have reported a curious problem upon resetting Windows 10. An otherwise functional keyboard stops working as soon as the device drivers are updated automatically along with a Windows update.
In such cases, the problem lies along with the drivers that Windows is updating on its own. A quick fix for this is in order to turn off Windows update and install the drivers (as shown before) manually as well. Many device manufacturers have their own applications on their websites. That give the right drivers for your system and keeps them updated at all times as well.
The only downside along with this solution is that we also have to keep Windows updates turned off in order to prevent a conflict between the drivers. That we manually installed and also the ones that Windows update wants to foist upon us as well. You can, however, try to create a system restore point first. And then you can turn on updates again to see if your keyboard remains functional still.
Conclusion
Well, That is all from my side. If you want to know more about this article or have any queries. Then feel free to ask me anything in the comments section below.
Have a Good Day!
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