Safe Mode is used to troubleshoot problems on a Windows computer. In Safe Mode, Windows loads only necessary drivers, including keyboard and mouse drivers. Problems occur if the keyboard or mouse stops working in the Safe Mode. It also makes it difficult to exit Safe Mode. In this article, we will see what you can do if your keyboard or mouse is not working in Safe Mode.
Keyboard or Mouse not working in Safe Mode
If your keyboard or mouse is not working in Safe Mode, this is probably a driver issue. We will see solutions to fix this problem on Windows 11/10.
- Are you using a high-end keyboard or mouse?
- Connect your keyboard or mouse to another USB port
- Install another mouse or keyboard driver
- Perform System Restore
Let’s see all the fixes in detail.
1] Are you using a high-end keyboard or mouse?
If you are using a high-end keyboard or mouse, like the Gaming Keyboard or Mouse, it may not work in Safe Mode. Windows loads only basic necessary drivers in Safe Mode. Hence, connect the standard keyboard and mouse to your system to troubleshoot in Safe Mode.
Read: Keyboard or Mouse not working in BIOS
2] Connect your keyboard or mouse to another USB port
Another fix that you can try is to connect your keyboard or mouse to another USB port. If you are a desktop user, try connecting your device to both front and back USB ports. For some users, the keyboard or mouse started working when they connected it to the front USB port of their desktop computers.
Read: Keyboard or Mouse ONLY works in Safe Mode
3] Install another mouse or keyboard driver
As stated above, the cause of this issue may be related to your keyboard or mouse driver. Open the Device Manager in the Safe Mode and see if your keyboard or mouse driver shows a warning sign. If yes, you should reinstall the driver or install another diver. If your keyboard is not working in the Safe Mode, you can open the Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start Menu. If this does not work, open Settings and go to “System > About > Device Manager.”
Install another version of your keyboard or mouse driver. Follow the steps provided below:
- Open the Device Manager.
- Right-click on your Keyboard or Mouse driver and select Update device.
- Select Browse my computer for drivers.
- Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
- Select the Show compatible hardware checkbox.
- Install all compatible drivers one by one and see which one works.
Read: Mouse keeps clicking on its own in Windows
4] Perform System Restore
If none of the above fixes worked, restore your system to the previous working state. To perform System Restore, exit Safe Mode and start your system in normal mode. To exit Safe Mode, you have to use MSConfig. But if your keyboard is not working, you cannot launch MSConfig by typing in Windows Search. In this case, go to the following location and launch MSConfig by double-clicking on the executable file.
C:\Windows\System32
If neither your keyboard nor your mouse is working in Safe Mode, you have to boot into the Windows Recovery Environment. Usually, Shift + Restart is used to enter WinRE but if your keyboard is not working, you can enter Windows Recovery Environment by following the instructions provided below:
- Press and hold the power button until your PC shuts down completely.
- Turn on your PC. Press and hold the power button immediately when you see the manufacturer’s or Windows logo to turn your PC off again.
Repeat the above steps until your computer enters recovery mode. Now, in Windows Recovery Environment, select “Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > System Restore.”
That’s it. I hope this helps.
Read: Mouse stuck in the middle of screen Windows.
Why my mouse is not working in Safe Mode?
Driver issues are the most common reason why your mouse is not working in Safe Mode. Open the Device Manager and see if your mouse driver is working fine in Safe Mode.
Related: Keyboard or Mouse ONLY works in Safe Mode
Why is my keyboard and mouse suddenly not working?
If your keyboard or mouse suddenly stops working, check the respective drivers in the Device Manager. Also, check your keyboard USB cable. Connect your device to your computer via other USB ports. Power supply issues can also cause this problem. If it is a wireless device, it is possible that it got disconnected. If the Bluetooth connection is breaking randomly, there are chances of issues.
Read next: Keyboard keeps disconnecting in Windows.
