Left Alt key and Windows key are switched on Windows 11/10

This article lists some solutions that will help you fix the problem occurring due to left Alt and Windows keys are switched or swapped on Windows 11/10. This means that Windows launches the Start menu when users press the Alt key instead of the Windows key. Such types of issues usually occur on multimedia keyboards or keyboards that come with some additional functionalities. In some cases, the keyboard driver is responsible for this problem.

Left Alt key and Windows key are switched

If the Left Alt key and Windows key are swapped on your Windows 11/10 system, use the solutions provided below to fix this problem. Before you proceed, restart your computer and see if it helps.

Does your keyboard have a Windows and Mac mode switch?
Use some combination of keys
Are you using a 60% keyboard?
Reinstall your keyboard driver
Remove and add your keyboard again (solution for Bluetooth keyboard)
Reset your keyboard
Map your keyboard

Let’s see all these fixes in detail.

1] Does your keyboard have a Windows and Mac mode switch?

Windows and Mac keyboards are almost the same except for some modifier keys. Hence, some keyboards come with a switch using which you can change the keyboard mode to Windows and Mac accordingly. If you are using such a keyboard, check if the switch is set to Mac mode or Windows mode.

Read: The ” and @ keys keep swapping on Windows

2] Use some combination of keys

There are some key combinations that helped users fix this problem. You should also try this. Try the following key combinations and see which one helps you:

Fn + A
Fn + S
Fn + Spacebar
Fn + P
Fn+ Ctrl + L
Fn + Esc

Press the above-mentioned keys for up to 3 seconds and see what happens.

Read: Keyboard Tab Key not working on Windows PC

3] Are you using a 60% keyboard?

A 60% keyboard is one that does not have a numeric keypad, arrow keys, navigation cluster keys, and Function keys. In short, a 60% keyboard has only 60% keys. If you are using such a keyboard, press and hold the Fn + W keys for up to 5 seconds and see if it helps.

4] Reinstall your keyboard driver

If the problem still persists, the cause may be the software issue. We suggest you reinstall your keyboard driver and see if it helps.

Open the Device Manager.
Expand the Keyboards branch.
Right-click on your keyboard driver and select Uninstall device. Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall your keyboard driver.
Restart your computer.

On the restart, Windows will install the missing driver automatically. Check if the problem persists.

If this does not help, you can also try installing other supported keyboard drivers. This can be done via the Device Manager. Go through the following instructions:

Open the Device Manager.
Expand the Keyboards branch and right-click on your keyboard driver.
Select Update driver.
Now, select Browse my computer for drivers.
Now, select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
Make sure that the Show compatible drivers checkbox is selected. Install all the available drivers one by one.

Did it help?

5] Remove and add your keyboard again (solution for Bluetooth keyboard)

If you have a Bluetooth keyboard, we suggest you remove and add it again. This action can fix this problem. To do so:

First, disconnect your keyboard.
Now, open Settings on your Windows 11/10 computer.
Go to Bluetooth & devices page. You will see all your Bluetooth devices there.
Select your keyboard and select Remove device.

After removing your keyboard, restart your computer. After that, add your Bluetooth keyboard again.

6] Reset your keyboard

You can also reset your keyboard. Resetting a keyboard helps fix keyboard-related problems on a Windows computer.

7] Map your keyboard

Keyboard mapping is the process of assigning specific functions to specific keys. If the above fixes did not help you, you can use this method. You have to use dedicated software for this purpose. There are many free Keyboard mapping software available on the internet.

That’s it. I hope this helps.

Why is my Left Alt key not working?

There can be multiple causes why your Left Alt key is not working on Windows PC. First of all, launch the On Screen keyboard and check if the issue persists. If not, the problem might be occurring due to hardware issues. One possible cause is the accumulation of dust. Therefore, clean your keyboard. Also, check your keyboard layout and preferred language.

Outdated drivers can also cause this problem. Hence, uninstall and reinstall your keyboard driver.

How do I fix my keyboard keys switched?

If your keyboard keys are switched or swapped, our keyboard driver might have been corrupted. Update or reinstall your keyboard driver. Start your computer in a Clean Boot state and see if the problem persists. This step will let you know whether the issue is occurring due to third-party software or not. Also, change your keyboard layout. If nothing helps, reset your keyboard to default.