How to Fix Multimedia Keys Not Working on Windows 11 & 12

Are your multimedia keys acting up in Windows 11 & 12? Those handy keys on your keyboard that let you control volume, skip tracks, pause videos, and more should be super convenient. But if they suddenly stop working, it can be frustrating. Don’t worry—I’m here to walk you through how to get them back in action.

In this article, I’ll guide you through some simple steps to troubleshoot and resolve this issue. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to fix it, just follow along, and you’ll have your media keys working again in no time.

Why Are Multimedia Keys Not Working?

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s first understand why this problem might happen. Multimedia keys may stop working for several reasons, including:

1. Outdated or incompatible keyboard drivers
2. Conflicts with third-party software
3. Disabled services or features in Windows
4. Hardware issues with the keyboard itself

Now that we have a sense of the causes, let’s go over the solutions step by step.

Step 1: Restart Your Computer

This might sound too simple, but restarting your PC can often fix small issues like this. A reboot clears out any temporary glitches that might be causing the multimedia keys to malfunction.

Give your system a quick restart, and test the keys again. If they’re still not working, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Check Your Keyboard Drivers

If the reboot didn’t do the trick, the next step is to check your keyboard drivers. An outdated or corrupted driver could be the root cause.

Here’s how to update your keyboard driver:

1. Open Device Manager: Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Keyboards: Look for the Keyboards section and click the arrow next to it.
3. Update Driver: Right-click on your keyboard’s name, then choose Update driver.
4. Search Automatically: Select Search automatically for drivers to let Windows find the best driver for you.

Once the driver is updated, restart your computer and check if the multimedia keys are now responsive.

Step 3: Disable or Uninstall Third-Party Software

Some third-party apps can interfere with multimedia keys. Apps that manage sound, video, or even certain background services can cause these keys to stop working.

To check for third-party interference:

1. Clean Boot: Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab and check Hide all Microsoft services. Then click Disable all and restart your PC. This will prevent third-party programs from running during startup.
2. Test the Keys: After restarting, try using the multimedia keys. If they work now, the problem likely comes from one of the disabled services or programs. You can re-enable them one by one to find out which is causing the issue.

Step 4: Check Human Interface Device (HID) Service

Windows relies on a service called Human Interface Device (HID) to detect special keyboard functions, like multimedia keys. If this service isn’t running, your keys won’t work.

Here’s how to check:

1. Press Windows + R: Type services.msc and hit enter.
2. Find HID Service: Scroll down to find Human Interface Device Service.
3. Restart the Service: Right-click on it, choose Restart, and set the Startup type to Automatic if it’s not already set.

Step 5: Check for Windows Updates

Windows 11 old but Windows 12 is upcoming, so some bugs are expected. It’s possible that a Windows update could fix the issue.

To check for updates:

1. Go to Settings: Click Start and choose Settings (or press Windows + I).
2. Update & Security: Select Windows Update from the menu on the left.
3. Check for Updates: Hit Check for updates and let Windows download and install any available updates.

Once the updates are installed, restart your computer and see if the multimedia keys are back to normal.

Step 6: Test on Another Keyboard (Optional)

If none of the above steps work, it’s possible that the keyboard itself is faulty. Try plugging in another keyboard (if you have one) to see if the multimedia keys work on that one.

If they do, then it’s likely your original keyboard has a hardware issue. In this case, you might need to replace it or contact the manufacturer if it’s still under warranty.

Final Thoughts

Multimedia keys are a great convenience, and it’s frustrating when they stop working. However, by following the steps outlined above, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the issue on your Windows 11 & Upcoming Windows 12 machine.

If you’re still having trouble after trying everything, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll do my best to help you further.