The keyboard is only typing incorrectly in some Windows programs. What's going on?

One of the most perplexing phenomena Windows users experience is when the keyboard malfunctions in only certain programs. If this is your case, understanding this will be very helpful. What's happening and how to prevent this problem from affecting your productivityWe'll tell you everything below.

The keyboard is only typing incorrectly in some Windows programs. What's going on?

You open your browser and type normally. You switch to Word and the letters and characters flow smoothly. But when you open that specific program you need for work or play, something strange happens. Without warning, The keys don't respond as they should, they type the wrong characters, or they simply lock up.What's going on?

A common problem: the keyboard types incorrectly only in some Windows programs. This anomaly is also known as erratic keyboardAnd it can occur in any scenario. It primarily affects users with macro software, keyboard managers, or multiple languages ​​installed. But why does this happen?

• For the user, typing with the keyboard is a simple task: just connect it to the PC and you're done.
• But behind this basic function lies a complex layered system through which Windows manages write input.
• From the moment you press a key until it is reflected on the screen, drivers, system services, input managers, and the applications themselves are involved.
• A failure at any point in this chain can generate erratic behavior: different symbols, locked keys, shortcuts that don't work, etc.
• And the odds increase. if there are several programs fighting for control of the keyboard's operation.

The good news is that, in most cases, it is a software problem, not hardware problemIt's not that the keyboard is damaged, but rather that there's an incompatibility issue between the peripheral's drivers and the program(s) in question. Let's see what you can do if the keyboard is only typing incorrectly in some Windows programs.

Main causes of an erratic keyboard

Let's break down the main ones Causes of erratic behavior in Windows PC keyboardsSometimes, there really is a compatibility issue between programs. Other times, that's just the impression the user gets, but it's actually normal keyboard behavior.

• ¿How many keyboard layouts do you have? installed languages ​​(English, Catalan, Spanish, Latin American, etc.)? In some programs, a different layout may be automatically activated. This causes the keys to type different characters.
• Is the per-app input language feature enabled? Since Windows 10, the system allows you to assign a different input language to each application. This means that Word can use "Spanish (Latin America)" while Excel uses "English (USA)."
• Many Applications have their own keyboard shortcuts, different from the usual onesFor example, in design programs, such as Photoshop, The "Alt" and "Ctrl" keys can have different functions. This can give the impression that the keyboard is malfunctioning, when it is not.
• The physical layout of your keyboard Does it match the Windows regional settings? If the keyboard is English (without the letter Ñ), but you use a Spanish regional setting, some programs might interpret the keys incorrectly.

As you can see, many factors are involved when your keyboard malfunctions in only some programs. It's rarely due to physical damage to the keyboard. In almost all cases, this annoying problem can be resolved. Adjusting Language or Accessibility settings in WindowsLet's explore the solutions.

What to do if the keyboard types incorrectly only in some Windows programs

The first thing you're going to do is test if the keyboard types incorrectly only in some programs or in all of them. If it's only in one appIt's likely an internal program setting. Check the program's configuration to see if there's an option to fix the problem. You can also try running it as an administrator to resolve regionalization issues.

If the above doesn't work, or you're experiencing erratic keyboard behavior in various programs, it's time to go to Windows settings. Let's... Check which keyboard layouts are installed, and delete any you don't need.This is done as follows:

1. Go to Settings – Time & Language – Language & Region.
2. You check that distributions you have installed.
3. If you want to delete one, click on it and select Delete.

The fewer distributions you have installed, the less likely the keyboard will get confused. If you need to have several distributions installed, try changing the language per application. Open the program in question, and Check the language icon (ESP, ENG) in the taskbar.Manually switch to the correct language in the affected application.

Disable automatic input method switching

I personally use Linux and had the problem of the keyboard layout changing between windows and programs. I discovered there's an option that allows... set the same font for all windowsI activated it and the erratic keyboard problem was solved.

Well, Windows 11 also has a similar option, which you can find by going to Settings – Time & Language – Typing – Advanced keyboard settings. There you'll find the option. Allow me to use a different input method for each application window.

If this option is enabled, the keyboard layout will automatically change when you switch between windows. Therefore, It's advisable to deactivate it. To prevent unwanted changes that alter keyboard behavior. This solution is effective if the keyboard types incorrectly only in some Windows programs.

Other solutions if the keyboard types incorrectly only in some Windows programs

Other solutions you can try if the keyboard types incorrectly only in some programs are: Temporarily disable apps that modify text input.For example, grammar checkers, instant translators, or macro tools. Start Windows in Safe Mode and open the program affected by the erratic keyboard; if the problem disappears, it is surely some third-party software that is interfering.

Ultimately, Try a different keyboardIf the problem is resolved, it's clear the previous keyboard drivers were faulty. In most cases, these suggestions will restore the keyboard to normal. With a little patience and these minor adjustments, you'll surely regain control.