Logitech Wireless Keyboard No Longer Functions

Logitech Wireless Keyboard No Longer Functions
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Problem #1: My Keyboard Randomly Stopped Working!

There are two types of problems in the world – those that are new, and those that have always existed. For this section, we’re talking about new problems, like when your keyboard stops working after it has served you faithfully for many days, weeks, or months (maybe even years, but if that’s the case you should just buy a new one anyway). So what do you do if you start up one day and your computer isn’t responding?

The Fix: Restart, Replace (Batteries), and Check

With wireless devices that are controlled via a USB hub, you want to remember one simple acronym: RRC, which stands for Restart, Replace, Check. Let’s go into detail, shall we?

Restart: What this means is that you should turn off the keyboard, turn off the computer, go get something to eat, and then come back and turn everything back on. Many people don’t understand this, and ask me “Why should my wireless device randomly start working again for no apparent reason?” to which I answer “Because that’s the way it stopped – randomly and for no apparent reason.”

Oh, right.

Replace: “Replace” in this process can mean a lot of things, but in this case you’ll want to immediately head for the batteries. A lot of wireless keyboards don’t beep or alert you in any way when batteries begin to get low, so one day things stop working and a lot of people don’t even think to replace the batteries. Oh, and make sure the batteries you put in are actually new, fresh from the package. Too often have I seen people putting in old batteries thinking they were new, and then wasting money buying a new keyboard when they thought theirs was broken.

Check: The last thing you can do when your Logitech USB wireless keyboard no longer functions is the “Check” part, where you make sure that the frequency between the keyboard itself and the receiver didn’t get changed somehow. Now, on most USB-driven wireless keyboards there is a switch or a dial on both devices that should read a number, and all you have to do is switch that number so that it’s the same on both devices. Some other devices function with a little button that you need to push on both the receiver on the keyboard to connect them, so if you don’t see a switch look for a small button as well.

Problem #2: My Keyboard Never Worked!

This section is for the people who bought a new or used wireless keyboard but have been unable to get it to work since taking it out of the box. Whether you’ve been trying for days or just a few minutes, using all your might or just casually getting things done, these tips should have your device working in no time. I could probably make a goofy acronym for this one as well, but we’ll just stick to bullet points, yeah?

The Fix: Drivers, Batteries, and Frequencies

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Once again, there are three things you want to watch out for if your keyboard has never worked in all the time that you’ve owned it, and two of them are pretty similar (albeit have different facets that you need to pay attention to).

Batteries: Once again, you want to pay attention to battery levels when you get a new keyboard. The first thing you want to do is either fully charge your device (if it uses a rechargeable battery pack) or put batteries in when you get it, but if you’ve already done this/it came with batteries, check the next idea.

Frequency: Just a quick note for people who skipped over the first section because it didn’t pertain to them: There are frequency dials/buttons on both ends of your keyboard (the keyboard itself and the USB receiver) that you can use to make sure you’re synced up properly to ensure clear communication between the keys and the computer. See section 1 for more details.

Drivers: When you plug in a Logitech wireless keyboard, your computer looks for something called a “Driver” in order to tell it how to properly handle things. Most computers shouldn’t have an issue recognizing something like this (especially since it’s USB-driven), but there are some cases where you’ll need to install the proper drivers so things can work without a hitch. To do this, go to your computer manufacturer’s website (or Logitech’s website, but that shouldn’t be necessary) and check out the “Drivers and Downloads” section. Search for your computer, find the right category of device (likely “keyboard and mouse” or something to that effect), and download the file that they have hosted for you.

When it’s downloaded, just double-click on it, follow the instructions, and you should be good to go!

Nothing Helped; What Now?

Unfortunately, if none of the things on this list worked you only have two options – buy a new keyboard (or return it if you bought new), or call the keyboard’s customer support line to get more in depth help from them.

Best of luck to you, and happy typing!

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