Why are my @ and quote keys swapped?

Different regions use different keyboard layouts, and the two characters sit in different places on the US and UK layouts. Your computer is probably set to a layout that does not match the printed keys. Switch to the layout that matches your keyboard in the language and input settings.

Why do some letters type numbers?

Many laptops have a built-in number pad on the letter keys that is turned on by Num Lock or an Fn key combination. Switch it off with the same key, or check for a Num Lock or Fn Lock light.

A key types twice or repeats. What now?

It may be debris under the key, a worn switch, or a keyboard setting such as repeat rate or Filter Keys. Clean around the key gently, check the accessibility settings, and test an external keyboard.

Part of my keyboard stopped working after a spill. What should I do?

Switch the laptop off and unplug it at once. Turn it upside down to let liquid run out, and do not charge or restart it until it is dry. Ask a technician to check it, since liquid can damage the board.

Rarely. Wrong characters are almost always a setting, a lock key, or hardware. If strange text appears on its own or windows open without you, scan the computer and check for unfamiliar software.

Keyboard Typing Wrong Characters or Some Keys Not Working? Fix It Step by Step

Written by the Yorozuya IT editorial team, based in Japan. Last updated above. Menus, apps, and rules change, so check the date.

You type a password and it is rejected. You press the quote mark and get an at sign. Half the letters turn into numbers. The first thought is a broken keyboard, but this is usually a setting, not a fault. A few quick checks will find it.

Which kind of problem is it?

Look at what goes wrong.

The wrong characters appear, such as @ and the quote mark swapped, or the pound sign where you expect a hash.
Keys act oddly, such as letters typing numbers, or keys repeating or ignoring presses.
Some keys are dead.

Triage for a keyboard problem: wrong characters point to the input layout, odd behaviour to lock keys and accessibility settings, dead keys to hardware or dirt

Wrong characters: the input language or layout

A keyboard layout tells the computer which character each key makes. If it does not match the printed keys, the output is wrong. This often happens after a system update, after adding a second language, or when someone presses a shortcut by accident.

Windows: press Win+Space to switch between layouts, or Alt+Shift on some setups. Open Settings, Time and language, Language and region, and check which keyboard layouts are installed. Remove ones you do not use.
Mac: open System Settings, Keyboard, and check Input Sources. Use the input menu in the menu bar to switch.
Phone or tablet: check the keyboard language settings.

The classic sign is the @ and quote marks swapped, which happens when a computer set to a UK layout is used with a US keyboard, or the other way round. Pick the layout that matches the printed keys.

Odd behaviour: lock keys and accessibility features

Num Lock and Fn Lock. Laptops without a separate number pad often put numbers on the letter keys, and a lock switches them on. Check the lock lights, and press the lock key again.
Sticky Keys. Pressing Shift five times can switch it on, so that modifier keys stay "pressed". Turn it off in the accessibility settings.
Filter Keys or Slow Keys. They ignore brief or repeated presses and can make keys seem dead or slow.
Key repeat rate. If keys repeat too much or too little, adjust it in the keyboard settings.
Function keys. If F-keys do volume and brightness instead of the function, or the reverse, switch the Fn Lock.

Dead keys: hardware or dirt

Test in more than one app, such as a notes app and the browser. If only one app misbehaves, the cause is that app.
Plug in an external keyboard. If it works, the laptop keyboard is the problem. If it fails too, look at the settings and software.
Restart the computer. This clears many odd states.
Look for a stuck key or debris. Turn the laptop upside down and tap it gently. Use a soft brush or short bursts of compressed air at the keys.
Check for a loose key cap, which can be pressed back into place on many keyboards.

After a spill

A spill needs quick action.

Switch the laptop off immediately and unplug it.
Turn it upside down to let liquid out.
Do not charge or restart it until it is fully dry, which can take a day or more.
Ask a technician to check it. Liquid can leave residue that damages the board over time, even when the laptop seems to recover.

Wireless keyboards

Replace or charge the battery. A weak battery gives missed keys and lag.
Check the receiver, and plug it directly into the computer, not a hub.
Pair again if it uses Bluetooth. See Bluetooth headphones will not connect for the same re-pairing logic.
Move closer, and away from other wireless devices that cause interference.

Software and drivers

Install pending updates for the system. Keyboard bugs are sometimes fixed in updates.
Check Device Manager on Windows for a warning next to the keyboard.
Try Safe Mode. If the keyboard works there, a program or driver is the cause.
Check for software that remaps keys, such as gaming tools, language tools, and remote-access apps.

Common mistakes

Assuming the keyboard is broken before checking the layout.
Leaving several layouts installed, so a shortcut switches by accident.
Typing a password repeatedly with the wrong layout, which can lock an account.
Cleaning with liquids, which can do more harm than dust.
Forgetting to power off before cleaning or after a spill.

Make it reliable

Keep only the layouts you use.
Learn the switching shortcut, so you can fix it in a second.
Check the lock lights when letters behave oddly.
Keep drinks away from the keyboard.
Keep a spare external keyboard for testing.

If it is the hardware

A dead key or a few failed keys on a laptop may need a keyboard replacement, which is often possible. Use the maker's service or an authorised repairer. Meanwhile, an external keyboard lets you keep working.

Quick checklist

Wrong characters: switch the input language or layout.
Odd letters or numbers: check Num Lock, Fn Lock, and accessibility features.
Test an external keyboard to split hardware from settings.
Clean gently, and after a spill power off at once.
Restart, update, and try Safe Mode if it persists.

Save this cheat sheet

Cheat sheet: fixing a keyboard that types the wrong characters or has dead keys

Screenshot this or save the image. It is the short version of the guide, and it is easier to find in a hurry than a web page.