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How to Fix Caps Lock Indicator Not Working on Windows 10/11?

Caps Lock is a pretty useful feature: when on, it capitalizes the letters you input and therefore saves you a lot of time. At first glance, a missing Caps Lock indicator might seem like a minor issue. However, it is a real problem for those who type a lot.

The thing is, not knowing whether your Caps Lock is on or off puts you in some kind of a predicament – you might activate Caps Lock by accidentally pressing its key on your keyboard and be unaware of that.

With this perspective in mind, you should take into account that most password fields are case-sensitive. This is an added level of security, so you should make sure to enter uppercase and lowercase characters in the exact way they are organized in your password – and you may have difficulty doing so due to the lack of relevant Caps Lock information.

The good news is, you have come to the right place. Here you will find an exhaustive list of proven tips on how to fix Caps Lock indicator on Windows 10:

1. Make Sure It’s Not a Keyboard Issue

Your first troubleshooting step is to check your keyboard: the point is, that this piece of hardware might be faulty and therefore unable to show the Caps Lock indicator light. With this in mind, connect your keyboard to another laptop and see if the issue persists.

You can also try connecting an external keyboard to check if its Caps Lock key works fine.

Alternatively, you can enter your BIOS settings (the exact combination of keys needed for this depends on your manufacturer, so check your laptop manual) and check the LED light.

If the LED issues with your keyboard are behind your Caps Lock problem, there is no need to invest in a new device. As such, put your bank card away and keep working your way down – in this article, we will show you how to enable on-screen as well as audio Caps Lock notifications so that you have no difficulty finding if your Caps Lock is on or off.

Also Read: Expert Tips: How to Clean Laptop Mouse and Keyboard

2. Update Keyboard Drivers

If the ‘Caps Lock indicator not working on Windows’ issue keeps bothering you, the chances are your keyboard drivers are out of date. In a situation like this, we recommend you update your drivers right away:

For this purpose, you can use the built-in Device Manager tool:

  • Press the Windows logo key + X shortcut on your keyboard.
  • Then select Device Manager from the list of search results.
  • Locate your keyboard and right-click on it.
  • Click on Update Driver. Let your system search automatically for updated driver software.

Also Read: [EASY GUIDE] How to Update Device Drivers on a Windows 10 PC?

The catch is, that Device Manager may fail to find the driver version needed. In a case like this, you will have to search for the necessary software manually. Make sure you know the exact details of your device and know what you should look for, since downloading and installing the wrong keyboard driver can cause your device to malfunction.

Things to note:

  • You should only use the official website of the keyboard’s manufacturer or your PC’s manufacturer.
  • Search for the latest driver for your keyboard’s make and model.
  • Use the right operating system and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).

Obviously, updating your drivers yourself is a time-consuming and tiring process. Therefore, we strongly advise you to employ a special tool to do the job. For example, Auslogics Driver Updater will fix all your drivers – not only those related to your keyboard – in just one click.

3. Undo Problematic Updates

Regrettably, not all updates fit your Windows 10 perfectly – some can trigger Caps Lock indicator problems on your PC. That said, there is no need to worry, since you can remove the problematic updates quite effortlessly. Just follow these instructions to do so:

Windows 10:

  • Press the Windows logo and I keys simultaneously.
  • The Settings app will show up.
  • Select Update & Security.
  • Click the Update History option.
  • You can locate the last update you installed before the issue showed up and take note of its name and KB number.
  • Select the Uninstall Updates option.
  • Locate the update you wish to remove and double-click it.

Windows 11:

  • Launch the Settings app using the Windows + I keyboard hotkey.
  • Click on the Windows Update option in the top-right area of the Settings page.
  • After the Windows Update page opens, click on the Update History page.
  • Now, take note of the last update the client installed.
  • Under the Update History page, scroll to Related Settings and select Uninstall Updates.
  • Once the Installed Updates page opens, locate the update you want to get rid of and double-click it.
  • Click on Yes to confirm.

Also Read: Windows Update Cleanup: A Comprehensive Guide to Free Up Disk Space

4. Update Your OS

Persistent Caps Lock issues might be a sign that your OS needs updating. In such a case, you should do the following:

  • Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows logo + I shortcut on your keyboard.
  • Navigate to the Update & Security section and click on it.

  • Once in the Windows Update center, locate the Check for Updates button and click on it.

Check for updates Windows 10

Your Windows 10 will automatically search online for available updates and download them in the background. Restart your computer and have them installed. This trick has reportedly helped a lot of users resolve their Caps Lock issues. Hopefully, it has worked for you as well.

Also Read: Ultimate Guide: How to Manually Check and Install Windows Updates

You can also use the Windows Update Agent to download and install drivers. To do that on Windows 10, head to the Windows Update page in the Settings app and click on View Optional Updates. Then, expand the Drivers section under the View Optional Updates page. Check the driver you want to download and click on the Download and Install button.

Follow these steps to download and install updates on Windows 11:

  • Go to the Start menu and click on the Settings app or tap the Windows and I keys together.
  • Click on Windows Update in the top-right corner or at the bottom of the left pane of the Settings application.
  • Click on the Check for Updates button in the top-right corner once the Windows Update page shows up.

Windows will check for updates and begin to download them. In cases where the client asks for permission due to download size, click on the Download Now option.

Windows will install the updates once the downloads are complete. You may be required to restart your computer.

To download and install updates on Windows 11, follow these steps:

  • Click on Advanced Options under the More Options section on the Windows Update page.
  • Go to the Additional Options section once the Advanced Options page opens and click on Optional Updates.
  • Next, expand the Driver Updates menu and select the appropriate driver by clicking on its checkbox.
  • Click on the Download and Install button.

Also Read: How to Get And Use Windows 10 Media Creation Tool

5. Use Third-Party Software to Enable the Caps Lock indicator

You are free to make use of third-party apps to get Caps Lock notifications on your PC. There are plenty of such tools on the market such as TrayStatus, Keyboard LEDs, and others — so choose the one that suits you most. For instance, these programs allow you to see the Caps Lock icon on your taskbar, send you visual and audio notifications, and offer other handy options to make sure you are aware of everything that is happening to your keyboard.

6. Enable CapsLock Sound Via Accessibility Settings

If you can’t find a way to enable the indicator light on your Caps Lock key, a quick workaround could be to enable sound notifications instead.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Open the Accessibility settings by pressing the Windows logo key + U. 
  • Scroll down and select Keyboard from the Interaction section.

Accessibility Settings Keyboard

  • Click or tap the toggle switch for Toggle keys to turn it on.

Accessibility Keyboard Toggle On

That’s it. You’re all set.

You can also enable on-screen notifications for when Caps Lock is on. 

  • Press the Windows key to open Settings.
  • Select System and go to Advanced Display Settings.
  • Click on Display Adapter Properties and navigate to the Screen Configuration tab.
  • Go on to check the ‘Enable On-Screen Display‘ and apply your changes.

7. Open the On-screen Keyboard

If all the tricks above have proved to no avail in fixing your Caps Lock issues, you might wish to give this workaround a try. To open the on-screen keyboard on a Windows 10 computer, take the following steps:

  • Open the Settings app (Windows logo + I).
  • Go to the Ease of Access section and select Keyboard.
  • Toggle On-Screen Keyboard on.

To open the on-screen keyboard on a Windows 11 computer, take the following steps:

  • Launch the Settings application using the Win + I shortcut or by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Settings.
  • Next, click on Accessibility in the left pane of the Settings interface.
  • After the Accessibility page shows up, scroll down to Interaction and click on Keyboard.
  • On the Keyboard page, go to the “On-screen keyboard, access keys, and Print screen” section and turn on the On-Screen keyboard option.
  • The on-screen keyboard will now show up.

Note: You can use the Ctrl + Win + O keyboard shortcut to launch the on-screen keyboard.

A keyboard will show up on your screen. You can use it to enter text (especially passwords) without worrying about the Caps Lock indicator not working on your computer.

8. Use an external keyboard

You can also use an external keyboard to get on with work if you can’t get a fix on the issue.

The problem could be related to your keyboard and replacing it may be the answer. That said, you could continue using an external keyboard if you don’t want to go through the trouble of opening up your computer and changing your internal keyboard.

Most external keyboards are plug and play. However, some keyboards are advanced and may come with specialized programs that you may have to tweak to get your desired functions.

9. Extra Tip: Configure your Lenovo keyboard settings

If you own a Lenovo device, we have good news for you: you can tweak your keyboard settings to see the Caps Lock status on your screen. Here is what you should do:

  • Open your Start menu, search for Control Panel and open it from the search results.
  • Select View Device and Printers under Hardware and Sound.
  • Locate your PC in the list and right-click on it.
  • Select Keyboard Settings from the list of available options.
  • The Mouse and Keyboard center will now open.
  • Choose the Click here to change Microsoft keyboard settings option.
  • Work your way down to the Caps Lock.
  • Turn on the option Display Caps Lock status on the screen.

Now you can press Caps Lock and see a Caps Lock indicator on your screen.

Conclusion

Resolving the Caps Lock indicator not working issue on Windows 10/11 is a relatively straightforward process. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in the guide, you can quickly identify and address the root cause of the problem. Whether it’s updating your keyboard drivers, enabling the toggle keys feature, or using third-party software, there are multiple solutions available to ensure that your Caps Lock indicator functions as intended.

FAQ

How to Turn Off Caps Lock?

Turning off Caps Lock is simple on most keyboards. Just press the Caps Lock key again, and it will deactivate. The Caps Lock key usually has an indicator light that shows whether it’s on or off. Make sure the light is off to confirm that Caps Lock is disabled.

Why Is My Shift Key Not Working?

If your Shift key isn’t working, try the following troubleshooting steps:

  • Check for physical damage: Ensure there’s no debris or physical damage around the Shift key.
  • Restart your computer: Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve software-related issues.
  • Update keyboard drivers: Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause problems. Update them through Device Manager.
  • Test with another keyboard: If possible, connect another keyboard to see if the issue persists. 

This helps determine if it’s a hardware or software problem.

How to Turn Off Caps Lock Notification?

To disable Caps Lock notifications on Windows:

  • Open the “Settings” app.
  • Go to “Ease of Access.”
  • Select “Keyboard” on the left sidebar.
  • Under “Toggle keys,” turn off “Hear a tone when you press Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock.”

What to Do When Caps Lock Is Not Working?

If your Caps Lock key isn’t functioning correctly:

  • Check for physical issues: Make sure the key isn’t stuck or physically damaged.
  • Restart your computer: A reboot can sometimes resolve software glitches.
  • Update keyboard drivers: Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause problems. Update them through Device Manager.
  • Try another keyboard: If available, test with a different keyboard to see if the issue persists. This helps determine if it’s a hardware or software problem.
  • Use a third-party remapping tool: Consider using third-party software to remap the Caps Lock key or create custom shortcuts.

If the problem persists despite these efforts, it may require further diagnosis or professional assistance to resolve.