How to deal with a broken key on the keyboard with Windows 10
If you are facing the problem of a broken or stuck key on your keyboard and you are unable to use it in any way and do not use it all the time, there is more than one way to circumvent this problem from within Windows 10 until the keyboard is upgraded or the damaged key is repaired.
Method 1: Reset the keyboard software
Using the free and built-in Windows 10 PowerToys tool, you can remap the functions of broken keys on your keyboard and transfer their functions to other keys. You can easily redirect the function of the broken key to other keys that you rarely use, such as the Scroll key, Caps Lock, or any other key that you do not use while interacting with your computer. If Microsoft PowerToys is not included in your current system, you will have to download it first, which is free and its size is about 18 MB. After launching it, click on Keyboard Manager from the sidebar on the left of the window.
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In our example, we will use the Esc key as a disabled or broken key that we cannot use. We will replace its function with the Scroll Lock key, which we rarely use when dealing with the Windows system.
Click on the Remap a Key tab and then click on the little plus sign icon. On the left side of the window you need to select the key you want to remap. From the drop down menu select the broken or disabled key. On the right side you will find the Mapped to section and from the drop down menu select the key you want to replace the function of your broken key with. As we just mentioned, we have replaced the function of the Esc key and transferred its authority to the Scroll Lock key.
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After you are done, click OK to assign approval and save the command. Now you can test the function of the new key and whether it works as you expect or not. If you want to reassign another disabled key and transfer its function to a different key, you can click the plus symbol again and assign the new keys. If you want to remove these functions when you buy a new keyboard or you don't like its functions or you want to replace it whenever you want, you can click the trash can icon to remove the assignment for each key.
The second method: replacing one key with another key
Fortunately, all keyboard keys have a very similar mechanism in how they work. There is a plastic piece underneath that we call the Keycap, which is the piece that holds the printed cover on which the symbol, letter or number is pressed when used. If you lose the key itself or it breaks, it is very easy to replace the broken cover with another key cover without any problem. Try to find the same size key or replace it with another available key from the same keyboard, but on the condition that you do not use it very often.
Try removing the key with a pointed tool. Do not use too much force while removing the key or you may break the Keycap that holds the key cover itself. Once you find the right replacement, place it on top of the Keycap and continue to press down until the cover slides into place. You can use letter stickers to rename it.
Read also: What is the purpose of the Menu Key on the keyboard?
What else can you do?
If the rubber covers (Keycaps) on one of the keys are damaged, you will need to replace it with another one, or better yet, buy a replacement from an online retailer. If you live in a foreign country, you may be able to find a damaged used laptop on eBay for a very cheap price and replace the entire keyboard. If you can't replace it yourself, it's very easy to have any laptop repair company take care of it for you and it won't cost you a lot of money.