If you are using an external keyboard with your notebook, you probably want to disable the laptop keyboard as it is useless for you. We will show you different methods in this tutorial to disable the notebook’s built-in keyboard. Disabling the laptop keyboard helps in avoiding accidental touch (input) when an external keyboard is connected.
Before starting, it is worth mentioning that these methods will be applied to both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Disable Keyboard through Device Manager
In this method, we will first open the “Device Manager” application. To open it, press Windows Key + X and click on Device Manager (in the appeared drop-down menu). The device manager will open, search for Keyboard, and double click on it. Here, you will find a keyboard device named “Standard PS/2 Keyboard” right click on it and then press on Disable option. A confirmation dialog box will appear, click on Yes, and your keyboard will be disabled. If not, then a restart of the notebook is required.
Note: Many users have reported that there is no Disable option in Device Manager, so skip this step and head toward the next method.
Preventing Keyboard’s Driver Installation
In this method, we will again use the Device Manager and another built-in application named “Local Group Policy Editor” to disable the notebook’s keyboard. Before proceeding, it is worth mentioning that this method is valid only in Windows Pro and Enterprise editions.
At first, open the Device Manager, then select the Standard PS/2 Keyboard in the Keyboard section; right-click on it and select “Properties.” In the properties window, head toward the “Details” section, open the drop-down menu of property, and select “Hardware Ids” options.
Now we have to do the second step, in which we will open Local Group Policy Editor, which would help us in preventing the re-installation of the keyboard’s driver every single time the notebooks boot. To open it, press Windows Key + R through which the Run dialog box will appear; type “gpedit.msc” in the command line and press enter.
A new window will appear; under Computer Configuration, navigate to the following directory: Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Device Installation Restrictions. On the setting page, there would be an option Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device instance IDs; right-click on it and select the edit option. In the next window, select Enable option and click on Show (at left-middle); another window will appear.
Now get back to Standard PS/2 Keyboard Properties which we opened in Device Manager. Copy the first line by right-clicking on it and selecting the Copy option. Now we have to paste the copied line in the window which appeared after clicking on Show in Local Group Policy Editor. In the Show window, there is a space under the Value table; double-click on it and paste the copied text. Now click on OK to close the Window and then again do the same for closing the following Window. Head back to the Device Manager, select keyboard, then right-click on it and select Uninstall option. After uninstalling, reboot the notebook, and the keyboard will be disabled.
Note: To undo the changes, click the Disable option in “Prevent installation of devices that match any of these device instance IDs” inside the Local Group Policy Editor.
Suspend PS/2 Port Service
In this method, we would use the command prompt and enter some commands (in its window) that disable the built-in keyboard from working. In more explained words, we will disable the PS/2 port (through some commands) that plays a major role in the laptop’s keyboard connectivity (with notebook) and its input. By disabling the port, the keyboard’s working will also be terminated.
At first, we will open the Command Prompt. Open the Start Menu’s search bar, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt and select “Run as Administrator.” On Command Prompt Windows, type the below-mentioned commands and then press Enter key.
sc config i8042prt start= disabled
Reboot your notebook, and the keyboard working will be stopped. To enable the built-in keyboard again, type the commands below and press enter key.
sc config i8042prt start= auto
After trying the methods mentioned above, you can easily block the notebook’s keyboard from working. For more tutorials, follow our website.
