Why Isn’t the Classic Shortcut Key Combo Work? Troubleshooting Steps Inside

If you’re using theCtrl + Alt + Del sequence to lock your PC or launch Task Manager; or if you’re using this “three-finger salute” to switch user or sign out, but only to find that this key combination doesn’t work, don’t panic, you’re not alone. Many Windows users are reporting it. But the good news is you can fix it! We’ve put together some suggestions to help you fix the problem. You may not have to try them all. Just work your way down the list until you find the one that works.

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links

If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Fixes to try

1. Check your keyboard
2. Update your keyboard driver
3. Reset your keyboard settings
4. Run System File Checker
5. Modify your Registry
6. Perform a clean boot

Fix 1: Check your keyboard

If you’re using a defective keyboard, you may encounter theCtrl + Alt + Del not working issue. You can use another keyboard or connect your keyboard to another PC to check whether this issue is caused by your keyboard or not.

Fix 2: Update your keyboard driver

If your keyboard driver is outdated or corrupted, it may also trigger this issue. In this case, you should try to update your keyboard driver.

You can update your driver manually or automatically. The manual process is time-consuming and risky, so we won’t cover it here. If you’re not comfortable working on computers, it is recommended that you download Driver Easy to update your keyboard driver.

Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.

You can download and install your drivers by using either Free or Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes only 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee):

1) Download and install Driver Easy.

2) Run Driver Easy and click theScan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem driver.

3) Click theUpdate button next to your keyboard to automatically download the correct driver for this device, then you can manually install it. You can also clickUpdate All button at the bottom right to automatically update all outdated or missing drivers on your computer (this requires the Pro version — you will be prompted to upgrade when you click onUpdate All ).

4) Restart your PC and then check whether this issue exists or not. If this issue remains, please try the next fix.

Fix 3: Reset your keyboard settings

You may also encounter theCtrl + Alt + Del not working issue if your recently installed software have changed the default keyboard settings or if you’ve added some hotkeys or custom keyboard shortcuts. Try to reset your keyboard settings to default and this issue may get resolved.

In this fix, instructions for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 are a little different.

• If your current operating system is Windows 7:

• If your current operating system is Windows 8:

• If your current operating system is Windows 10:

• If your current operating system is Windows 7

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key andR at the same time to open the Run dialog; typecontrol and pressEnter to open Control Panel.

2) View Control Panel byCategory , and clickChange keyboards or other input methods .

3) In the pop-up window, select theKeyboards and Languages tab and clickChange keyboards…

4) If you are using only one language, clickAdd… to add another language. If you’re using multiple language on your PC, please skip this step.

5) Select your primary language (the language on the top of the list) and clickMove down , and then clickMove up bring it back to the top of the list to reset your keyboard settings.

6) ClickOK to save the setting and close the window.

Go and check if theCtrl + Alt + Del sequence works. If it still doesn’t work, don’t worry, there are other solutions below.

• If your current operating system is Windows 8

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key andR at the same time to open the Run dialog; typecontrol and pressEnter to open Control Panel.

2) View Control Panel byCategory , and click Changeinput methods .

3) If you are using only one language, clickAdd a language to add another language. If you’re using multiple language on your PC, please skip this step.

4) Select your primary language (the language on the top of the list) and clickMove down , and then clickMove up bring it back to the top of the list to reset your keyboard settings.

Go and check if theCtrl + Alt + Del sequence works. If it still doesn’t work, please try the next fix.

• If your current operating system is Window 10

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key and I at the same time to open Windows Settings, and then clickTime & Language .

2) If you are using only one language, clickAdd a language to add another language. When you’re adding a new language,DON’T check “Set as my Windows display language” . If you’re using multiple language on your PC, please skip this step.

3) Select your primary language (the language on the top of the list) and click thedown arrow ⬇️, and then click theup arrow ⬆️ to bring it back to the top of the list.

Go and check if theCtrl + Alt + Del sequence works. If it still doesn’t work, please tryFix 4 .

Fix 4: Run System File Checker

TheCtrl + Alt + Del not working issue may occur when your system files are corrupted. If you are not sure whether your system files are corrupted or not, you can runSystem File Checker to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key and then typecmd in the search box. When you see theCommand Prompt in the list of results, right click it and then selectRun as administrator . You will be prompted for permission. ClickYes to run the Command Prompt.

2) On your keyboard, type the commands below and pressEnter . If your current operating system is Windows 7, please skip this step.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

It may take several minutes for this command operation to be completed.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

It may take several minutes for this command operation to be completed.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

It may take several minutes for this command operation to be completed.

3) When the command operation is completed, on your keyboard, type the following command and pressEnter .

sfc /scannow

It may take some time for the command operation to be completed.

When this command operation is completed, close the Command Prompt and hold theCtrl + Alt + Del sequence at the same time to check whether this method works or not. If it still doesn’t work, please try the next method.

Fix 5: Modify your Registry

This issue may also occur if some third-party software made changes to your Registry and modified the default value. This issue may be resolved by setting the modified value back to default in your Registry. Here’s how to do it:

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key andR at the same time to open the Run Dialog. Typeregedit and then pressEnter to open Registry Editor.

2) In the left panel, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System .

If this key doesn’t exist, then go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies .

3) Right clickPolicies , selectNew and then clickKey to create a new key. Rename the key asSystem . Please skip this step if the System key already exists.

4) In the right panel of Registry Editor, double clickDisableTaskMgr to view its properties.

If you didn’t seeDisableTaskMgr , right clickSystem , selectNew and then clickDWORD(32-bit) Value . Rename the new DWORD asDisableTaskMg r and double click it to view its properties.

5) Check theValue data : Set0 as the Value data and thenrestart your PC to check theCtrl + Alt + Del sequence works or not. If it still doesn’t work, don’t give up, just try the next fix and this issue may be solved.

Value 0 means that the keyDisableTaskMgr isdisabled , so your Task Manager isenabled . If yourValue data is1 , it means that yourTask Manager is currentlydisabled .

Fix 6: Perform a clean boot

If all the methods above still don’t work for you, you may need toperform a clean boot . The clean boot is a troubleshooting technique that allows you to manually disable startups and services so that you can find out the problematic software. Once you find it out, just uninstall it, and then theCtrl + Alt + Del not working issue will be solved. Here’s how to do it:

1) On your keyboard, press theWindows logo key andR at the same time to open the Run Dialog. Typemsconfig and pressEnter to open theSystem Configuration window.

Click here

2) Select theServices tab, checkHide all Microsoft services and then clickDisable all .

3) Select theStartup tab and clickOpen Task Manager .

4) On theStartup tab inTask Manager , foreach startup item, select the item and then clickDisabled .

5) Go back to theSystem Configuration window and clickOK .

6) ClickRestart to restart your PC.

Press theCtrl + Alt + Del sequence to check whether the problem reappears when your PC restarts. If not, you need to open theSystem Configuration window again to enable services and applicationsone by one until you find the problematic software. After enabling each services, you need torestart your PC to apply the changes.

Once you find out the problematic software, you need touninstall it in order to resolve theCtrl + Alt + Del not working issue.

• keyboard
• Windows

Also read: