There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to play your favorite game only to find that your WASD keys are not working in-game. It can happen for various reasons, from software glitches to hardware issues. But don’t worry; there are several things you can try to fix the problem and get back to gaming.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the most common reasons why your WASD keys may not work and how to troubleshoot the issue. We’ll cover everything from checking your keyboard settings to updating your drivers and cleaning your keyboard. So read on and get ready to jump back into your favorite games with complete control over your character!
How Do You Use WASD Keys For Gaming?
These four keyboard keys interact with video games in place of Arrow keys or a controller. A and D control left and right movement, while W and S control forward and backward movement. The keys Q, E, F, X, Shift, and Spacebar are also used in several games.
Why Are My WASD Keys Not Working On Games?
WASD keys not working in games can be caused by several factors. The first thing you should do is to ensure that the keys are not physically stuck or damaged. It may be related to your keyboard settings or drivers if they work correctly.
Ensure that the keyboard language and layout are set correctly in your computer settings. It may also be necessary to reinstall or update your keyboard drivers if they are outdated or corrupted.
 You could also conflict with another program on your computer that uses the same key combinations as the game you’re playing. Close any unnecessary programs and see if that helps. If none of these solutions work, your keyboard may require professional repair or replacement.
How To Fix If Your WASD Keys Are Not Working In Game?
There are several ways to fix it if your WASD keys are not working.
Reconnect Your Keyboard
The USB 3.0 port is not compatible with most older keyboard models. In that case, the problem may be with the USB port on your older keyboard. A 2.0 USB port on your computer will allow you to connect your keyboard to your computer by unplugging it from the device.
Use The Windows Troubleshooting Utility
You can use Windows troubleshooters to diagnose and fix hardware and device problems on your computer. The keyboard troubleshooter can help you if WASD keys are not working. Here’s how:
Step 1: Click Windows + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Click Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
Step 3: Click Run the troubleshooter in the right pane.
The utility will then begin detecting keyboard problems immediately. If any fix strategies are available, click Apply the fix once the process is complete.
Reinstall Your Keyboard Driver.
A faulty driver may be responsible for the WASD keys not working. You can fix it by uninstalling and reinstalling your keyboard driver. How to do it:
- Select Device Manager from the Start button on your taskbar.
- Expand the Keyboards category in Device Manager by double-clicking it.
- Select Uninstall device from the right-click menu on your keyboard.
- Click Uninstall when prompted.
- Restart your computer once the process is complete. Windows should automatically reinstall the keyboard driver.
Make sure the arrow keys work properly. Try updating your keyboard driver if that doesn’t work.
Keep Your Keyboard Drivers Up-To-Date
Updating your keyboard driver if the WASD keys are not working is also a good idea. To complete the operation, follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button.
Step 2: Expand the Keyboards by double-clicking them.
Step 3: Choose the Update driver from the right-click menu.
Step 4: To continue, select Search automatically for updated driver software.
Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install any updates available for your drive.
Delete The Alternate Keys Settings
Moreover, the WASD keys are not working if you trigger alternate key settings by mistake and will not be notified. Most medium and high-end keyboards (especially mechanical keyboards for gamers) have this feature, such as Cooler Master, RedDragon, etc.
With the Fn + Windows combination keys, you can switch between standard and alternate key settings. You can also resolve the issue by pressing Fn + Esc or Fn + Left.
Turn off Scroll Lock
You can fix the problem by disabling the Scroll Lock key in Excel if the WASD keys don’t work as intended. If the Scroll Lock key is enabled, the whole page will move when you press any arrow keys, but the selected cell will remain unchanged. When moving between cells, turn off the Scroll Lock key if you intend to use the arrow keys.
Often, the Scroll Lock key is located next to the Pause key. You can turn off Scroll Lock using the Onscreen Keyboard if your keyboard does not have one. How to do it:
- To turn on the Onscreen Keyboard, simultaneously press the Windows logo key + Ctrl + O.
- To disable the Onscreen Keyboard, click the ScrLk button.
Try the last fix if this method doesn’t work for you.
Clean Your Keyboard
Using the WASD keys may be challenging if dirt or debris is lodged underneath them. Cleaning the keys or sensors on your keyboard ensures no dirt is blocking it.
Check Hardware Issues
The WASD keys may not work if your keyboard isn’t connected properly. Try unplugging the USB cable, waiting a few minutes, and then plugging the keyboard back in. Try using a different USB port if the arrow keys are still not working.
Besides that, you can use the online Keyboard Tester to rule out a hardware problem. Try pressing each key on your keyboard and see if the color of the key on the screen changes. Then your keyboard is fine. Otherwise, you may need to have your keyboard repaired or replaced. Check out the following method after confirming that your hardware is not the problem.
Related: Can a gaming keyboard be used as a regular keyboard?
FAQs
Most PC gamers use WASD for movement. To control your character, usually, you use your middle three fingers, your thumb for the space bar, and your pinky for extra utilities.
In certain video games, WASD (uncountable) controls player characters using four keys on a keyboard. Up, left, down, and right are represented by W, A, S, and D, respectively.
The processing load may also cause your Roblox not to move, so you can reduce its graphics quality to fix the problem. In the Roblox settings, you can adjust the graphics quality. Several users have reported Roblox not working on Google Chrome.
A more natural and comfortable hand position is achieved with ESDF. Instead of being crowded together on WASD, your left hand is on the home row. You can transition from text chat to gameplay more quickly since your hand does not change position.
Final Thoughts
You can take several troubleshooting steps if your WASD keys are not working in-game. In this post, we’ve covered a range of solutions, from checking your keyboard settings to cleaning your keyboard and updating your drivers. Before attempting any fix, it’s essential to identify the root cause of the problem. It won’t take long for you to return to gaming with patience and persistence. Thank you for reading this post. We hope you found it informative and helpful.
I am a regular user of computer keyboards. For using keyboard face different kinds of problems and also solve it very easily. I love sharing knowledge about keyboards.