Locking your keyboard when stepping away from your workstation is a good security measure, both at home and at work. For instance, when watching videos on your PC with a child, you may want to disable the keyboard in Windows 10 to stop them from forwarding or pausing the video by pressing the keys.
From preventing accidental typing to doing a little keyboard spring cleaning, there are a variety of reasons you may want to disable the keyboard. Like its predecessors, Windows 10 also doesn’t provide an easy way to disable the keyboard. However, it’s not difficult to do, using built-in or third-party tools.
Method 1: Use Device Manager to Disable the Keyboard in Windows 10
Most of the methods discussed below involve the use of third-party utilities to lock the keyboard. However, if you don’t want to use a third-party application, there is still an option to lock the keyboard through the device manager.
Note: this method only works with external keyboards. It’s not applicable for built-in keyboards.
Right-click on the Start button to invoke the power user menu. Once it opens, scroll down and click the “Device Manager” option.
The system will display a long list of all the connected devices. Scroll down and expand “Keyboards” to see the connected keyboards.
Select the keyboard you want to disable, right-click the entry, and choose “Uninstall.” If you’ve connected more than one keyboard, you’ll need to disable them one at a time.
The uninstall device confirmation dialogue box will pop up. Click the “Uninstall” button. If prompted to restart your PC, click “Yes,” and that device will be disabled once the system comes back online.
Method 2: BlueLife KeyFreeze
BlueLife KeyFreeze is a simple tool to quickly disable your keyboard in Windows 10. It’ll also disable your mouse. You have the option to choose one or both. All it takes is a simple keyboard shortcut to turn the app on and off. By default, it’s Ctrl + Alt + F, but you can change that if you want. As a side note, you can also change default Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts.
Simply run the tool, and you have five seconds to cancel the lock process. By default, the keyboard and mouse are locked.
Right-click the lock icon to view more options. It’s simple to configure, and the odds of someone accidentally pressing the unlock combo are slim.
I personally like that you can automatically lock the keys when your system is idle. If you happen to walk away, you don’t have to worry about losing all your unsaved work if someone hits your keyboard.
Method 3: Use KeyboardLock
KeyboardLock is a flexible yet easy-to-use tool that you can use to disable the keyboard in Windows 10. Unlike KeyFreeze that doesn’t give you the option to disable the keyboard alone, KeyboardLock gives you the flexibility to lock the mouse, keyboard, or both. Its simplicity of use is remarkable. All you have to do is key in the password and press the “Start” icon to activate the keyboard lock.
To lock the mouse, enter the password again. (Yes, it works even when the keyboard is locked.) This freeware completely disables your keyboard and mouse and leaves all your open applications intact, as it does not affect the display. To unlock the keyboard, simply type the password, and you’ll get back to a usable keyboard. This works on both built-in and external keyboards.
Method 4: Use Anti-Shaya
Anti-Shaya is a good tool you can use to disable the keyboard in Windows 10. The good thing about this tool is that it’s portable and works well with any operating system. The interface is user-friendly and consists of the lock button and a section to enter the password. Once you click the lock button, it quickly disables all the keys, so you’ll have to rely on the mouse to operate the system.
To unlock the keyboard, just click the Anti-Shaya icon located in the system tray. Clicking on this icon opens the password window so you can enter the password. The Anti-Shaya keyboard locker tool does not interfere with the registry, as it doesn’t require installation. It runs from the .exe file.
Wrapping Up
Be it kids, cats, clueless family, coworkers, or a friend that accidentally clicks the keyboard, locking your keyboard can prove to be very useful in preventing another from doing damage. But when you have one of these tools in place, you can rest assured that the keys will remain locked no matter what happens.
Don’t have a keyboard available or your laptop keyboard isn’t working right? Learn how to use the on-screen Windows 10 keyboard and check out this guide of the best RGB keyboards available.
Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.
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