Control + Alt + Del not Working on Windows PC? Here’s the Fix!

Through time and years, the Ctrl + Alt + Del key combination has rescued us from the most complex situations. It is a quick keyboard shortcut on Windows that allows us to terminate the unresponsive and “Hung” applications. As soon as you press this key combination, you are redirected to a new window where you see useful options like shut down/reboot, lock the screen, switch user profile, access Task Manager and so on. 

Control + Alt + Del not working on Windows ? Well, yes, there may be a few instances where this handy key combination might not function properly. Some of the most common reasons that may trigger this issue include interference of a third-party app or service, outdated keyboard drivers and the presence of malware.. 

Wondering how to fix this issue? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. In this post, we have listed a variety of workarounds that you can use to fix this frequently used keyboard shortcut within no time. 

How to Fix Ctrl + Alt + Delete Not Working Issue

Let’s get started. 

Solution 1: Reboot your Device

Yes, this may sound quite simple but restarting your device can easily help you overcome common errors and glitches. So, yes, before you begin complex troubleshooting, first reboot your device and check if it helped in fixing this issue. 

Solution 2: Update Keyboard Drivers

Outdated keyboard drivers can also trigger the “Control + Alt + Del not working” issue on Windows. To fix this problem first check whether all the physical connections are in place. If everything looks good and if the rest of the keys of your keyboard are functioning properly, follow these quick steps to update the drivers:

1. Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Devmgmt.msc” in the textbox and hit Enter to launch the Device Manager app. 

2. In the Device Manager window, tap on “Keyboards”. Right-click on your keyboard device and then select “Update Driver”.

3. Tap on the “Search automatically for drivers” option. Follow the on-screen instructions and install the latest version of keyboard drivers on your Windows 11 PC. 

Reboot your computer and check if the issue was resolved. 

Solution 3: Run  SFC Scan

SFC (System File Checker) is an in-built Windows utility that scans and restores corrupt system files. Windows stores a cached copy of the system files in a compressed folder and  the SFC tool replaces the corrupt system files with a cached copy instead. To run  SFC Scan on your Windows 11 PC, here’s what you need to do:

1. Tap on the search icon placed on the Taskbar and type “Command Prompt”. Select “Run as Administrator” to launch CMD in admin mode.

2. In the Terminal window, type the following command and hit Enter:

sfc/scannow

3. Wait for a few minutes until the scanning process is completed. Once the SFC scan has done its job, reboot your device, and try using the Ctrl + Alt + Del key combination to check if it is functioning properly without any glitches. 

Also read: How To Fix Keyboard Keys Typing Wrong Characters

Solution 4: Run the Keyboard Troubleshooter

1. Launch the Settings app and switch to the “System” category from the left menu pane. Scroll down and tap on “Troubleshoot”. Select “Other Troubleshooters”.

2. You will now see a list of Windows built-in troubleshooters. Look for the keyboard troubleshooter and then tap on the “Run” button placed next to it. 

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the keyboard troubleshooter so that Windows can scan, diagnose and resolve the underlying issues. 

Also read: Keyboard Backlight Won’t Turn ON on Windows and Mac? Here’s the Fix!

Solution 5: Use the System Restore Feature

Tried the above-listed solutions and still had no luck? As a last resort, you can use the System Restore feature to roll back your device to the previous checkpoint to undo all the recent changes that may have been causing the malfunction. Here’s how you can use the “System Restore” feature on Windows 11: 

1. Tap on the search icon placed on the Taskbar and type “Create a Restore point”. Hit Enter.

2. The System Restore Properties window will now appear on the screen. Tap on “System Restore”. Hit on the “Next” button.

3. Pick the most recently created checkpoint from the list and then tap on “Next”. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your device and roll back all the recent changes that have been made up to the selected date. 

Also read: Windows On Screen Keyboard Not Working? Here’s the Fix!

Conclusion

Here were a few simple solutions that you can use for fixing the “Control + Alt + Del not working” issue on Windows. So, if a minor bug or glitch is preventing you from using this key combination, you can use any of these workarounds to resolve the issue via troubleshooting. 

Do let us know which method did the trick for you. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.