Alt Gr: key no longer works - what to do?

The Alt Gr key partially replaces the key combination Ctrl + Alt. In this practical tip, we explain what you can do when the button stops working.

Alt Gr key has stopped working

• First clarify whether the button is still intact. Press Alt Gr and Q simultaneously to generate an @.
• If a Q appears instead, the button is probably defective. Read in a separate practical tip how to repair the button.
• Often a running program is causing the problem. The main culprit can be a running virtual machine like Microsoft's Virtual PC. Gradually close all programs and test the button again.
• If all the programs don't help, restart your computer and try again to see if the button still works.
• If the problem is not resolved, you should reinstall the keyboard driver. See the next section for more information.

Alt Gr does not work: reinstall keyboard driver

1. Start the control panel and open the device manager. You can find this in the "Hardware and Sound" category.
2. Open the "Keyboards" entry by clicking on the small arrow and right-clicking on the connected keyboard.
3. Select "Uninstall" in the context menu and confirm the process.
4. Restart your PC. The driver is automatically reinstalled so that you can test the Alt-Gr key again.
5. If all steps are unsuccessful, try a different keyboard. As an alternative to Alt Gr, you can also use the combination Ctrl + Alt in most cases.