Why keyboard doesn't work in Safe Mode

Keyboard and Mouse Stop Working in Safe Mode When Using Shift+Restart

Keyboard and mouse stop working when entering Safe Mode through Shift+Restart due to USB driver issues and BIOS settings, especially when using USB 3.0 ports. Unlike msconfig, the Shift+Restart method uses a different boot mechanism that may not properly handle USB devices until the system is fully loaded. The main causes include USB 3.0 compatibility, lack of USB Legacy support in BIOS, and controller driver issues.

Table of Contents

• Primary causes of the problem
• BIOS settings and USB Legacy Support
• Differences between Safe Mode methods
• Practical solutions to the problem
• Additional diagnostic methods

Primary causes of the problem

The problem with keyboard and mouse when entering Safe Mode via Shift+Restart occurs due to several technical factors:

USB 3.0 vs USB 2.0 compatibility - Many users report that mice and keyboards don’t work when connected to USB 3.0 ports (blue), but function normally when connected to USB 2.0 ports (black). This is because during the Safe Mode boot process via Shift, the system may not have the necessary drivers for USB 3.0 controllers [source].

Lack of USB Legacy support in BIOS - As Microsoft indicates, USB keyboards and mice don’t work in certain boot modes without USB Legacy support enabled in BIOS. This is especially true for boot methods that use basic input/output before Windows is fully initialized [source].

Controller driver issues - When entering Safe Mode via Shift, the system may boot with a minimal set of drivers, and if USB controller drivers are damaged or missing, input devices won’t be recognized [source].

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BIOS settings and USB Legacy Support

BIOS settings play a key role in USB device operation during boot:

Enabling Legacy USB Support - After entering BIOS (as you successfully did), check for the “Legacy USB Support” or “USB Legacy Keyboard/Mouse Support” option. If this feature is disabled, USB devices may not work until the operating system is fully loaded [source].

Solving the mouse problem in BIOS - The fact that your mouse worked after pressing ESC on the keyboard indicates that BIOS partially initialized the USB controllers. Pressing ESC may have triggered the process of re-registering USB devices [source].

Resetting BIOS settings - If you accidentally changed USB settings in BIOS, you can perform a CMOS reset to restore factory defaults. This is usually done via a jumper on the motherboard or by removing the CMOS battery for several minutes [source].

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Differences between Safe Mode methods

It’s important to understand the technical differences between the two Safe Mode entry methods:

Method via msconfig - When using msconfig, the system saves Safe Mode settings in the Windows registry and correctly loads the necessary USB controller drivers. This method uses the already initialized Windows system [source].

Method via Shift + Restart - This method starts the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), which uses a different boot mechanism. WinRE may not have the same USB drivers as the full Windows system, especially for USB 3.0 controllers [source].

Consequences of Windows 11 updates - Some users report that Windows 11 updates (e.g., KB5066835) can cause issues with Advanced Startup and disable keyboard and mouse functionality when using the Shift + Restart method [source].

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Practical solutions to the problem

Here are step-by-step solutions to fix the problem:

Using the correct USB ports

1. Connect keyboard and mouse to USB 2.0 ports (usually black)
2. Avoid USB 3.0 ports (blue) and hubs during boot
3. Check port markings on the motherboard [source]

BIOS configuration

1. Enable Legacy USB Support in BIOS
2. Check USB Keyboard Support and USB Mouse Support
3. Update BIOS/UEFI to the latest version [source]

Working with drivers

1. Open Device Manager in normal Windows mode
2. Find the USB Controllers section
3. Update USB controller drivers, especially for USB 3.0
4. Uninstall and reinstall problematic devices [source]

Alternative Safe Mode entry methods

1. Use the command prompt with administrator privileges:
   bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
   

2. Or create a Windows recovery disk to access Safe Mode [source]

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Additional diagnostic methods

If the main solutions don’t help, try additional methods:

Testing with different devices - Connect a different keyboard and mouse to rule out issues with specific devices. Wireless USB devices often encounter such problems [source].

Checking Windows updates - Ensure that the latest Windows updates are installed, as they may contain fixes for USB driver issues [source].

Using PS/2 devices - If your motherboard has PS/2 ports, try using a PS/2 keyboard, which doesn’t depend on USB drivers during boot.

Creating a bootable USB with drivers - For complex cases, you can create a Windows installation USB with pre-integrated USB 3.0 drivers [source].

Sources

1. Keyboard And Mouse Not Working In Safe Mode: How To Fix It - Tweaking.com
2. Windows 11 update breaks Advanced Startup, disables keyboard and mouse - PiunikaWeb
3. Keyboard or Mouse NOT working in Safe Mode - The Windows Club
4. Safe Mode: USB mouse won’t work - Windows 10 Help Forums
5. USB Keyboard or Mouse May Not Work After You Restart Your Computer in MS-DOS Mode - Microsoft Support
6. A Quick Guide to Understanding Legacy USB Support in BIOS - Wondershare Recoverit
7. Mouse and keyboard won’t work in safe mode - Microsoft Q&A

Conclusion

The main issue with keyboard and mouse functionality when entering Safe Mode via Shift+Restart is related to USB compatibility and BIOS settings. To resolve the issue, it’s recommended to first try connecting devices to USB 2.0 ports, then check and enable Legacy USB Support in BIOS. If this doesn’t help, update USB controller drivers or use alternative Safe Mode entry methods via msconfig or command prompt. In complex cases, creating a bootable USB with integrated drivers or using PS/2 devices may be necessary.