Do you have a problem where Ctrl + F doesn’t seem to be working on your Windows computer? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Ctrl + F is a keystroke combination that lets you quickly search a webpage or a document for specific text. It’s incredibly useful, so it can be very frustrating when the shortcut fails to work properly.
This is a common issue that many people experience, but it can be fixed relatively easily. In this article, we will discuss different ways to fix Ctrl + F not working on your Windows PC.
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Why Is Ctrl + F Not Working on Windows?
Before we look at how to fix the issue, let’s take a moment to understand why it might be happening in the first place.
The most common cause of Ctrl + F not working on Windows is that the keystrokes are being blocked by another program or browser extension. If this is the case, you’ll need to disable any extensions or programs that might be interfering with the shortcut.
Another cause of Ctrl + F not working is an outdated keyboard driver. If your keyboard driver is out-of-date, it may interfere with the function of your keys and prevent Ctrl + F from working properly.
Other than that, it could also be due to a corrupted system file or a misconfigured setting in the registry.
How to Fix Ctrl + F Not Working on Windows?
Now that we’ve discussed why Ctrl + F might not be working let’s look at how you can fix this issue.
Re-Register the DLL File
One of the easiest ways to fix this issue is to re-register a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) file. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Windows Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Once the Command Prompt is open, type in “regsvr32 oleacc.dll” and press Enter.
- You should see a confirmation message that the DLL file was successfully registered.
- Restart your computer and try using Ctrl + F to search for text again.
Update Your Keyboard Driver
Another way to fix this issue is to update your keyboard driver.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Press the Windows key+X and select Device Manager from the list.
- Expand the Keyboards section under Device Manager.
- Under the Keyboards section, right-click on your keyboard device and select Update driver.
- Next, click Search automatically for drivers.
- Follow the instructions to finish updating your driver.
Run Keyboard Troubleshooter
If you’re still having problems with Ctrl + F not working, try running the keyboard troubleshooter. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your Windows PC.
- Go to the Update & Security section and select Troubleshoot from the left-hand pane.
- On the right side, choose Additional troubleshooters.
- Under “Additional troubleshooter,” look for the Keyboard option and click on it.
- Select Run the troubleshooter to begin keyboard troubleshooting.
- Let the troubleshooter finish finding the issue and solve it.
Run System File Check (SFC) Command
If the issue persists, you may need to run the System File Check (SFC). This command will scan your computer for corrupt system files and replace them with fresh working copies.
To do this, follow these steps:
- On your system, search and launch the Command Prompt with administrator rights.
- Type this command and hit the Enter key: sfc/scannow.
- The scanning would start, and it would take some time to complete depending on your system configuration.
- After the scan, if it found any problem, the solution would be automatically applied.
- Close the Command Prompt window and restart your system.
Run DISM Command
You can also try running the DISM command to fix corrupt system files. This command will scan your computer for any missing or corrupt system files and install them automatically.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Open Command Prompt with admin rights.
- Type the following command and press the enter key: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- The scan would take some time to finish.
- After the scan is completed, restart the device.
Check for Windows Update
If all else fails, you may need to update your Windows operating system. Updating your OS can fix many software issues and allow the ctrl + F command to work.
Here is how to check for Windows updates:
- Open Windows 11 Settings.
- On the left pane, switch to the Windows Update tab and click on Check for updates on the right.
- After the latest updates are finished downloading, click on Install now.
- Restart your device.
Final Words
Ctrl + F not working can be an annoying problem, but fortunately, it’s usually an easy fix. By following the steps outlined above, you should be able to get your shortcut working again in no time.
We hope this article has helped you understand why Ctrl + F might not be working on your Windows PC, as well as how to fix the issue. If you’re still having trouble with this shortcut, it may be worth contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance.
The most common cause of Ctrl + F not working on Windows is that the keystrokes are being blocked by another program or browser extension. Other potential causes include an outdated keyboard driver, corrupted system files, and misconfigured settings in the registry.
First, try to disable any interfering programs or browser extensions. If that doesn’t work, you can try updating your keyboard driver or running the System File Checker tool to repair corrupted files.
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
