New Signature Keyboard (Japanese) not working on Surface Pro 9 (English)

Hugh Chisholm 5 Reputation points
2026-08-12T09:43:12.47+00:00

I bought my Surface Pro 9 a couple of years ago in New Zealand, since then I moved to Japan. I bought a new replacement keyboard for same device after my previous one stopped working and the mousepad and function keys (vol up, brightness etc) function but typing doesn't work. When I press a key it makes a tiny click sound from the speakers, but that is it.

To try solve this I have cleaned the contacts, done a full restart, uninstalled and reinstalled the keyboard drivers, changed system languages, booted in UEFI mode, reinstalled the OS, but still the same issue persists. The function key lights up when pressed, but the Caps key only lights up in UEFI mode.

Is there anything I can do to fix this issue, a combination of settings or a specific driver?

Surface | Accessories | Surface Type Cover
0 comments
Answer recommended by moderator
Hugh Chisholm 5 Reputation points
2026-08-12T09:53:28.42+00:00

Solved

Turns out it was Filter keys, filtering out all of my keys, for some reason.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments

1 additional answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest

  1. AI answer

    2026-08-12T09:43:33.7466667+00:00

    Since typing still does not work after cleaning contacts, force restart, driver reinstall, language changes, UEFI testing, and even reinstalling Windows, the remaining supported conclusion is a hardware issue rather than a settings or driver issue.

    What the current symptoms indicate:

    1. If the keyboard works in UEFI, the issue is likely Windows/software.
    2. If the keys do not work correctly in UEFI, the issue is likely with the keyboard hardware or its connection.
    3. On Surface for Business devices only, if the Devices menu is present in UEFI, disable the Type Cover port, exit UEFI, then boot back into UEFI and re-enable the Type Cover port to test again.

    Based on the described behavior:

    • Function-related behavior is partially present, but typing still fails.
    • Caps behavior changes in UEFI.
    • A full OS reinstall did not resolve it.
    • Typing still does not function outside and effectively not correctly inside UEFI.

    That points away from a language/layout problem and away from a Windows driver problem.

    Recommended next steps:

    1. Check for Surface keyboard updates in the Surface app.
      • Open the Surface app.
      • Expand Help & support.
      • If updates are available, select Check for updates to open Windows Update and install them.
    2. Check Windows keyboard accessibility settings in case the click sound is coming from altered keyboard behavior.
      • Windows 11: Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard
      • Turn Sticky Keys, Filter Keys, or related keyboard options on or off as needed.
    3. If the keyboard still does not type, submit a service order for the keyboard.
      • Microsoft states that when the keyboard does not function properly after these checks, or if hardware failure is indicated, service is the next step.
    4. If warranty has expired, replacement purchase is the fallback option.

    There is no supported context indicating a special Japanese-versus-English driver combination for Surface Pro Signature Keyboard that would fix this scenario. The documented path is software verification through Surface app and UEFI, then service if the keyboard still does not function.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.