Fix: Keyboard Not Working After Windows Update (Code 19)

A customer called us because no keyboard would work on their Windows PC. They had tried multiple keyboards, both USB and wireless, but none of them responded. The issue started right after a Windows update and was affecting everyone who used the computer. We found the problem was a corrupted registry entry for the keyboard device class, and clearing and restoring it fixed the issue.

Symptoms

After installing a Windows Update, your keyboard stops responding entirely. This affects all keyboards connected to the PC, including USB and wireless models. Swapping keyboards does not resolve the issue.

When you open Device Manager and check the HID Keyboard Device, you see the following error:

Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)

Cause

A Windows Update has corrupted the UpperFilters registry value for the keyboard device class. This value is stored at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

When the UpperFilters value is damaged, Windows cannot load the keyboard driver (kbdclass), which causes all keyboards to stop functioning.

Resolution

Important: Because your keyboard is not working, you will need to use one of the following methods to perform these steps:

• The Windows On-Screen Keyboard (search for “osk” in the Start menu using your mouse, or navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard > On-Screen Keyboard)
• Remote access software such as ScreenConnect, TeamViewer, or Remote Desktop

Part 1: Remove the corrupted registry value

1. Open Registry Editor by clicking Start, typing regedit (using the on-screen keyboard or remote session), and pressing Enter.
2. Before making any changes, back up the registry. Click File > Export, choose a save location, and save a full backup.
3. Navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
4. In the right pane, find the UpperFilters value. Right-click it and select Delete. Confirm the deletion.

Part 2: Remove ghost keyboard devices

5. Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager).
6. Click View > Show hidden devices.
7. Expand the Keyboards section. Right-click each keyboard device listed (including any greyed-out entries) and select Uninstall device. Confirm each removal.
8. Restart the computer.

Part 3: Restore the UpperFilters value

9. After the restart, open Registry Editor again and navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
10. In the right pane, right-click an empty area and select New > Multi-String Value.
11. Name the new value UpperFilters.
12. Double-click the new UpperFilters value and enter kbdclass as the data. Click OK.
13. Restart the computer again. Your keyboard should now be working normally.

Important Notes

• Always back up the registry before making changes. If something goes wrong, you can restore from the backup via File > Import in Registry Editor.
• The registry key {4D36E96B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} is the device class GUID specifically for keyboards. Do not modify other class GUIDs.
• If the keyboard still does not work after completing all steps, check that no third-party keyboard filter drivers need to be re-added to the UpperFilters value. Some security or accessibility software adds its own filter drivers alongside kbdclass.
• This issue can recur with future Windows Updates. If it happens again, repeat the same process.

Related Resources

• Microsoft Learn: Troubleshoot Device Manager error Code 19
• Driver Easy: How to Fix Code 19 Errors in Windows
• Microsoft Learn: System-Defined Device Setup Classes

If you need help with keyboard or device driver issues, get in touch with our team.