How To Fix AnyDesk When the Keyboard Is Not Working

AnyDesk is a go-to platform for those who want to access and control devices remotely. It remains ahead of its competitors because it’s intuitive, connects quickly, and performs more reliably than its counterparts. However, just like any other software, it doesn’t lack its fair share of issues. For instance, some users have found that the remote keyboard may not work. If you’re one of these users, we’re here to help. 

In this article, we’ll explore some of the fixes you can try to get your AnyDesk keyboard to work again. So, keep reading to find out how. 

AnyDesk Keyboard Not Working

AnyDesk can give you full access over a remote device. That means you have access to that device’s display, audio, and keyboard. But sometimes, the keyboard might stop working, or the characters displayed might differ from the ones you’re typing. 

There are various reasons why the AnyDesk keyboard might refuse to work. These include: 

• Improper installation of the AnyDesk software
• Not having keyboard access to the keyboard of the remote computer
• Not meeting the set minimum requirement to run the AnyDesk application
• Working on an operating system that needs to be updated.
• Using a keyboard mode that’s not compatible with that of the remote computer

How to Fix AnyDesk Keyboard Not Working

Fortunately, there are various fixes you can try to get the AnyDesk keyboard to work again listed below. 

Allow Access to the Keyboard

If the AnyDesk keyboard is not working, the primary reason may be that someone using the remote computer you’re trying to connect to has disabled access to their keyboard and mouse. Ask them to allow you access to the keyboard by following the steps below:

1. Open AnyDesk and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the screen.
   
2. Click “Setting.”
   
3. Select “Privacy” from the left sidebar.
   
4. Checkmark the “Control My Device’s Keyboard and Mouse” option to complete the process.

Request for Elevated Rights

If the keyboard does not work even after you’ve been allowed access to it, then request elevated rights. Windows has a User’s Access Control center that restricts other users from making changes on a computer without permission from the system administrator. These restrictions can prevent you from accessing the remote computer’s keyboard and mouse. So, follow these steps to request elevated rights over the remote computer:

1. On AnyDesk, go to the “Action” menu.
   
2. From the provided options, select “Request Elevation.”
   
3. The remote computer user should receive a prompt asking them to accept the rights elevation. Once they have allowed the request, you should receive a new session request.
4. Accept the new session request to operate the remote computer with elevated rights.
   
5. The keyboard should now start working once the new session starts running.

Enable the Unattended Access

Some users have reported that creating sessions via unattended access resolved their keyboard problems. Unattended access allows users to connect to a remote client without sending a session request to the client. This feature best suits users who partially work remotely and want to avoid bringing their work computer wherever they go. They can readily access the remote computer regardless of whether it is turned on or in sleep mode.

1. To enable unattended access on AnyDesk, follow the steps below:
2. Open AnyDesk and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the screen.
   
3. From the options, select “Settings.”
   
4. Click on “Security” and navigate to the “Permission Profile” section.
   
5. Expand the dropdown menu and select “Unattended Access.”
   
6. Click the “Set Password…” button and enter and reenter the password.
   
7. Click on “Apply” to complete the process.
   

Now try using the keyboard to see if the issue has been resolved. If it hasn’t, try the following fix on our list.

Change the AnyDesk Keyboard Mode

Many keyboard problems are caused by working in the wrong keyboard mode. So, change the keyboard mode manually and see if that resolves the issue. If it doesn’t, proceed to the next solution. 

Ensure You Request for Full Access During a Session Invitation

When sending out a session invitation, the profile usually goes to “Default.” This means you might not be permitted access to certain features, such as keyboard access. To request full access to the remote computer, follow the steps below:

1. Open AnyDesk and navigate to the “New Session” tab.
   
2. Click the “Invite” button and select the specific computer you want to invite.
   
3. Expand the “Profile” dropdown menu and select “Full Access.”
   
4. Press the “Invite” button to complete the process.
   

Update AnyDesk

Updating your computer might also fix any issues that you might be having with the AnyDesk keyboard. A quick update replaces files containing errors and software bugs with new, clean files. And the good thing is that AnyDesk is constantly updating the software to equip it with new features, and improve existing features. To update AnyDesk, follow the steps below:

1. Open your browser and go to the AnyDesk download page.
   
2. Download the latest AnyDesk version for the platform you’re using.
   
3. Go to “Downloads” and run the file you have just downloaded.
   
4. Follow the instructions on the provided wizard to complete the process. Once the process is done, launch the application and try using the keyboard.

Please note that the updating AnyDesk does not change your settings and user ID. So, you don’t need to change your previous settings after the update.

Uninstall and Install AnyDesk

If updating AnyDesk doesn’t resolve the issue, try uninstalling and installing AnyDesk to see if that resolves the problem. A reinstallation provides the program with a clean slate because it eliminates all the corrupt files and replaces them with new error-free ones.

Restart AnyDesk or the Whole Computer

Keyboard issues might result from the program not starting up correctly. So, try restarting the application to see if that resolves the problem. If that doesn’t work, then try restarting the computer itself. A quick restart removes all the running processes from the RAM, allowing programs to start running afresh without problems. It can also fix any minor system glitches that might be causing the AnyDesk keyboard not to work. 

Meet the AnyDesk Minimum System Requirements

If the device you’re using falls below the minimum system requirements provided by AnyDesk, you will likely run into significant problems while using the program, including the keyboard not working. These include security risks and technical issues such as the keyboard and the mouse not working correctly. If your computer meets these requirements but the remote computer you’re trying to initiate a session with doesn’t, you’re still likely to encounter problems. Unfortunately, there’s no workaround except updating the hardware on the computers involved so that they can meet AnyDesk’s system list of system requirements.

AnyDesk Keyboard Not Working on Mobile

If the AnyDesk Keyboard is not working on your mobile phone, then the keyboard has not been enabled on the device. So, follow the steps below to fix the problem:

1. On your phone, launch AnyDesk.
   
2. Establish a new session with a remote device.
   
3. Once the remote device’s screen is revealed, press the AnyDesk logo and select the keyboard icon.
   
4. Now, you should be able to access the remote computer’s keyboard.
   

 Please note that the above steps are similar for both iPhone and Android. You should be able to access the keyboard of the remote device, no matter which brand of phone you’re using.

Contact the AnyDesk Technical Team

If none of the above fixes have worked for you, then the problem most likely involves AnyDesk itself. The program could have a bug or a technical issue that might hinder the keyboard from working correctly. In that case, it’s best to reach out to the support team and explain the exact problem you’re facing. The team should be able to figure out the causes of the problem and provide you with solutions you can try to resolve the issue.

FAQ

Why is the copy-and-paste functionality not working on the remote desktop?

If you can’t copy and paste items on the remote desktop, follow the steps below:

1. On the remote desktop, go to AnyDesk and open the menu options.

2. Select “Settings” and go to “Privacy.”

3. Checkmark “Control My Device’s Keyboard and Mouse,” and also the “Access My Computer’s Clipboard” option, followed by “Access My Computer’s Clipboard to Transfer Files.”

Get Your AnyDesk Keyboard Up and Running Again

AnyDesk keyboard not working can be inconvenient, especially if the operation you need to perform is urgent. But in most cases, you can always resolve the problem by double-checking that you’re allowed access to the computer’s keyboard. If you have access to the keyboard but the issue persists, create a session using unattended access or request elevated rights. You can also try other fixes mentioned in the article if you still face problems. 

Regardless, we hope one of the above fixes has worked for you and that your AnyDesk keyboard is now working. 

Have you ever run into problems with the AnyDesk keyboard? How did you resolve the issue? Please let us know in the comments section below.