Keyboard, mouse, or external monitor stops working — what to check
A sudden loss of response from an external device rarely means it's broken — far more often it's the connection, the port, or the batteries.
What to check, step by step
Plug the device into a different port
A single USB or HDMI port can temporarily "hang," especially on hubs and docking stations. Moving the cable to a different port takes a second and immediately rules this out.
Check the batteries in wireless devices
A wireless keyboard or mouse usually fades out gradually, but sometimes it stops suddenly — weak batteries are one of the most common, easiest causes to check.
For an external monitor — check the signal source
External monitors usually have several inputs (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C). If the picture disappeared after switching cables or docking stations, check the monitor's on-screen menu to make sure the right source is selected.
Test the device on another computer
If you can, plug the device into a different computer. That settles unambiguously whether the problem is with the device itself or with the computer it was connected to before.
When it's a job for IT
- The device doesn't work on any port or on another computer — it's likely genuinely broken.
- The problem involves company equipment covered by warranty or needing replacement through purchasing.
- Several devices stop working at once after connecting to the same docking station — possibly a failure of the station itself.
Couldn't fix it yourself?
Report the issue — it goes straight into our ticketing system, and our AI assistant assesses priority right away.