Keyboard characters stopped working

[willboullier]

Hi,

From one day to another the alphabet keys stopped working on Photoshop. The odd part is other keys like ctrl/alt shift , function, space and numbers keys work perfectly.

I have already tried the following:

-restart everything and close other programs,

-reset the preferences,

-uninstall photoshop, install the current release (26.4.1),

-a different keyboard.

My only clue is a windows update while starting right before the problem appeared. But windows updates just usually happen... Attached my computer specs.

I browsed similar threads, much of whitch indicated to change the app install language to default (English international), which already was. I'd welcome any clue!

[Sameer K]

Hey, @willboullier. Welcome to the Photoshop Community. I'll help you figure this out. Thanks for adding the details and troubleshooting steps you've tried.

Is your OS behaving correctly when using other keyboard shortcuts? Are there any other programs or plugins that may have a conflicting keyboard shortcut? You can use the on-screen keyboard to verify if the shortcut keys work at all. If it works, you can try booting the machine in Windows Safe mode (with networking) through Advance Restart to see if that helps. 

Here are the steps from Microsoft: https://adobe.ly/3VdReAX

Let me know how it goes. Thanks!
Sameer K

(Type '@' and type my name to mention me when you reply)

[Trevor.Dennis · Accepted solution]

@Sameer K  When this has come up before, it is often caused by installing Language Packs.  If this rings any bells with @willboullier he could try removing that Language Pack and replacing with one of the English packs. 

I did also wonder if Will is using a Gaming keyboard along with a controlling app like L-Hub, iCue or Synapse, and has a profile set to Photoshop that has gone wrong.  I use a second keyboard (Logitech G515 TKL) that has its keys remapped for Photoshop.

[willboullier]

Hi again, @Trevor.Dennis , it seems the windows update switched from English (United States) language pack to English (Europe) one. I reverted to US one and solved this way. Thanks again @Trevor.Dennis and @Sameer K !

[jimmythejinx]

@Sameer K I am also having this issue on Mac OS 14.7.6   PS 26.6 

shortcut keys only working when held down - its awful !!!! 

everything else working fine in OS and alt, ctrl & command work fine in PS - its just the shortcuts that are killing me 

please help !!!! 

[willboullier]

Hi @Sameer K , @Trevor.Dennis , thank you for answering.

@Sameer K, Yes, other shortcuts and combined shortcuts (ctrl, shift...) do work with photoshop as long as it's not an A-Z key.  With other programs instead everything works well. I tried with the on-screen keyboard, same issue. I even tried to edit shortcuts on photoshop, it only fills the non alphabetical ones!

@Trevor.DennisI'm only using a basic wired Microsoft keyboard and don't have any game. Regarding the language pack, are you talking about a Windows or Adobe related one? The only thing that changed before the issue is actually a windows major update, from version 23H2 to 24H2 as attached screenshot:

Many thanks for your help so far.