How to Fix Microsoft Teams Left and Right Arrow Keys Not Working in Windows 11

Microsoft Teams is widely used for communication and collaboration in Windows 11, and smooth keyboard navigation is essential for efficient messaging and meeting controls. When the left and right arrow keys stop working inside Microsoft Teams, it can disrupt text editing, message navigation, and overall usability, especially for users who rely heavily on keyboard input.

This issue may appear only within the Microsoft Teams app while the arrow keys continue to function normally in other applications. In such cases, the problem is usually related to app-specific settings, cached data, keyboard input behavior, or conflicts introduced by recent updates rather than a system-wide keyboard fault.

Fixing this problem involves adjusting Teams settings, resetting the app environment, and checking Windows input configurations to restore proper keyboard functionality. The methods below walk through practical steps to resolve left and right arrow key issues in Microsoft Teams on Windows 11.

How to Fix Microsoft Teams Left and Right Arrow Keys Not Working in Windows 11

The methods in this section focus on correcting Microsoft Teams–specific issues that interfere with keyboard input. These steps address app configuration, cache corruption, input settings, and update-related problems that commonly cause arrow keys to stop working.

Apply each method carefully and test Microsoft Teams after completing a step to confirm whether the issue is resolved.

1. Restart Microsoft Teams Completely

Temporary glitches in the Teams app can cause keyboard input issues.

1. Close Microsoft Teams completely.
2. Right-click the Teams icon in the system tray.
3. Select Quit to ensure the app is fully closed.
4. Reopen Microsoft Teams and test the arrow keys.

Restarting the app refreshes its processes and can immediately resolve input-related problems.

2. Clear Microsoft Teams Cache

Corrupted cache files can interfere with text input and navigation in Teams.

1. Close Microsoft Teams.
2. Press Windows + R, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams, and press Enter.
3. Delete the contents of folders such as Cache, Code Cache, GPUCache, and databases.
4. Restart Microsoft Teams.

Clearing the cache forces Teams to rebuild its local data and fix input issues.

3. Disable Hardware Acceleration in Microsoft Teams

Hardware acceleration can sometimes conflict with keyboard input behavior.

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Click the three-dot menu and select Settings.
3. Go to the General tab.
4. Turn off Disable GPU hardware acceleration.
5. Restart Microsoft Teams when prompted.

Disabling hardware acceleration can restore normal arrow key functionality.

4. Check Keyboard Language and Input Settings

Incorrect input language or keyboard layout settings can affect key behavior in specific apps.

1. Open Settings and select Time & language.
2. Click Language & region.
3. Ensure the correct keyboard layout is set as default.
4. Remove unused keyboard layouts if necessary.

This ensures Teams is using the correct input configuration.

5. Reset Microsoft Teams App

Resetting the app can fix persistent configuration issues.

1. Open Settings and select Apps.
2. Click Installed apps.
3. Locate Microsoft Teams.
4. Click the three-dot menu and select Advanced options.
5. Click Reset and confirm.

Resetting restores Teams to its default state without affecting your account.

6. Update or Reinstall Microsoft Teams

Outdated or corrupted app versions may cause keyboard issues.

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Click the three-dot menu and select Check for updates.
3. Install any available updates and restart the app.

If the issue persists:

1. Uninstall Microsoft Teams from Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Restart the computer.
3. Download and install the latest version of Microsoft Teams.

Updating or reinstalling ensures compatibility with Windows 11 input handling.

Final Thoughts

When left and right arrow keys stop working in Microsoft Teams on Windows 11, the issue is usually caused by app-specific glitches rather than a hardware problem. Clearing cached data, adjusting Teams settings, and resetting the app often restore normal keyboard behavior quickly.