Reset all the keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Word

If you are facing trouble with keyboard shortcuts while working on Microsoft Word, it could be due to various reasons. One effective way to tackle this issue is to reset all keyboard shortcuts to their default settings. Follow these steps to restore and reset your Word shorthand keys.

Step 1 – Load the Microsoft Word

Before you begin resetting your keyboard shortcuts, make sure you open your Microsoft Word software. Launch the app from the Start menu or a shortcut on your desktop.

Step 2 – Open the "File" menu and the "Options" tab

Once the Word is open, go to the upper left corner of your screen and click the 'File' tab. A drop-down menu will appear. From this drop-down, select 'Options.' This will open up a new window with multiple options for you to customize.

Step 3 – Switch to the "Customize Ribbon" option

In the Options window, find and click on the tab labeled 'Customize Ribbon.' This will display different segments of the Ribbon and their respective functions that you can modify as per your needs.

Step 4 – Find the 'Keyboard shortcuts:' and hit the "Customize" option

Adjacent to the Customize Ribbon tab, you will see an option for 'Keyboard shortcuts:.' Next to this, there is a Customize button. Click on it.

Step 5 – Tap "Reset all"

Once you hit the 'Customize' button, a new window will appear on your screen. Look for the button labeled 'Reset All'—this is the one you need to click on to restore all your shortcut keys to their original settings.

Step 6 – Bypass the warning message. Tap "Yes "

After you hit the 'Reset All' button, a warning message will be displayed, asking you if you're sure about resetting all shortcut keys to their default settings. To confirm, simply click on 'Yes.'

Step 7 – Tap "OK "

Once you have agreed to reset your keyboard shortcuts, all that remains is to confirm your actions. To do so, click the 'OK' button. Now, all your keyboard shortcuts will be returned to the condition they were in when you first installed the program.

With this, Microsoft Word should return to its original functionality, and you should have no issues using your standard hotkeys. If you require specific shortcuts you had previously assigned, you can repeat the process and reassign the shortcut keys for commands in Word using the same Customize option.

Modify the language settings

If your keyboard shortcuts are not functioning as they should in Microsoft Word, changing the language settings of the application is another solution you can try. Follow these simple steps to tweak your language settings in Word.

Step 1 – Open the "File" menu in the Word document

After launching Microsoft Word, visit the "File" tab in the upper left corner of your screen. A drop-down menu list will appear after you press it.

Step 2 – Open "Options" tab

From this drop-down menu, select the 'Options' tab. This action will open a new window for you, containing a variety of configuration choices for the Word's interface and features.

Step 3 – Go to the "Language" section

In the Options window on your left, you will find a tab labeled 'Language.' Click on this to access a list of available languages for your Word application.

Step 4 – Select the "English" tab in the Office display language section and click "Set as Preferred"

In the Language box, find the section titled Office Display Language. Here, select 'English' and then click the 'Set as Preferred' button. This action will change the language of your interface to English.

Step 5 – Select the default language in the Office authoring languages and tap "Set as Preferred"

Further down in the Language section, you will find the Office authoring languages and proofing. As you did before, choose the English language and click 'Set as Preferred.' This changes the proofing tools and authoring language to English as well.

Step 6 – Bypass the warning message and tap "Yes"

After you have made these adjustments, a warning message will be displayed, notifying you that these changes will only apply to new documents. Confirm by pressing 'Yes' to accept this condition.

Step 7 – Tap "OK"

Now, look at the bottom of the Language window and find the 'OK' button. Press this to apply the changes.

Step 8 – Return to the Word Options tab and Tap "OK"

Finally, navigate back to the main Word Options tab and click 'OK' to ensure that all changes have been successful.

Remember, it may be necessary to restart Word for these changes to take effect. Once done, all your keyboard shortcuts should be restored to their default English version. Now, your keyboard shortcuts should function correctly, enhancing your productivity while you work in Word.

Switch off all the Word add-ins

Sometimes, add-ins installed on Microsoft Word can interfere with normal functions, causing the "keyboard shortcuts not working" issue. One way to resolve this problem is to disable these add-ins. Here's a step-by-step guide on how you can do this.

Step 1 – Open the "File" tab and go to the "Options" pane

Open Microsoft Word and click "File" menu in the top left corner. From the drop-down menu, click on "Options" to access the Options window.

Step 2 – Access the "Add-ins" section

In the Options window, you will see a variety of tabs listed on the left side. Find and click on the "Add-ins" tab to proceed.

Step 3 – Open "COM Add-ins" and Tap "Go…"

In the Add-ins section, navigate to the bottom of the window until you find the "Manage" drop-down list. Select "COM Add-ins" from the list and click "Go...". This will open a dialogue box with all active COM add-ins listed.

Step 4 – Uncheck all Add-in components

In the dialogue box, you will see all active add-ins in your Microsoft Word application. To disable them, uncheck the box located beside each add-in.

Step 5 – Tap "OK" to disable the add-ins

After unchecking all the boxes, finalize the process by clicking "OK." This action will successfully disable the add-ins and might resolve the issue of the non-functioning keyboard shortcuts.

Repair the Word installations

If your keyboard shortcuts are still not functioning properly in Microsoft Word, there might be an issue with your Word or Microsoft Office installation. In such cases, you might have to repair the installation. Here is how you can do it.

Step 1 – Use Win+I keys to access settings

Press both the Windows key (Win) and 'I' simultaneously to open the Settings application on your device.

Step 2 – Click on the "Apps" section

In the Settings window, locate and click on "Apps." This will take you to all the applications currently installed on your device.

Step 3 – Click the "Installed apps" settings

In the Apps settings, you will see "Apps & features" or similar alternatives. Click on this to access a list of all your installed applications.

Step 4 – Locate "Microsoft Office" in the installed apps

In this list, scroll down until you find the "Microsoft Office" option. Select it when you find it.

Step 5 – Tap the "Modify "

With Microsoft Office selected, click the "Modify" button. This will prompt a control user account dialog box.

Step 6 – Click the radio button beside the "Quick Repair" option

On the dialog box, you will see two choices: "Quick Repair" and "Online Repair." Click the radio button next to the "Quick Repair" option.

Step 7 – Tap the "Repair" option

With "Quick Repair" selected, click the "Repair" button at the bottom of the dialog box. This will initiate the repair process.

Step 8 – Close the prompt after viewing "Done Repairing!" message

The repairing process can take some time. When the repair is complete, you will receive a message stating "Done Repairing!". After you see this message, close the prompt to finalize the process.

After having repaired the application, try again to use the keyboard shortcuts in Word. This should hopefully fix the issue once and for all.

Uninstall any key modifier app

Keyboard shortcuts may often stop working due to third-party apps that might have modified your system's keyboard settings. In such scenarios, you may need to uninstall any key modifier apps causing the issue with your keyboard shortcuts. Follow these steps to perform this:

Step 1 – Right-click the Start icon and tap "Run"

To start, right-click on the Start icon on your desktop or press the Win+R keys simultaneously open the "Run" dialog box.

Step 2 – Paste the command and click "OK"

Now, in the "Run" dialog box, type appwiz.cpl and click the "OK" button or press Enter. This command opens the "Programs and Features" window, where you can see a list of all the programs installed on your computer.

Step 3 – Uninstall the key modifier app

Scroll through the list of installed apps and locate any key modifier apps such as KeyTweak, SharpKeys, or any other that you might have installed. Right-click on the app and select 'Uninstall.' Follow the prompts until the application is fully uninstalled from your system.

Step 4 – Restart your computer

After successfully removing the key modifier app, restart your computer for the changes to take effect. After the system is rebooted, launch Word to check if the issue with keyboard shortcuts persists.

By following the above steps, you should have resolved the keyboard shortcut issues; if the problem still persists, it is highly recommended that you contact the support service for further assistance.