Troubleshooting Guide for A20 Errors

An A20 error means that there's a keyboard-related issue

By
Tim Fisher
Photo of Tim Fisher, Lifewire GM and Writer
Tim Fisher
Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, Tech & Sustainability
  • Emporia State University
Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience. He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire.
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Updated on December 17, 2021

The "A20" error is reported by the POST when it detects a problem with the keyboard or the keyboard controller located on the motherboard.

While it's possible that an A20 error could apply to something else, it's very unlikely.

This issue applies to any PC keyboard hardware. The operating system isn't involved in generating this error message, so you could receive it no matter what OS you might be using.

A20 Errors

A20 error illustration
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The A20 error displays during the Power On Self Test (POST) process very soon after the computer is first started. The operating system has not yet loaded when this error message appears.

The error message may appear in many ways, but these are the most common:

  • A20
  • Error A20
  • A20 Error

Some software programs may use an A20 error for something completely unrelated to a keyboard or keyboard controller issue. Stan is one example, where an "Error A20" means a video is unable to stream.

How to Fix the A20 Error

  1. Turn off the computer if it's on.

  2. Disconnect the keyboard from the PC.

  3. Verify that the pins on the keyboard connector aren't bent. If they are, you can attempt to straighten the keyboard connector pins yourself and try the keyboard again.

    To do this, first remove any dust or debris from the end where you see the pins. Then, with a paperclip or something else, like a pen, bend the connector pins to the point that they look straight again.

  4. Verify that the pins on the keyboard connector don't appear broken or burned. If any do, replace the keyboard.

  5. Also, verify that the keyboard connection on the computer doesn't appear burned or damaged. If so, the port may no longer be usable.

    Since the keyboard connection is located on the motherboard, you may have to replace the motherboard to resolve this issue. Alternatively, you could purchase a new USB keyboard.

  6. Plug the keyboard back in, making sure it is plugged firmly into the correct port.

    If you're still having troubles at this point, make sure the PS/2 port is clean and wiggle the connection around as you press it in. It's possible you may end up bending a pin just right so that the cable will connect correctly.

  7. If the A20 error persists, replace the keyboard with a keyboard that you know works. If the error disappears, the cause of the problem was with the original keyboard.

  8. Finally, if all else fails, there may be a hardware issue with the keyboard controller on the motherboard. If this is the case, replacing the motherboard should solve this problem.

  9. You might also be able to check that the controller chip is firmly in place. If it's socketed, it's possible it just needs to be pushed in further.

More Information on the A20 Error

Some computers may let out a sequence of noises to indicate an error. These are called beep codes. See How to Troubleshoot Beep Codes if you need help finding the BIOS manufacturer and/or help to understand what the beep codes mean.

It's also possible to identify the A20 error through a POST code using a POST test card.

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