Alex Ruben
How To Toggle Num Lock On or Off in Windows 11
Enabling or disabling the Num Lock key in Windows 11 isn’t always straightforward, especially if your keyboard’s Num Lock behaves weirdly or doesn’t stick as it should. Sometimes, the setting just isn’t enabled by default or gets turned off after reboot. So, here’s a trick that can help — using the Onscreen Keyboard. Kind of weird, but it works on a lot of setups, especially when your physical keyboard refuses to cooperate.
Prerequisites
Before diving in, make sure you’ve got:
- A Windows 11 PC — obvious, right?
- Admin privileges might help, especially if you’re tweaking system settings.
Step 1: Open the Start Menu
Click on the Start button at the bottom-left corner. It’s the little Windows icon. From there, you wanna open Settings.
Step 2: Jump to Accessibility
In Settings, look for Accessibility in the sidebar. Sometimes it’s under “Ease of Access” if you’re on an older build of Windows 11, but usually easy to find.
Step 3: Find Keyboard Settings
Scroll down to the Keyboard option. It’s under Accessibility. Click on it. Now, this part is key: you want to turn on the Onscreen Keyboard. Yep, toggle that switch on.
Not sure why it works, but turning on the Onscreen Keyboard often gives you a little more control over Num Lock, especially if your hardware is being a pain.
This quick toggle pops up a keyboard on your screen, ready to go. From here, things get interesting.
Step 4: Open the Keyboard Options
Once the Onscreen Keyboard is live, click on the Options button on it. That opens a new window with more controls.
Here’s where you can turn on the numeric keypad if it’s not already enabled. Check the box for Turn on numeric keypad. This part helps the Num Lock key become active—sometimes it’s off by default or doesn’t remember your setting.
Click OK after ticking that box. On some machines, this step might need a reboot to take effect, or sometimes not. Not sure why it works, but it does on multiple setups.
Step 5: Use the Onscreen Num Lock Key
Now, in the Onscreen Keyboard, locate the Num Lock key. Click it to toggle the Num Lock on or off. Expect the little indicator on the onscreen keyboard to change, confirming your setting.
Step 6: Check the Num Lock Functionality
Open Notepad or any text editor and try inputting numbers from your physical keypad after toggling. On some machines, if Num Lock isn’t working, you might need to hit the onscreen Num Lock again or restart your PC.
It’s kind of trial and error. On one setup it worked immediately, on another, you might have to reboot or toggle a couple of times.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
If the Onscreen Keyboard refuses to pop up or the toggle isn’t sticking, double-check that your Windows 11 is up to date. Sometimes, system updates fix bugs that mess with accessibility features.
Restarting the computer can clear up stubborn glitches. And yeah, verify your physical keyboard isn’t broken or stuck — because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Conclusion
Using the Onscreen Keyboard to control Num Lock is kind of a workaround, but it gets the job done when hardware shortcuts or BIOS options aren’t working or aren’t even accessible. Not the cleanest solution, but definitely handy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enable Num Lock without using the Onscreen Keyboard?
Nope, this method centers around the Onscreen Keyboard because sometimes the physical key doesn’t toggle correctly due to driver issues or hardware quirks. If you want a more permanent fix, you might have to tweak BIOS settings or use third-party tools.
Is there a shortcut to toggle Num Lock?
The physical keyboard’s Num Lock key is meant for that, but if it’s malfunctioning, the onscreen method or BIOS might be your only options. On some systems, pressing Fn + Num Lock works, but it varies.
What if the Onscreen Keyboard doesn’t appear?
Double-check you’ve turned it on in Accessibility settings, or try restarting Windows. Sometimes, Windows needs a quick refresh to recognize accessibility features properly. If it still won’t appear, go into Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and ensure the keyboard feature is enabled.
Summary
- Use Accessibility settings to enable the Onscreen Keyboard.
- Open Options on the keyboard and turn on the numeric keypad.
- Toggle Num Lock via the onscreen keyboard if physical keys aren’t working.
- Test Num Lock functionality in Notepad or your favorite text app.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Just something that worked on multiple machines, so maybe it helps you too.