Sometimes, the Number lock (Num Lock Key) in Windows 11 and Windows 10 might not work even when it is enabled, making things inconvenient for those working with digits. If you are facing the same problem, you will find multiple solutions in this article. We have already seen what to do if the Num Lock is not working due to Fast Startup. Now let us see what we can do when it happens in the general case.
Num Lock not working on Windows 11/10
To fix the Num Lock not working issue on Windows 11/10, follow these steps:
- Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State
- Update your Device Drivers
- Install the Driver in Compatibility Mode
- Turn Off Mouse Key
- Registry Editor method
To know more about these steps, continue reading.
1] Troubleshoot in Clean Boot State
A Clean Boot is used to diagnose and later troubleshoot issues with your system. During a Clean Boot, we start the system with a minimal number of drivers and startup programs which helps isolate the cause with interfering software.
Once you have booted in the Clean Boot State, enable one process after another and see which process makes the problem appear. Thus, you can find the offender.
Related: Caps Lock or Num Lock won’t turn On or Off
2] Update your Device Drivers
Whenever any hardware shows a problem, we should be to update the device drivers. Open Devices Manager and update the Keyboard driver. 
If that doesn’t work, you might consider downloading drivers directly from the manufacturer’s website and re-installing them.
TIP: NumBlock will help control, enable, disable Num Lock key.
3] Install the Driver in Compatibility Mode
If the existing drivers aren’t compatible even after updating them, you could download them from the manufacturer’s website and install them in the Compatibility Mode and see if it works. Here is how to go about it.
- Right-click the Driver Setup File, go to Properties and select the Compatibility tab.
- Check the “Run this program in Compatibility mode” option.
- Select a previous version supported by the software.
- Click Apply followed by OK.
- Install the driver as it is supposed to be installed.
- Wait for the installation to complete and restart the device.
If the root cause of the problem is outdated drivers or incompatible drivers, this method will surely solve the issue. You can visit the manufacturer’s website and download the up-to-date numeric keypad drivers. However, there is a chance that the drivers aren’t the problem at all. For this, there is the next method.
4] Turn Off Mouse Key
Try this and see if that helps:
- Go to the Control Panel from the Start Menu.
- Navigate to the Ease of Access Center.
- Go to Make the keyboard easier to use.
- Navigate to Control the mouse with the keyboard and uncheck the “Turn On Mouse Keys” option.
- Click on Apply and then on OK.
Basically, it might all boil down to a simple settings issue, which if true would be resolved in this step. You should be good to go.
5] Registry Editor method
There is yet another option you can use even though the mouse key method should work. If you want to use an elaborate method or if you actually need another solution, this is it. Remember, since you are making changes in the Windows Registry, it will be wise to create a System Restore point just in case anything goes amiss. After you’ve done that, follow these steps.
Run regedit to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard
Locate the registry string called InitialKeyboardIndicators. You will find this in the right panel of the Keyboard registry key. Double-click this and set the value data to ‘2’, click OK.
Now navigate to this key:
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard
Now set a registry string in the name InitialKeybaordIndicators and set the value to 2147483648.
Click OK and close the Registry Editor.
Reboot the device.
Read: No Numpad? Emulate Numpad on keyboard in Windows
Why is my NumLock button not working?
There could be numerous reasons why the NumLock button is not working on your computer. Depending upon which device you are using, the solutions may vary slightly. For example, if you are using a laptop, you might need to check if there is any dust or not. On the other hand, if you are using a wireless keyboard, make sure that you have the charged battery.
Related: Enable Num Lock on startup or reboot in Windows 11/10.
How do I fix NumLock on Windows 11/10?
All the solutions are mentioned in this article to fix NumLock not working issue on Windows 11/10. Apart from these, you must verify if all the other buttons are working as well. If not, there could be some internal issues that might not be fixed at home. You also try setting the correct Registry value, installing the driver, updating the respective driver, etc.
We have worked on all possible software level solutions here, and if the issue persists, we can safely assume it’s with the hardware, something for which a technician needs to be consulted.
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