How to Turn Off Num Lock on Laptop Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever started typing on your laptop keyboard, only to realize the keys are acting strangely? Chances are, the Num Lock key is turned on. On laptops running Windows 11, enabling Num Lock often changes part of your keyboard into a number pad — useful for data entry, but frustrating when you’re just trying to type.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to turn off Num Lock on a laptop in Windows 11, step by step. We’ll cover quick shortcuts, BIOS settings, and permanent fixes so you can type without hassle.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Num Lock turns part of your keyboard into a numeric keypad.
On laptops, Num Lock often overlaps with letter keys (M, J, K, L, etc.).
You can turn off Num Lock using a keyboard shortcut, Settings, or BIOS.
Disabling Num Lock at startup prevents it from turning on automatically.

What Is Num Lock and Why Does It Matter?

Num Lock (short for Number Lock) is a key that switches certain keys between two functions:

When ON: Keys act as a numeric keypad.
When OFF: Keys work as letters or arrows (normal typing mode).

On laptops without a dedicated number pad, Num Lock can cause confusion since it converts regular letter keys into numbers.

Symptoms That Num Lock Is On

You might need to disable Num Lock if:

Typing letters results in numbers or symbols.
The right side of your keyboard behaves like a number pad.
The Num Lock light (if available) is glowing.

Method 1: Turn Off Num Lock Using the Keyboard

Most laptops have a dedicated Num Lock key or a key combination.

Look for a Num Lock or NumLk key on your keyboard.
- On some laptops, it’s a secondary function of another key (like F11 or Insert).
If it’s combined with another key, press:
- Fn + NumLk
- Or Shift + NumLk (depends on model).
Check if the keyboard returns to normal typing.

💡 Tip: Look for a small LED light — if it turns off, Num Lock is disabled.

Method 2: Disable Num Lock in Windows 11 Settings

Press Win + R, type osk, and press Enter to open the On-Screen Keyboard.
If Num Lock is active, you’ll see it highlighted on the OSK.
Click the NumLock key on the On-Screen Keyboard to toggle it off.

✅ This method works if your physical Num Lock key is broken or hidden.

Method 3: Change BIOS/UEFI Settings

If Num Lock keeps turning on automatically at startup, you can disable it in BIOS/UEFI.

Restart your laptop.
Press the correct key to enter BIOS (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del).
Look for a setting like:
- Boot Up NumLock State
- Keyboard NumLock Option
Change it to Disabled.
Save and exit BIOS.

Now your laptop will always boot with Num Lock turned off.

Method 4: Use Windows Registry (Advanced Users)

⚠️ Warning: Editing the Registry incorrectly can cause issues. Proceed with caution.

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard
Find the entry:

InitialKeyboardIndicators
Change its value to 0 (disables Num Lock at startup).
Restart your PC.

Method 5: Turn Off Num Lock at Login Screen

If Num Lock is enabled before you log in:

At the login screen, press Num Lock once to turn it off.
Log in normally.
Windows 11 usually remembers your last Num Lock state for future logins.

Comparison of Methods

Method	Difficulty	Works For	Permanent Fix?
Keyboard Shortcut	Easy	All laptops	❌ No
On-Screen Keyboard	Easy	Broken keys	❌ No
BIOS/UEFI Settings	Medium	Startup state	✅ Yes
Registry Editor	Advanced	Persistent fix	✅ Yes
Login Screen Toggle	Easy	Quick fix	❌ No

Step-by-Step Recap

Try Fn + NumLk or your laptop’s dedicated Num Lock key.
Use the On-Screen Keyboard if the physical key doesn’t work.
Change BIOS/UEFI settings to disable Num Lock at startup.
Modify the Registry for a permanent fix.
Toggle it off at the login screen (quick workaround).

Conclusion

Turning off Num Lock on a Windows 11 laptop is simple once you know the right shortcut or setting. For most users, a quick press of Fn + NumLk solves the problem. But if Num Lock keeps coming back on startup, adjusting your BIOS or Registry will give you a permanent fix.

👉 Try the quick keyboard method first, and if that doesn’t work, move on to BIOS or Registry changes for a long-term solution.

FAQs

1. Where is the Num Lock key on my laptop?
It depends on your model. It may be a dedicated key or combined with another key like F11 or Insert.

2. How do I know if Num Lock is on?
Look for a small LED indicator or check if letter keys (like J, K, L, M) type numbers instead.

3. Can I permanently disable Num Lock in Windows 11?
Yes, by changing BIOS settings or editing the Registry.

4. Why does Num Lock keep turning on at startup?
Your BIOS/UEFI is set to enable Num Lock automatically. Change this setting to stop it.

5. What if my Num Lock key doesn’t work?
Use the On-Screen Keyboard in Windows or disable Num Lock through BIOS/Registry.