The number pad can be enabled by pressing the right key, but sometimes some unexpected errors in Windows 10/11 can cause issues. These issues require a complete process to eliminate and fix the number pad.
The number pad on the Keyboard can stop working due to the disabled num lock key and missing or invalid keyboard drivers on your Windows Operating System. Moreover, if your Keyboard is dirty, it can encounter various errors and signal blocks that sometimes cause the Numpad to stop working.
Apart from the major reasons mentioned above, multiple features and tools in the Windows Operating System can help you with the problem of the Numpad not working. These include the Mouse Keys Option, the Windows Troubleshooter, and more.
Let’s go over the main reasons and their fixes for the Numpad not working properly in detail.
NumLock Key Disabled
The common cause for the Keyboard’s Numpad not working is the disabled Numlock Key. On Most keyboards with a Dedicated Numlock key, there is a light indicator that displays the status of the Numlock Key.
How to fix:
Locate the Numlock Key, press it down, and ensure that the LED indicator lights up (if there is one).
However, the LED indicator must be fixed if your Keyboard is slightly old. In this case, you must press the Numlock key once to check whether the Numpad works. Press the key again if it is not working, and test the Numpad keys.
Moreover, if the Numpad lock has some resistance and you cannot press it down and turn it on, it is probably due to some residual dust that needs cleaning.
Enabled Mouse Keys Options
Sometimes, people use the directional keys on the Numpad as a mouse due to a non-functional mouse (or not having a mouse entirely). However, doing this stops you from being able to enter numbers using the Number Pad. Therefore, you must turn off this option to make the number pad work.
How to fix:
If you are working on a Windows 10 Computer, press the “Windows” key and head inside settings.
Once inside the settings, scroll the page down to the list of Categories. From there, click the “Ease of Access” Category.
With ease of access settings, scroll down to the “interaction” category in the left-side navigation panel and select “mouse.”
After that, you will be brought to the Mouse-related accessibility settings. From here, turn off the slider that says, “Control your mouse with a Keypad.”
However, if you want to use the Number pad to use the mouse simultaneously, you can configure this setting only to be active when the num lock is enabled/disabled.
However, if you are working on a Windows 11 Operating System, press the “Windows + I “ key combination to open up the system details. On this window, you will select “Accessibility “ from the left-side navigation panel.
Afterward, from the list of accessibility options, head over to the “Interactions” category and click on the option “Mouse.”
After that, click on the slider next to “Mouse Keys” and ensure it is turned off.
With this, your number pad will not act as a mouse pointer; you can use it to enter numbers.
Dirty Keyboard / Residual Dust in Keys
More often than not, issues related to keyboards are mainly due to dirty keyboards. People often forget to clean their keyboards and keep dropping dust and other residue. Eventually, the dust can block signals or stop the keys from being pressed.
How to fix:
If you have a mechanical keyboard, you can remove the keys using a key remover tool and even by hand. Once you have removed the keys from the Keyboard, use a toothbrush to brush off any dust or foreign material on the Keyboard.
Avoid any liquid during this process, as it can severely damage your Keyboard. Once you thoroughly clean your Keyboard, place back the keys and test out every single key. However, if the keycaps are not removable, you can use a cleaning brush to clean the sides of each key.
Additionally, you can use cotton buds or pressurized air to clean your keyboards. Once you have thoroughly cleaned your Keyboard, plug it back into your PC and check if all the keys are working perfectly.
Outdated Keyboard Drivers
A common reason that causes the Keyboard to behave incorrectly is having incorrect or outdated keyboard drivers. These outdated drivers can easily cause the Keyboard to behave weirdly, including typing wrong characters upon key presses and making some keyboard parts non-functional.
How to fix:
To fix issues related to outdated drivers. Open the Windows options by pressing the “Windows key” and search for “Device Manager.”
Expand the “Keyboard” category from the Device Manager list. After that, select your Keyboard, right-click on it, and choose “Update Drivers.”
In the next wizard, choose “Search automatically for drivers” and wait for Windows to find, download, and install your keyboard drivers.
After the drivers have been updated, you must restart your PC to ensure the changes have been applied.
Corrupted User Profile Preferences
When you log in to your Windows, you use a specific User Profile or User Account. Each user has specific preferences, and any corruption of these preferences can cause many issues, including the Number pad not working on keyboards. If you have a backup running, reverting to that backup will fix the corrupted preferences file.
However, most users are not backing up their preferences, so fixing the preferences’ file is impossible.
How to fix:
You must create or add a local user to Windows to fix this issue without relying on the backup. To do this, press the “Windows” button, search, and open “Settings“.
Within the settings application, scroll down the list and click on the “Accounts” category.
Select the “Family & other users” tab from the left-hand navigation panel within the Accounts settings.
Once you are inside the Family and other users options, you need to click on the option to add a new family member to this PC.
Afterward, type in the details for another Microsoft account or create a new Local Account. Once that is done, restart your PC and log in to the new user profile that you have just created.
Random Keyboard Configuration Issues
Sometimes, Windows can encounter random configuration issues related to any I/O device that is connected to it. The exact reason for these issues is hard to locate. However, performing some basic fix routines can help solve these i
How to fix:
To fix these random configuration issues, you can utilize the Windows Troubleshooter, which performs many minor fixes independently. To do this, open the Windows Settings by pressing the “Win + I” key combination. Once inside the Windows Settings, select the “Updates & Security” category.
After that, select the “Troubleshoot” tab from the left-side navigation panel and then select “Additional Troubleshooters.”
From the list of all available additional troubleshooters, head to the “Find and fix other problems” tab and select “keyboard.”
After that, please wait for the troubleshooter to complete, and once it’s done, your keyboard-related issues will be fixed.
Corrupt/Incorrect Keyboard Drivers
Like outdated keyboard drivers, incorrect or corrupt keyboard drivers can also cause keyboard operations to malfunction. Trying to update these drivers will not fix this issue because Windows thinks the drivers are up-to-date and does not check for corrupt drivers.
How to fix:
To fix issues caused by corrupted or incorrect keyboard drivers, press the Windows key and search from “Device Manager.”
Expand the Keyboard category, right-click on your Keyboard, and choose the “Uninstall Device” option.
Once the keyboard device has been uninstalled from your PC, restart your PC, and Windows will automatically install the drivers. This reinstallation of drivers will fix any issues caused by corrupted keyboard drivers.
Hardware Damage in Keyboard
If none of the fixes have worked for you, then chances are that there is some hardware damage. Hardware damage is the hardest to fix, and in most cases, it ends in the user buying a new keyboard.
How to fix:
First, you must ensure there is some hardware damage. If you have a detachable keyboard, plug your Keyboard into another computer and check if the Number pad works. If the number pad is still not working, you must repair your Keyboard, or it may be time to get a new one.
Damaged Ports of PC
If you have gone through the previous fix, your Keyboard works perfectly fine when attached to a separate computer. Then, chances are that the port you use to attack the Keyboard is damaged.
How to fix:
In the case of a broken or damaged port, there is no software fix. You must connect your Keyboard to a separate port and check each port to ensure all the keys, including the Number pad, work.
That sums up this tutorial!
Conclusion
The dedicated number pad section on the Keyboard provides many accessibility features to users. Many users prefer to use the number pad to enter numbers. However, due to multiple reasons, the number pad of your Keyboard might stop functioning.
The most common reasons include the Numlock Key being disabled or the Mouse Keys option being turned on from the Windows accessibility settings. However, if you need to use the number pad as a mouse and enter numbers, you can configure it within the accessibility settings.
Other than that, outdated or corrupted drivers can cause the number to stop working properly. Moreover, the Profile Preferences file might be damaged if your PC has experienced multiple improper shutdowns.
Apart from the software issues, hardware issues like damaged or broken keyboards and ports can also cause this malfunction. Lastly, if your Keyboard is extremely dirty and the dirt hinders the signals, it is time to clean it thoroughly.
Hey, I’m Hammad. I write for this website to help you with the IT advice about PC, RAM, CPU, Motherboard, PSU, and other PC components.
I will provide detailed guides with images, and explain step by step so you can understand the process. Check all my articles here.
