How to Enable or Disable Num Lock at Windows Startup

If you use a desktop or laptop with a numeric keypad, you’ve probably noticed that the Num Lock key controls whether that keypad types numbers or acts as navigation keys (like Home, End, and Page Up/Down).

On Windows 11, you might want Num Lock to turn on automatically every time your computer starts — especially if you enter numeric passwords or use your number pad often. Alternatively, some users prefer it off by default to prevent accidental key presses.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through several methods to enable or disable Num Lock at startup on Windows 11.

1. What Is Num Lock?

Num Lock (Numeric Lock) is a keyboard toggle that switches the numeric keypad between numbers (when ON) and navigation controls (when OFF).

If Num Lock doesn’t stay on after restarting your PC, it’s usually due to system settings, BIOS preferences, or registry values. Thankfully, Windows 11 lets you control this behavior easily.

2. Turn On or Off Num Lock in BIOS or UEFI

Your computer’s BIOS/UEFI firmware controls keyboard behavior before Windows loads. If Num Lock keeps resetting at startup, changing this setting in BIOS often fixes it.

1. Restart your computer.
2. When it starts booting, repeatedly press the BIOS key (usually Del, F2, F10, or Esc depending on your PC brand).
3. Once in BIOS, look for an option like:
   • Boot Settings
   • Keyboard Features
   • Startup Behavior
4. Find NumLock State or Boot Up NumLock Status.
5. Set it to Enabled (to keep Num Lock on) or Disabled (to turn it off).
6. Save and exit BIOS (usually by pressing F10).

After restarting, Num Lock will automatically follow your BIOS preference every time you boot into Windows.

Tip: If your BIOS doesn’t include this setting, you can still control Num Lock via Windows Registry or Power options.

3. Enable or Disable Num Lock Using the Windows Registry

You can set Num Lock’s startup behavior using a simple registry tweak.

Warning: Modifying the Windows Registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Always create a restore point before making changes.

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to the following path: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard
3. On the right, double-click the entry named InitialKeyboardIndicators.
4. Change the Value data as follows:
   • To Enable Num Lock at startup: set the value to 2.
   • To Disable Num Lock at startup: set the value to 0.
5. Click OK and close Registry Editor.
6. Restart your computer.

Num Lock will now automatically follow your chosen setting each time Windows starts.

4. Control Num Lock via Power Options (For Fast Startup Users)

If Num Lock doesn’t stay on even after changing BIOS or Registry settings, Fast Startup might be overriding it. Windows 11’s Fast Startup feature skips certain hardware initializations during boot, including keyboard state.

1. Press Windows + R, type control, and press Enter to open Control Panel.
2. Click Hardware and Sound → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do.
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
4. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
5. Click Save changes and restart your PC.

Now, Windows will fully initialize your keyboard state at every boot, preserving your Num Lock preference.

Tip: You can re-enable Fast Startup later if needed — just check the same box again.

5. Keep Num Lock On Using a Script or Scheduled Task

If Windows still doesn’t remember the Num Lock state, you can automate it with a small script that runs on startup.

1. Press Windows + R, type notepad, and press Enter.
2. Copy and paste the following line into Notepad: set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell") WshShell.SendKeys "{NUMLOCK}"
3. Save the file as: NumLock.vbs
4. Press Windows + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter to open the Startup folder.
5. Move your saved NumLock.vbs file into this folder.

This script will automatically toggle Num Lock each time you log in, ensuring it’s turned on when Windows loads.

Note: If Num Lock is already on, the script won’t interfere — it simply ensures the correct state.

6. Turn On Num Lock Using the On-Screen Keyboard

If your Num Lock key is broken or your laptop lacks one, you can use the On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) to toggle it.

1. Press Windows + S and search for On-Screen Keyboard.
2. Open it.
3. Click the Options key, then check Turn on numeric keypad.
4. Once the keypad appears, click the NumLock key to enable or disable it.

This is also a good test to confirm whether Num Lock toggles properly on your device.

7. Check Your Keyboard Driver or Layout

If Num Lock behaves inconsistently, your keyboard driver might be outdated or incompatible.

1. Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
2. Expand Keyboards.
3. Right-click your keyboard driver → choose Update driver → Search automatically for drivers.
4. Restart your PC.

If the issue persists, try reinstalling the driver:

• Right-click your keyboard → Uninstall device → restart your PC.
• Windows will automatically reinstall it.

8. Additional Tips

• Laptops: Some laptops disable Num Lock automatically when using compact layouts or Function (Fn) keys. Check your manufacturer’s support site for model-specific behavior.
• External Keyboards: If using a wireless or USB keyboard, make sure it’s fully initialized before Windows starts (some BIOS settings delay USB initialization).
• Multiple Users: Each Windows account can have its own Num Lock setting, so repeat the Registry tweak for each profile if necessary.

Wrapping Up

If your Num Lock keeps turning off (or on) at startup, you can fix it easily by adjusting your BIOS, Registry, or Power Options settings.

For most users, enabling Num Lock through BIOS or setting the InitialKeyboardIndicators value in the registry works best. If you prefer automation, a small startup script can ensure Num Lock is always active whenever you log in.

With these methods, you’ll have full control over Num Lock behavior in Windows 11 — whether you want it on by default for quick numeric input or off to prevent accidental key presses.