Permanently disable num lock in Windows?

I like to use the number keys for cursor movement. But every so often I hit NumLock by mistake, and then instead of moving the cursor where I want it, I end up with an input like this:

44444488

How can I permanently disable it? Something compatible with the regedit solution for getting rid of Caps Lock given here would be perfect.

William Jockusch

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 2 913

Answers

Here is a hack to disable both caps lock and num lock:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,
04,00,00,00,3A,00,00,00,
00,00,3A,00,00,00,45,00,
00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

Here is both hacks combined. Numlock disabled + ctrl swapped with caps lock.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,3A,00,1D,00,1D,00,3A,00,00,00,45,00,00,00,00,00

OK, here is the a scancode map for disabling Numlock. I looked here, numlock is hex 45. Back up registry beforehand.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,02,00,00,00,00,00,45,00,00,00,00,00

Actually Nikolay, that MSFT tech forum link is a little short, see this info at askvg. Toggling (1) doesn't actually disable numlock, it merely sets the state at boot time. In fact it does three things, sets capslock on, numlock off, scrollock off. Here are the rest of the settings. So this does not look like an answer for the OP's issue.

http://www.askvg.com/force-capslock-numlock-and-scrolllock-keys-behavior-using-windows-registry/

0 - Turn all indicators Off (NumLock, CapsLock, ScrollLock)
1 - Turn CapsLock On
2 - Turn NumLock On
3 - Turn CapsLock and NumLock On
4 - Turn ScrollLock On
5 - Turn CapsLock and ScrollLock On
6 - Turn NumLock and ScrollLock On
7 - Turn all indicators On (NumLock, CapsLock, ScrollLock)

Knuckle-Dragger

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 1 817

Apparently, in Windows 10, this issue is finally solved! https://twitter.com/patrickv/status/856764885853753344

– Anders Tornblad – 2017-04-25T07:14:42.780

I already have the hex scancode from the linked question to disable my caps lock. How do they interact? – William Jockusch – 2013-12-16T02:17:10.223

ok, hang tight, I will mix the two into one big setting. – Knuckle-Dragger – 2013-12-16T02:18:49.043

Notice how for this mapping of 3 scan codes, I toggled the number 4. In the single scancode mapping I set it to 2. Basically every mapping you make + 1 is the rule for that. That is why the original hack (of two mappings) was set to 3. Can add more if you follow the pattern. They should interact just fine. – Knuckle-Dragger – 2013-12-16T02:26:33.743

post the exact code you have, i might have done the wrong sample from that thread, as i did the one with swapping ctrl and caps lock, which does not disable capslock like you mention in your comment. Confirm – Knuckle-Dragger – 2013-12-16T02:30:31.337

A good tool for such tasks is SharpKeys.

SharpKeys is a Registry hack that is used to make certain keys on a keyboard act like other keys. For example, if you accidentally hit Caps Lock often, you could use this utility to map Caps Lock to a Shift key or even turn it off completely.

It's small, portable and does the same as the accepted answer above, only via a GUI enter image description here

nixda

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 23 233

It says there that its usable until Windows Vista, does it work for Win 7 and or 8? – Angelo Fuchs – 2015-10-21T09:45:23.210

I just used it on Windows 10 and it's working. Also it remembers the modifications you made allowing you to rollback easily. But you can't set the default state of NumLock with it, you'll have to modify the registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Keyboard\InitialKeyboardIndicators see VL-80 answer. – gwenzek – 2016-06-23T09:06:48.910

Perfect, I wanted Num Lock always on. Used https://superuser.com/questions/952669/how-to-automatically-enable-numlock-on-windows-10-logon to force it on on boots, and mapped Num Lock key to nil. Presto, Num Lock always on and can't put it off again.

– TT. – 2018-01-20T11:09:39.663

A definite +1, provides a nice basic GUI to modify the keyboard – topherg – 2014-02-24T15:10:30.197

This is just quotation of Microsoft Tech forum:

You might have tried this before, but here's how to disable it through the registry:

Click Start, click Run, and type regedit to open the Windows registry editor. In the registry, open the below folders.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel\ Keyboard\
Within the keyboard folder, you should have a string value named "InitialKeyboardIndicators" with a value of 0, 1, or 2. Below is the explanation of each of these values.
0 = Num Lock is turned OFF after the logon.
1 = Disable Num Lock.
2 = Numlock is turned ON after  the logon.

VL-80

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 3 867

1 = Disable Num Lock doesn't work, you can still turn it on/off by pressing it. – Burjua – 2019-01-10T10:54:40.573

1On some machines you may see this value in your key, "2147483648" - Honor thy motherboard BIOS setting. – Knuckle-Dragger – 2013-12-16T01:41:06.067

Or the quickest and easiest way since our whole company is 10-key literate and hates it when it reverts to the flippin' duplicated arrow keys.

Push the Numlock key so it's in the desired state, Windows XP and forward remembers the user state in the user profile.
Pop the Numlock Key Cap off and put it in your drawer. Since you like it in a permanent state, it pretty much stays that way forever more.
If someone else logs in for the first time, use a pen to activate numlock if it's desired, it stays that way on that user profile forever more.

Has worked very well for nearly the last decade on all workstations, requires no fiddling programming, startup script or registry edits.

Fiasco Labs

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 6 368

I've never seen it "remember the user state" in 20 years on all the dozens of XP forward Windows computers that I've been on. And that's the problem. Just HOW to get it to remember. – Doug Null – 2014-05-01T12:50:03.227

Numlock state also is affected a BIOS setting in this case. Boot with Numlock active will be one of the BIOS settings. For me, it's been the opposite, the systems I purchase must be blessed by some unholy demon from hell to actually operate properly and remember user state. Sure freaks out the staff when it deactivates in our company, hence the key removal. – Fiasco Labs – 2014-05-01T13:52:30.977

(This is an expansion on Knuckle-Dragger's post that adds a few details.)

Keys can be mapped in the registry if the appropriate key scancode can be discovered. Generally these days keyboard specifications are regularly used but manufacturers may occasionally have unique ones. A list of the scancodes can be found in this documentation Keyboard Scan Code Specification and some more detail can be found: here.

Hex groupings:

                 00000000 00000000 03000000 1de05de0 55004400 00000000
                                    │       │        │        │
keys, number of to change¹         ─┘       │        │        │
key remap first  (to←from 22221111)²        ┘        │        │
key remap second (if one)                    ────────┘        │
null hex to end (necessary?)                          ────────┘
  ¹ 02=1, 03=2, >2 possible?
  ² hex+e0-or-00, e1 and e2 are rare
  * multimedia keys may be hard to remap, they can be defined uniquely by keyboard manufacturer?!?

These can be put in a registry file (e.g. keyboard_context-menu-to-control.reg):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout]
"Scancode Map"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,1d,e0,5d,e0,55,00,44,00,00,00,00

Todd Partridge

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 235

Remove the key-cap and put it in your drawer. The Insert key was giving me trouble, and the best way to deal with it was to remove it from the keyboard completely. When software turns numlock back on, use a software keyboard to toggle it off again, and attempt to prevent that software from doing it again.

Christopher Hostage

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 4 751

No seriously, it's effective and works no matter what OS you boot to, whatever VMs you have running, and however many times you format your PC. – Christopher Hostage – 2017-09-22T22:20:11.990

Here it is another groovy (if I say so myself ;-) solution, hold the Num Lk key down for 5 sec and windows will give you the choice to receive a differentiated on/off tone when you touch the three lock keys (caps lock, Num Lock, scroll lock). This feature is called Toggle Keys.

Radu Comsa

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 1

This is not a solution; it’s only a work-around. – G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica' – 2017-12-01T01:33:33.283

Here are some ways which didn't work for me:

I installed SharpKeys, but couldn't see the NumLock key on the list of keys to add (and anyway, not keen on software which mentions it needs Windows 2003 to run!)
I tried changing the registry setting, both in the key shown and in the USER/DEFAULT key - this had no effect
I have a Dell Precision. In the BIOS, you can change the POST Behavior category Numlock Enable property to disable NumLock, but it seems to have no effect!

Not really an answer, but just to sympathise if you're trying to do the same thing (it might be time to remove the key from the NumLock key on your keypad ...).

Andy Brown

Posted 2013-12-16T01:18:54.210

Reputation: 111