Numpad Not Working? | 5 Fast Ways to Unlock Number Pad

With NumLock off the pad sends arrows, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn — which feels exactly like “not working”. Press NumLock once and watch its light. No light, no key? Open the On-Screen Keyboard (Win + Ctrl + O), Options → Turn on numeric key pad, then click its NumLock.

Meanwhile Alt codes need the pad too — ° via Alt+0176 only works with NumLock on. Our no-number-pad guide covers laptops with no pad at all.

If the pad moves your mouse cursor, Mouse Keys is on (Settings → Accessibility → Mouse). Turn it off — and note Alt + Shift + NumLock enables it, so stop leaning on those keys.

External pad or full keyboard: try another USB port (front-panel ports and hubs under-power devices), fresh batteries for wireless, and re-pair Bluetooth. If the main keys work but the pad doesn't on a wireless board, low battery is the classic — the pad's scan matrix drops first.

Device Manager → Keyboards → uninstall the device, reboot, let Windows reinstall. Third-party remappers (AutoHotkey, PowerToys Keyboard Manager, gaming software) can swallow pad keys — suspend them and retest. If the issue started immediately after an OS patch, see our guide on why keyboard shortcuts stop working after a Windows update.

Pad dead only until you press NumLock after every boot? Flip the NumLock/boot setting in BIOS/UEFI (often under Boot or Keyboard options) so it starts on.