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Enable Num Lock on startup or reboot in Windows 11/10

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A relatively common issue being faced by some Windows users is finding that their Numeral Lock key or Num Lock is not enabled, is turned off, not working, or inactive on Startup or reboot in Windows 11/10. In this guide, we show you how you can enable the Num Lock on Startup or reboot in Windows 11/10. You can also use the following guide to fix when Num Lock is not working on Startup on Windows.

Enable Num Lock on startup or reboot in Windows

Num Lock not working on the Startup

For those who do not know what Fast Startup is, here is a short description. The feature is called Hybrid Shutdown.  Windows does this by shutting down, as far as closing the user sessions – but at that point, instead of continuing and ending system services and shutting down Session 0, Windows then hibernates. It is called Hybrid Shutdown. How this works is that Windows sends out a message to running applications, giving them a chance to save data and settings. Applications can also request a little extra time to finish what they’re doing. Then Windows closes the user sessions for each logged-on user, and then it Hibernates the Windows session. Here is a little pictorial explanation.

0640.Relative-time-needed-for-different-phases-of-startup_3FCAB3EF

I’m not sure how disabling Fast Startup affects Num Lock, but on systems facing this issue, disabling fast Startup did help.

Enable Num Lock on startup or reboot in Windows 11/10

If you want to enable the Num Lock on Startup or Reboot in Windows 11/10, you can use the following methods to do so.

  1. Disable Fast Startup to enable Num Lock
  2. Enable Num Lock on startup using Registry tweak
  3. Run NumLock Script at Startup

Let’s get into the details of each method. You will need admin permission to execute the steps.

1] Disable Fast Startup to enable Num Lock

  • Press Win + X and click on Control Panel
  • Click on Power Plan
  • Now click on Choose what the power buttons do on the left side panel

Enable Num Lock on startup

  • Now select Change settings that are currently unavailable.

num lock not working on startup

  • Scroll down and uncheck Turn on fast Startup (recommended)

image

That’s it. Now after shutting down and reboot your NumLock should retain the last configuration.

2] Enable Num Lock on Startup using Registry tweak

The second method is to alter the registry settings and so Windows 11/10 users can try this. I would strongly recommend taking a backup of the registry and create a system restore point first. Having done that, follow these steps:

  • Press Win + R and type in Regedit
  • Navigate to registry key HKEY_USERS\.Default\Control Panel\Keyboard
  • Right-click on the “InitialKeyboardIndicators“, select Modify and change Value data to 2.
  • Exit Registry.

Note: If you see the default value data as 2147483648; that is fine too and is the default on most installations.

TIP: You can easily enable, and disable Num Lock key on a Windows laptop using NumBlock

Also read: Num Lock key not working

3] Run NumLock Script at Startup

  • Open the Run prompt, type Notepad, and press the Enter key
  • Copy and Paste the following in the notepad, and save it with a name you can remember with the VBS extension. (e.g. enablenumlock.vbs)
set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.SendKeys "{NUMLOCK}"
  • Enable Numlock Script StartupYou can then add this Script to run with Startup using the Task Scheduler.
    • Open Search using Win + S, type Task Scheduler and open it once it appears
    • Right-click on the Task Scheduler and create a Task
    • Under the General tab: Set it to run with the highest privileges and Run only when the user is logged on
    • Under Actions: Click on new, and then add the Script
  • Done that save the task. As soon as you log in the next time, NumLock will automatically turn on.

You can always test the Script by first turning off the num lock and then running it.

Also read: How to turn off or disable Num Lock on Windows laptop

How do I keep NumLock on at startup in Windows 11?

You can keep Num Lock on at Startup in Windows 11 in three ways. You can start by disabling Fast Startup in the Power options to enable Num Lock at the Startup, enable Num Lock by tweaking Registry settings, or run the Num Lock script at the Startup. These three methods will help you turn on Num Lock by default on the Startup in Windows 11.

How to activate Num Lock without key?

turn on Num Lock on On-Screen Keyboard

If your keyboard does not have a Num Lock key and you need to activate the Num Lock, you can use the On-Screen keyboard and use it. Open the On-Screen keyboard on your Windows 11 and click on Options. It will open the Options window. Check the button beside Turn on the numeric keypad and press OK. It will show the Num Lock key on the On-Screen keyboard. You can use the button to activate or deactivate Num Lock which will reflect on the physical keyboard.

Related read: Caps Lock or Num Lock won’t turn On or Off.

ShyamS@TWC

Shyam aka “Captain Jack” is a Microsoft MVP alumnus and a Windows Enthusiast with an interest in Advanced Windows troubleshooting. Suggestions made and opinions expressed by him here are his personal ones and not of his current employers.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. http://www.bigsavings.in says

    thanks for this information. both the methods are easy to try. good work.

  3. Ken Nichols says

    I just got off a chat session with HP Support – I’d reported the NUMLOCK off problem (off at start and restart). My original HKEY_USERSDefaultControl PanelKeyboardInitialKeyboardIndicators value was “2147483648” (Windows 8.1, 64 bit)

    HP Support had me change that value to “2147483650” – and it worked. My NUMLOCK is now ON at start/restart. Problem resolved.

  5. Jesse Guthrie says

    Before you sign-in to windows, turn NumLock on by pushing the “NumLock” button then reboot from the sign-in screen. :-) On a laptop I guess you have the push the FN + NumLock keys.

  7. TomasSVK says

    If this doesnt work try to search the registry for InitialKeyboardIndicators and set the value to 2 in each registry key. Dont forget to turn off the fast startup. Tested on Lenovo Y510P

  10. bubba says

    Does anybody know the difference between setting the value to 2 and setting it to 2147483650?
    Please explain the difference.
    Mine was set to 2147483648 prior, on my my Toshiba C55.
    Thanks.

  12. Who Cares says

    It appears the “InitialKeyboardIndicators” registry key is a bit field. Each bit apparently enables or disables an option. The number 2147483640 in hex is 0x80000000 and simply adding 2 or 0x00000002 equal 0x80000002 hex or 2147483650 decimal. Though I have no idea what option the 0x80000000 bit controls.

  13. AirMutt says

    Thanks Ken, finally a fix that works. Just follow Kens instructions that’s it. Worked for me on four different windows 8 computers

  14. Edie Barker Rountree says

    the “disable startup button” thing didnt not work for us, we are on a new HP Pavilion desk tower 8.1 windows [which sucks] BUT the HKEY thing did work for us using the vale of 2, the numbers key stayed on yeah, lol who knew such a small key would cause so much headache lol. Thanks for the info!!

  15. madskibum says

    the hp help I had were not that smart. thanks for the notes here as it was perfect.

  16. Brian O'Dowd says

    Neither the registry fix in the post, nor Ken’s fix that seems to magically work for everyone isn’t working for me. My registry already had “2” for the InitialKeyboardIndicators value so I change it to 2147483650 like Ken said and the problem persists, plus when I open regedit after making the change, it has changed back to 2. I’m running an ASUS laptop with Windows 8.1 :(

  17. Rickerson says

    Hey Gorkin, Did you ever find a solution? I have a P500 and nothing recommended works. Thanks for any response.

  18. BMAN3 says

    I changed what Ken suggested, but NumLock would go off when I turned off the laptop. But turning off fast startup kept the NumLock on along with Ken’s suggestion. Thanks everyone. HP Laptop #17-E148ca.

  19. Ken Jorgensen says

    For any HP users that have Windows 8.1 I have a pavilion 21 and this worked perfect for me also no problems at all. Very simple also.

  20. Joseph Johnson IV says

    Make sure you’re in the correct path, when I initially searched for the key I found the same key in a different location with the value 2. Go to HKEY_USERS > Default > Control Panel > Keyboard > InitialKeyboardIndicators. By doing it manually I found the key that had the value 2147483648 and changed it.

  21. daniel S says

    Yeah, mine is set up to the default value indicated above but when it restarts and when it comes on after hibernating the num lock is still off.

  23. jesseinsf says

    at the windows sign in screen turn on NumLock then reboot without signing in…. It should be fixed.

  25. Concerned_Citizen says

    Did not work for me. I checked all occurrences of InitialKeyboardIndicators and found all was either 2 or 2147483648. Logging on to a Microsoft account with Windows 8.1, I always have to use the numlock key, while this only takes a second or so, it is bothersome.

  27. Frogging says

    I was told to change the 48 to 50 and remove the check mark by quick boot up. I did this and my numlock works and my USB mouse works all at start up.

  28. Frogging says

    Ken I have the Dell Inspiron 15R the changing 2147483648 to 2147483650 alone did not work. I had to also uncheck turn on fast startup now it all works good. I also suggest you set a restore point before doing this and if it works do on after also. I can not stress RESTORE POINTS enough. Use them.

  29. OAPCruiser says

    Changing the Registry key to 2147483650 worked for me using 64 bit Windows 8.1 on my Dell laptop

  30. Carrie says

    Thank you so much, and you too Ken! I was so frustrated with my new laptop – I couldn’t find the setting anywhere.

  32. Tony Woods says

    Hi Ken – don’t know you but thanks for your input my number lock now stays on.
    Many Thanks

  33. seanosaurus says

    Just letting those of you who use this tutorial, setting this value to 2 means that NumLock will always be on when starting, regardless of the most recent state prior to boot/reboot, where as value 2147483650 as stated by Ken Nichols will set it to ‘remember’ previous state.

  34. seanosaurus says

    To add a little more information to this article (I know I’m bringing up a dead discussion) These are the values to put in regards to how you want it to boot:

    For Single Key, use these values:
    ————————————
    0 – All Keys off
    1 – Caps Lock on
    2 – Num Lock on
    4 – Scroll Lock on

    For multiple keys, add their values:
    ————————————
    3 – Caps Lock and Num Lock on
    5 – Caps Lock and Scroll Lock on
    6 – Num Lock and Scroll Lock on
    7 – Caps Lock, Num Lock, and Scroll Lock on

    credit: http://www.onecomputerguy.com/windowsxp_tips.htm#keyboard_indicators

  36. duncanwil says

    that setting seems to have been my default but MS knows best and ensures that it doesn’t work for all of us … keep us guessing lads!!

  38. Nancy says

    Thanks Ken and Frogging. I have an ACER F553M and between both your solutions I got it to work. I changed the value for the InitialKeyboardIndicators and turned off Fast StartUp. Trial and error but got there in the end.

  40. bartedgerton says

    I just searched for the key and put in the 2147483650 value everywhere that key lived (except a couple of keys, which were string values, I did not change those).
    This was on an HP Folio with Win 8.1 64-bit.

  41. kurt1524 says

    Well that’s
    all well and fin as num lock being in the (on) state is once windows
    starts is not the problem as I find num lock is in face t on one windows is
    fully booted. My question is making nom lock turn on pre boot as once your turn
    on the computer and you use a password to start windows I need to turn on num
    lock to enter passwords with numbers. So if my keyboard has maco (keystroke)
    recording keys and I wish to hide a password for my profile the numbers will
    not enter because num lock is off. Only the letter and symbol of the password
    are entered.

  42. beardedman says

    When you stop and think about it, how asinine is it that Windows even still has a NumLock to trip us up. If the NumLock is off, what possible good is that? Their alternate function is as cursor keys… which extended keyboards all have dedicated keys for… not that even cursor keys are particularly needed with a mouse, but they still do some things for us. So why has MS not banished the NumLock entirely in today’s world?

  43. Håkan Berg says

    Thanks. Great help here! Also thanks to commentators. I also had to set bit 2 on my machine.

  45. anyname says

    Everything else didn’t work with my desktop pc (Asus P5K) but this worked like a charm! Thanks.

  46. Kim Snyder Harbison says

    You are a genius. This has been a pet peeve of mine for YEARS. No idea why I didn’t Google this years ago. Thanks!

  48. Ron says

    I did yours and it seemed to work and then didn’t… so I tried the following and don’t know which worked , but between yours and this…works fine now

    I experienced the same problem myself; fortunately, the solution is
    simple. For some reason, the default value of some of the registry keys
    (not all) were changed in windows 7, which causes the system to
    apparently ignore the InitialKeyboardIndicators settings in the other
    locations. All that is requireded is the performance of a search of the
    registry using regedit for that key. It is important to use the find
    function to locate ALL keyboard keys forInitialKeyboardIndicators and
    set them to the same value setting. The value options are as follows:

    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)

    In my case, the string value was some 7 or 8 digit number such as
    21765430. These entries are the cause of the reboot change in the num
    lock status. If you want it on when you boot, set the string value to 2
    in all the keys with numeric values. Problem solved!

  50. Martin says

    The Windows 7 Professional 64-bit on my Asus K50I does not have the option to turn off the Fast startup, so I tried replacing 2147483648 with 2. It was OK – the NumLock started in ON position. Yeah!!
    I also gave it a try just for the experience to put 2147483650 and it was OK again, but pay attention: I found that NumLock turns ON as computer starts, but it could turn OFF after password is entered if the last state of NumLock has been OFF before Win 7 shutdown!

  51. Jason Carmichael says

    For those with Win 8.x the InitialKeyboardIndicators value is now 2147483650 not 2, duh so obvious.

  55. Jawad Sabra says

    Thanks Jo, It looks like this has fixed it for me when i wake laptop up from sleep

  56. Avi says

    How much does it slow down the start up procedure when you uncheck the fast start up?

  58. Tom K says

    That’s fantastic, Jesse! Who programs stuff like this?? Better yet who FINDS out about stuff like this??? Any help with getting an HP Touchscreen back working??? Just kidding…Wrong forum, but that’s next!

  61. Breeze says

    I have an HP Pavilion with Window 8 and neither of these worked. I only found the key in one place even with a search. I also turned off fast start and turned on the mouse key as another user had suggested.
    Any thoughts?

  62. Stan Wijckmans says

    2147483647 is the max value of a signed int32. (01111111 11111111 11111111 11111111)
    So 2147483648 is (10000000 00000000 00000000 00000000), as you can see the thing kind of “resets” to 0.
    Then 2147483650 = 10000000 00000000 00000000 00000010, and if we ignore the 1 on the left (which I think, with the whole signed int stuff just falls of) this is actually the same as 2.
    It could also be that the system only checks the minor byte as flags, in that case any number that has 1 for the 2nd bit would turn on the numlock.

  63. WhoCaresFU says

    Thanks Ken. It is appreciated when people share their solutions to help those of us in IT and the general public out. Especially when there isn’t a requirement to do so after you know the fix.

  64. Trey Wood says

    Changing the last two digits to 50 didn’t help me and with the other method mentioned I don’t see a “Modify” tab to select so I can’t set the value data to 2

  65. WindTraveller says

    I’d suggest opening it administrator “Run as administrator” if the problem still persisted..

    Here’s the step for those who don’t know how to do it. Easy step:

    1. Open the start menu.

    2. Type “regedit”. The regedit.exe should show up.

    3. Don’t click it right away, but left click and a menu option should pop-up.

    4. Select “Run as administrator”.

    5. then search for the HKEY_USERSDefaultControl PanelKeyboardInitialKeyboardIndicators value.

    6. Then continue with the steps mentioned above.

    I hope this helps. Cheers

  66. TotalNoob_Vs_theZ says

    Pat, i could be wrong, but i would assume people would want it, because they have numbers on their password. I have numbers on mine and it does make a difference.
    Unless you have “Pat” as a password, then yeahh, i dont get why people would want it, right?

  67. TotalNoob_Vs_theZ says

    Trey, there isnt a “modity” tab.

    try this:

    *make sure you are at the right place (HKEY_USERSDefaultControl PanelKeyboard)

    *now look at the right side and find “initialkeyboardIndicators” (on my computer is the 2nd one, just below “default”

    *right click on it, then you will see “modify”.

    * modify the value data to 2, if that doesnt work, then try 2147483650.

    hope this helps

  68. Jawad Sabra says

    Update, It goes back to switching off after I’d restarted a few times, not sure what happened on my windows 10. so i just got used to it.

  69. Groox says

    This registry value is actually a combination of bit flags, and you need to set bit 1 (that’s the second bit from the right, and its value is `2`) to enable num lock. Simply setting the entire value to `2` might remove some other important flags (although it seems Windows 8 always has the 2147483648 value by default, which is 0x80000000 hex).

    If you already have a value here (most likely it’s `0` or `2147483648`), you should do a bitwise `or` with number 2. Using the Windows calculator in Programmer mode (Alt + 3), paste the initial value and then click the [Or] button, followed by [2] and then [=] (this will change `2147483648` to `2147483650`, for example, but will leave `2` or `2147483650` unchanged since they already have this bit set).

  70. Peter Mannell says

    I found the registry tweaks totally ineffectual in Windows 10. Changed EVERY occurence of initialkeyboardindicators so the 2nd least significant bit was set (ie: value 2 or other recommended values which set the bit), but it is the power option to turn OFF fast start which finally fixed it.

  77. Vassilis MMM says

    That “2147483650” value worked for me too guys. I use a Dell Inspiron 15R with Windows 10 and the value that pre-existed in that position in the registry was 2147483648.

  78. kyle says

    Thank you! I love using the numpad to enter my windows 10 pin, but you have to first click numlock. kinda annoying. This has helped tho!

  82. Scott Z says

    I have a self built system with Asus Mobo and this reg setting has always worked for me since Win 7

  83. Igal Boguslavsky says

    Works fine with value “2147483648”.
    just need to change on the Windows Power settings menu as described above.
    Thanks for the article!!

  84. Sensie says

    Thanks Guys it worked for me Dell Latitude E5540
    I used the “Enable Num Lock on startup using registry tweak” method.

  85. Rick Conway says

    Are you an idiot? If the value of initial keyboard indicators was 2147483648 and every thing was FINE, I wouldn’t have asked WHY my computer was suddenly turning my NUM LOCK off every time I turn it on. Every windows update screws up something that I have to deal with. WWWHHHYYY? And why should ANYONE have to adjust the registry every time a Windows 10 update decides to screw with their preferred settings and make it impossible to remove STUPID and UNWANTED changes?

    I hope you find this helpful.

  87. Lee Jones says

    1/20/2017 – Followed ‘Registry Tweak’ EZ instructions above. Changed ….3648 to ….3650. Num Lock works perfectly now. Thank you. Operating Dell Studio 540, 64 bit, Upgraded from Vista 64 to Windows 7 – 64 and then to Windows 10 – 64 bit. Made the simple change. Shut down and rebooted. Num Lock now ‘ON’. Thanks for the ‘expert’ data/steps.

  88. Carl Menard says

    I usualy do the “2” thing but then I tried the HP “2147483650”, as the PC I am in now is a HP and BOOM!!! Thanks to Ken Nichols

  90. Wendy says

    Thanks. On my HP laptop with Windows 10, I changed the value in the registry and it kept the num lock on when I restarted but not after powering down. So I had to uncheck fast start and that corrected the problem. I appreciate it.

  94. Teresa says

    Just started occuring on my Win10. Disabling Fast Startup worked! Thanks Captain Jack :-)

  95. Kel says

    IF YOU DON’T HAVE A WIN KEY: Click the windows icon (usually in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen). Scroll down the list of files on the left (you may have to click the three horizontal lines) and click on the Windows System folder. There, you will find Command Prompt. Open it, and you can type in “regedit”. I hope this helps those of us who don’t have a “Win key” as not all keyboards have this.

  98. Minak says

    In our case it worked to active the Onscreen-Keyboard and. Then to activate there the Numlock and deactivate. Problem solved.

  99. Gene Waugh says

    Jawad, this is precisely where I am today Sep 01 2017. The string 2147483650 worked for a while, and then stopped working. Irritating, but am working at getting used to the irritation!

  101. Sara Kobilka says

    I’m trying this now for the first time and fingers crossed that it continues to work. Gene, did you ever contact HP support about this and get any suggestions?

  104. jon raitmon says

    Windows stupid. If I have a key on my keyboard with a number on the right side, why is it disabled when I want to log into my Dumb Windows 10? Is Apple any better? Why are all of the other keys enabled at startup, but not the numbers on the right of the keyboard? Silicone Valley at its finest. Is the term”jackass” still a good word to describe stupidity or is that not taught any longer?

  105. EugeneSavoy says

    This procedure worked on a Dell Optiplex 7050 in Win10! Thank you jesse_guthrie.

  106. Mark Warren says

    Thanks that has worked for me with a Samsung R780. I assume it works by setting the same bit in the word as originally suggested by the above article. 2147483648 = 0x8000_0000 and 2147483650 = 0x8000_0002. I am not sure what the top bit sets, but as this works, I am happy.

  107. Christiaan Venter says

    Check the spelling of the regedit directory? I had to navigate mine with a .Default as HKEY_USERS.DefaultControl PanelKeyboard

  109. KNRover says

    Changing the registry entry value to “2” does nada. But I just unchecked the “fast startup” option, restarted the computer, and the numlock was still on.

    M$ needs to fix this. It is especially confusing when (e.g.) I log into my laptop using a pin, which is all numbers, and I use the numbers keypad to enter them, they work. . . but if I immediately try to use the numbers keypad to enter numbers after that, it doesn’t work. . . unless you turn off “fast startup”. Doesn’t make sense.

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