Why the numbers on the keyboard on the right do not work and how to deal with it?

Accountants and all those who often engage in costing in specialized programs or spreadsheets know how uncomfortable they can become if the numbers on the keyboard on the right do not work. In addition, using the numeric keypad and ALT codes, characters are entered for which there are no separate keys.

This unit is so popular and in demand that it even comes in the form of a separate keyboard. Once accustomed to its use, it is difficult to refuse this advantage. What should I do if it suddenly turns out that the number buttons on the keyboard on the right do not work?

First tip for beginners

To start using the digital unit, just press the Num Lock key located right there. This is the top left button of seventeen related to this part of the keyboard. When it is activated, one of the indicators may light up on the keyboard.

Thus, instead of the keys that move the cursor, you will get buttons that print numbers and enter signs of arithmetic operations, an additional button with a semicolon in the Russian layout and a dot in the English language, and when combined with pressing Shift, the lower right buttons will save the functions Insert, Delete and Enter.

If Num Lock is On and Button Functions Have Not Changed

It happens that Num Lock is on, and the numbers on the keyboard on the right for some reason do not work, although they should. There are several options to solve the problem:

1. Enter the menu through "Start" - then "Options" - "Keyboard" - select the "Mouse buttons" tab and disable "Allow mouse control from the keyboard" - uncheck it.
2. A possible option is “Parameters -“ Keyboard ”-“ Layout parameters ”-“ Parameters ”-“ Variants of digital keyboard layout ”- and choose“ ATM ”or“ Phone ”from the offered styles.
3. Change BIOS settings:

• reboot the equipment;
• at the time of starting the system, press the F2 button (as an option - Delete or Esc);
• After entering the BIOS settings, find the BootUp NumLock Status function and check the value set for it, it should be Enabled or On;
• then use the F10 key, and then use the Y key to save the changes successfully.

If there is no Num Lock button

Situations are different, and the technique, too, and with it all sorts of troubles sometimes occur. However, if for some reason you don’t have a Num Lock button on your keyboard, this will not prevent you from fully utilizing the functions of the digital unit:

• You can hold down the Fn key (it is not on every keyboard) in combination with the desired number.
• To apply the combination Fn + F11, as an option - Fn + F10 or Fn + F12, depends on the brand and model of equipment installed on it of the operating system (it is better to press it again, because through trial and error you can not only use the necessary buttons, but also disable something third-party - sound, for example).

• Turn on the necessary keys using the on-screen keyboard: enter through "Start" - "Accessories" - "Accessibility" or through the same "Start", then use the search for the specified words. If the Num Lock button is also absent on the on-screen keyboard, you must press the "Options" key and in the window that appears, put the icon that includes the numeric keypad. The Num Lock button will appear and you can use it.
• Create hotkeys yourself using the free program AutoHotkey.

In most cases, you can figure out why the numbers on the keyboard on the right do not work, and you can fix this situation on your own pretty quickly.