How to Fix Keyboard Typing Numbers Only Instead of Letters

When your keyboard starts typing numbers instead of letters, it usually means the numeric lock (Num Lock) is activated. This issue commonly occurs on laptops or small keyboards where certain letter keys also serve as numeric keys. When Num Lock is on, pressing those keys results in numbers being typed instead of letters. This can happen if you accidentally enable the Num Lock feature by pressing the Num Lock key or a combination of keys like “Fn + Num Lock.”

The issue arises because many laptop keyboards don’t have a separate numeric keypad, so they use part of the standard keyboard for numeric input when Num Lock is engaged. The most common reason for this problem is having Num Lock turned on, but it can also occur due to keyboard layout settings, driver problems, or even faulty hardware.

Additionally, some systems may let you modify the behavior through accessibility settings if toggling Num Lock doesn’t work.

Here are some methods that can help in solving the problem. 

1. Turn off Num lock from your laptop keyboard

If you’re seeing numbers instead of letters when typing, it’s likely that Num Lock is on, turning part of your keyboard into a number pad. By turning off Num Lock, you switch the keys back to typing letters. On many laptops, the same keys are used for both numbers and letters, and toggling Num Lock changes between these modes.

Simply hit the Num Lock key and it will turn off. A light beside the key or on the top or sides of the laptop will go off to confirm this action.

On certain keyboards, you may need to hold down the fn key or the combination of shift key and num lock in order to turn off the num lock.

2. Turn off Num lock using the windows on-screen keyboard

If you can’t use the Num Lock key on your keyboard, the Windows on-screen keyboard can help turn it off. This virtual keyboard lets you toggle Num Lock, fixing the typing issue by switching back to letters. It works just like a regular keyboard.

1. Press the Windows or Start key + R to bring up the Run dialog box.
2. Type ‘osk‘ in the textbox and hit ‘Enter‘.
3. If num lock is on, it will be shown in a different color (white). Turn num lock off.
4. If you don’t see the ‘Num Lock’ on the on-screen keyboard, click on ‘Options‘ and then check the Turn on numeric keypad option. Click ‘OK‘. Now, ‘Num Lock’ should appear; turn it off.

3. Turn off Num lock using an external keyboard

If typing still shows numbers instead of letters, try using an external keyboard. An external keyboard with a Num Lock key lets you turn off Num Lock easily, without searching for the right key combo on your laptop.

1. Plug in an external keyboard.
2. Wait for it to install.
3. If num lock is activated on your keyboard, the external keyboard num lock light will be on.
4. Hit num lock on the external keyboard to turn num lock off.
5. The light on your num lock laptop key will also go off.
6. Unplug the external keyboard.