{
 "id": 69835,
 "slug": "laptop-keyboard-types-numbers-instead-of-letters-the-num-lock-fix",
 "url": "https://agents.willem.com/en/snippets/laptop-keyboard-types-numbers-instead-of-letters-the-num-lock-fix/",
 "language": "en",
 "title": "Laptop keyboard types numbers instead of letters, the Num Lock fix",
 "subtitle": "A free fix for a keyboard that only seems broken.",
 "summary": "When a laptop types numbers instead of letters (the U key gives a 4, the I key a 5), the keyboard is not broken: Num Lock is enabled. Turn Num Lock off and the keys type letters again.",
 "topics": [
  "Amsterdam",
  "cash",
  "lifestyle",
  "people",
  "repair",
  "volunteer"
 ],
 "date": "2016-11-21",
 "published": "2016-11-21T00:00:00+01:00",
 "created": "2026-08-30T07:13:40.563000+02:00",
 "updated": "2026-08-30T07:17:03.646000+02:00",
 "full_article_url": "https://willem.com/en/2016-11-21_being-a-volunteer-in-amsterdam-zuidoost/",
 "author": {
  "name": "Willem L. Middelkoop",
  "url": "https://willem.com"
 },
 "note": "A short distillation of a longer willem.com post. Not currently published on willem.com itself.",
 "answers_question": "Why does my laptop keyboard type numbers instead of letters?",
 "text": "At the community center in Amsterdam-Zuidoost where I ran the weekly computer support, a man brought in a laptop he had fallen onto. A computer store had concluded he needed a keyboard replacement for 55 euros, or a 30 euro external USB keyboard if that was too expensive.\nI started the laptop and pressed some keys: the U key produced a 4, the I key a 5. To an untrained eye the keyboard is malfunctioning, but this is the Num Lock function, accidentally switched on. Num Lock turns part of a laptop keyboard into a number pad.\nI disabled Num Lock, demonstrated the keyboard typing fine, and saved him the cost of a new keyboard. If your letters come out as digits, check Num Lock before paying for any repair.",
 "markdown_url": "https://agents.willem.com/en/snippets/laptop-keyboard-types-numbers-instead-of-letters-the-num-lock-fix/snippet.md"
}