How to Keep Num Lock On After Startup on Windows 10 [2026]

If you have a habit of jumping on number pad to log in to your favorite site with numeric password soon after your system starts, or you want to send email and you have set numeric password for your email account, but wait! You aren’t able to do that, right?

It happens because Num lock isn’t turned on automatically soon after start up process completes. This is one of the annoying issues users face very often on Windows system. Now that you know the issue persist, but you have no clue how to fix it, then we are here to help you.

Let’s discuss how to keep num lock on after startup on Windows 10 following few simple steps.

Why enabling Num Lock is important?

Before you head to the steps to turn it on automatically after startup, let’s quickly disucss why keeping num lock enabled is important. Num lock gives you control over your number pad on keyboard on your Windows PC or laptop. You can disable it when number pad is not in use or you can quickly turn it on by pressing the Num Lock key just above number pad.

How to keep Num Lock on after startup?

Following few simple tweaks in system settings, you can keep Num Lock on right after startup on Windows 10. But how to do that? Let’s discuss.

Solution 1: Turn off Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a useful feature that combines the functions of both cold shutdown and the hibernate feature. It is designed to boost your computer startup process and save some time. While it is useful feature, but it may interfere with the system keyboard, including turning off the num lock key. To keep Num Lock on after startup, you can consider turning off fast startup. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open Run box by pressing Win + R keys.
• Here, type powercfg.cpl and hit Enter.
• Now on the Power Options window from the left pane, click Choose what The power button does.
• Next select Change settings that are currently
  unavailable.
• Press Yes when prompted on User Account Control window.
• Under Shutdown Settings, uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended) option.
• Click Save changes.

Solution 2: Turn off Num Lock in System BIOS

You can turn off Num Lock in computer BIOS by following few quick steps. It helps you keep Num lock on after startup on Windows 10. To turn the Num lock off in your computer’s BIOS, follow these steps:

• To start you need to boot into
  your system’s BIOS. To do this, you need to press the correct hotkey when the
  PC is powering ON. You may find this key mentioned on Windows startup screen.
  Some common keys to boot into BIOS are F2 and Delete keys.
• Once you have booted into BIOS,
  you need to search for an option that says whether or not the Num Lock is to be
  turned on at startup. Once found disable this option.
• Save the changes and exit the
  BIOS.
• Restart your PC to see the
  changes.

Solution 3: Use Registry Editor

Next solution is to tweak Registry settings to keep num lock on after startup on Windows 10. To do this, follow these steps.

Note: We strongly recommend avoiding this step, if you don’t have idea about how registry works as one single edit done wrongly could cause multiple system issues unnecessarily.

• Search regedit in the search bar on the taskbar and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
• Press Yes when prompted.
• Now that you are on Registry
  Editor window, navigate to:
• Computer > HKEY_CURRENT_USER
  > Default > Control Panel > Keyboard
• Now in the right pane search InitialKeyboardIndicators registry
  value and double-click on it.
• Click Modify.
• Now you need to modify the
  Value data to 2147483648.
• Click Ok.
• Exit the registry editor and
  reboot your PC.

Conclusion

Keeping Num Lock on after startup in Windows 10 may seem like a small adjustment, but it improves daily convenience. Many users depend on the numeric keypad for quick data entry. Turning it on manually every time can slow down routine work. This issue is usually linked to startup settings or BIOS configuration. Once the correct change is applied, the system remembers your preference and starts the way you expect.

It is a good idea to check both Windows settings and BIOS options if the problem continues. Sometimes, Fast Startup or registry values can also affect this behavior. Taking a few minutes to review these areas can fix the issue permanently. Regular system checks and updates help maintain such settings over time. With the right setup, your keyboard will be ready to use as soon as your system starts.

FAQs

1. Why does Num Lock turn off after every restart?
 This usually happens due to default startup settings in Windows or BIOS. Some systems are configured to keep Num Lock off by default. Fast Startup can also affect this behavior. Adjusting these settings helps ensure Num Lock stays enabled after each restart.

2. Can I enable Num Lock permanently in Windows 10?
 Yes, you can enable it permanently by changing certain system settings. This can be done through the registry or BIOS configuration. Once set correctly, Num Lock will remain on every time your system boots without needing manual activation.

3. Does Fast Startup affect Num Lock settings?
 Yes, Fast Startup can sometimes override certain keyboard settings, including Num Lock. It loads a partial system state instead of a full boot. Disabling or adjusting Fast Startup may help keep Num Lock enabled consistently.