Enabling Numeric Keypad

Question

I have trouble with the numeric keypad (NumLock keys) being unusable while typing.

While I don't think it's GUI specific, this happens both in Gnome and KDE. Sometimes it works in TTY, other times it fails. If I press the NumLock key nothing happens, and the response is the same.

I cannot use any of the keys except Ins, which repeats text after Backspace is used.

EDIT:

xev output, on NumLock press/release

KeyPress event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x2800001,
    root 0x101, subw 0x0, time 389867, (311,217), root:(319,313),
    state 0x0, keycode 77 (keysym 0xff7f, Num_Lock), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XmbLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

KeyRelease event, serial 33, synthetic NO, window 0x2800001,
    root 0x101, subw 0x0, time 389867, (311,217), root:(319,313),
    state 0x10, keycode 77 (keysym 0xff7f, Num_Lock), same_screen YES,
    XLookupString gives 0 bytes: 
    XFilterEvent returns: False

Solution 1

This command worked for me on Linux Mint and Ubuntu using XFCE with a CMStorm keyboard.

setxkbmap -option keypad:pointerkeys

setxkbmap - set the keyboard using the X Keyboard Extension

For some reason, activating numlock will make the keys move my mouse and deactivating numlock will set the keys to the correct characters. I suppose this is good because now I don't have to enable numlock and I can save a very small amount of electricity.

Source: https://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=216&t=106658

Solution 2

If you're using an apple keyboard the problem might be the keyboard not linux. You need to press the "clear" key which is top left of the numeric keyboard to enable numlock. This worked for me on Fedora.

Solution 3

Linux Mint kde. Go to settings, accessability, mouse, unclick box "use mouse emulation" and numpad will be active when NumLock selected.

Comments

[Ulrich Schwarz]

What does xev say when you run it and then press numlock?

[Joe Barr]

@UlrichSchwarz I have edited the question.

[Ulrich Schwarz]

That looks good, so it appears the keystroke is getting up to the X server, which then doesn't do anything with it. I'm stumped, I'm afraid.

[Ralph]

Solved it for me using the Logitech MX Keys for Mac with Ubuntu 20.04: Shift + Clear.

[mike rodent]

Doesn't work as of now.

[mike rodent]

This may have changed something... but on my system doing Shift+numeric keypad key does not do what I expect to do: extend selection...

[mike rodent]

@theGtknerd surely "not ouch", oblivious ...?