The Num Lock button on your Lenovo laptop turns the right side of the keyboard into the numeric keypad. To use the Num Lock key, you must first press the Function button. This feature is not available on all Lenovo laptops, such as the ThinkPad model. If your laptop doesn't have the Num Lock key or an alternate numeric keypad, you can use the Windows on-screen keyboard.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Laptops Without Num Lock Key
Step 1. Check if your laptop has the Num Lock key
Different Lenovo models have different keyboard configurations.
- If the U, I, and O keys have the numbers 4, 5, and 6 printed in the bottom corner, your laptop is an older model, with an alternate numeric keypad. Read the section below for details on how to use it.
- The ThinkPad series does not have an alternate numeric keypad. You must use the method described in this section to get around the problem. Some larger models have a dedicated keypad.
Step 2. Open the Start menu or screen on your computer
Click the Start button in the lower right corner of the desktop. In many versions of Windows, the button shows only the Windows icon. The Start menu will appear above the button.
If your laptop's operating system is Windows 8 and you don't see the Start button, press ⊞ Win on your keyboard. The Start screen will open
Step 3. Type "keyboard" in the Start menu
You can start typing right after the menu opens. In the search results, you will see "On-Screen Keyboard". If your Lenovo laptop does not have the Num Lock key, you can use this tool to access the numeric keypad.
Step 4. Open the On-Screen Keyboard
A new window will appear.
Step 5. Click the "Options" button on the keyboard
You'll find it under the Print button.
Step 6. Check the "Enable Numeric Keypad" box
Once you click "OK", the keypad will appear on the right side of the on-screen keyboard.
Step 7. Click the keys on the on-screen numeric keypad to enter numbers
Once you click on one of the buttons, that number or symbol will be inserted at the cursor.
It is not possible to use the on-screen keyboard to type ASCII codes, because this tool does not recognize pressing more than one key at a time. If you need to enter special characters, open the character map by searching for "character map" in the Start menu
Part 2 of 2: Laptops with Num Lock Key
Step 1. Find the Num Lock key on your keyboard
Depending on the type of Lenovo laptop you are using, the Num Lock key can be in different positions.
- If your laptop has an alternate numeric keypad, you'll find the Num Lock key on the F7, F8, or Insert buttons. It may have the name "BlNm" and be written in a different color under the normal key function.
- On laptops with a dedicated numeric keypad (15 '' and up), you can find the Num Lock key next to ← Backspace.
- Some of the best-selling models, for example those belonging to the ThinkPad series, do not have any Num Lock key, because there is no numeric keypad that can be accessed. Read the previous section to find a solution that can work around the problem.
Step 2. Press and hold the button
Fn and press BlNm.
You can find the Fn key in the lower left corner of the keyboard. BlNm is often found in correspondence with the F7, F8 or Insert keys.
The upper left number lock indicator will light up when the num lock feature is on
Step 3. Use the numeric keypad buttons on your keyboard
Once Num Lock is enabled, the buttons on the right side of the keyboard change to the numeric keypad. You can check which numbers and symbols they correspond to by looking at the characters marked in different colors under the normal letters.
If you have a laptop with a screen larger than 15 inches, your keyboard probably has a dedicated numeric keypad on the right. Those buttons perform the function of arrows when Num Lock is off
Step 4. Disable Num Lock when you are done using the numeric keypad
You can turn off Num Lock and return to using your keyboard normally by pressing the Fn and Num Lock keys at the same time.
