How do I get my "-" in the number pad to stop locking my pc?

Warner, Stacy (BWCONV-United States) 0 Reputation points
2026-01-05T13:35:28.92+00:00

I had a glitch a week ago and now everytime I hit my "-" key on the number pad it locks my pc instead of making a dash or minus sign on what I'm working on. How do I get it to stop doing this? Also, my function keys now require me to use the "fn" button to work. I have tried the fn + esc keys to turn it off but that doesn't seem to work.

Windows for business | Windows 365 Business
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  1. HLBui 12,060 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-08T09:57:12.3633333+00:00

    Hi Warner, Stacy (BWCONV-United States)

    If everything is okay, don't forget to share your experience with the issue by "Accept the answer". If you need more information, feel free to leave a message. We are happy to help!

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  2. HLBui 12,060 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-05T14:25:24.19+00:00

    Hi Warner, Stacy (BWCONV-United States)

    From what you’ve explained, i think that your numeric keypad “–” key has been remapped to trigger the Lock PC shortcut, and your function keys are requiring the Fn modifier unexpectedly. These behaviors can occur after a glitch, driver update, or changes in system settings.

    To address the numeric keypad issue, checking your Keyboard Settings in Windows. Navigate to Settings > Time & Language > Typing > Advanced keyboard settings and confirm that no custom shortcuts or input methods are interfering. Additionally, verify that third‑party software (such as hotkey managers or OEM utilities) hasn’t reassigned the key. If needed, you can reset your keyboard layout to default.

    For the function keys, many laptops and keyboards have a firmware or BIOS setting that controls whether the Fn key is required. Since Fn + Esc did not toggle the behavior, please restart your PC, enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing F2, Del, or Esc during startup), and look for an option such as Action Keys Mode or Function Key Behavior. Switching this setting should restore the normal use of your function keys without holding Fn.

    If the issue persists, I suggest updating your keyboard and chipset drivers from your device manufacturer’s support page. This often resolves unexpected remapping problems.

    I hope these steps will help you . If this guidance resolves your concern, I’d appreciate it if you could click “Accept Answer” it not only lets me know the solution worked but also helps others in the community who may face the same issue and please feel free to let me know if you need any assistance. Thank you

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  3. AI answer

    2026-01-05T13:35:35.82+00:00

    To address the issue of your number pad's "-" key locking your PC, it may be related to the Keyboard Filter feature in Windows. This feature can suppress certain key presses, and it might be configured to treat the "-" key as a lock command. You can check the Keyboard Filter settings to see if the key is being suppressed or if there are any custom key combinations set that might be causing this behavior.

    As for the function keys requiring the "fn" button to work, this is often a setting in the BIOS or UEFI firmware of your device. You may need to access your BIOS/UEFI settings during the boot process and look for an option related to function key behavior, which can usually be toggled between standard function keys and multimedia keys.

    If you are unable to resolve these issues through the settings, consider checking for any recent updates or drivers that may need to be installed, as glitches can sometimes be fixed with software updates.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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