How do I disable certain keys on my keyboard

Question

New Windows 11 Laptop that has extended number keypad and I want to kill the "num lock" toggle key as I'm always fat fingering it and then bouncing around (arrow keys) when I try to use the number keys. In the same vein, I'd love to kill the "calculator" key as it's always popping up when I'm trying to hit "delete" and I never use the calculator.

Hoping there is a simple way to disable these?

Answer 1

Hi Mitch Vander Wall,

I'm following up to see if you were able to successfully map the "Num Lock" and "Calculator" keys to Disable using the PowerToys utility or the registry modification. If this clarification provided the correct tool for your version of Windows and resolved the accidental key presses, please consider accepting the answer. This helps confirm to other users that key remapping, rather than feature installation, is the correct approach for this issue.

VP

Answer 2

To disable specific keys on your keyboard, such as the "Num Lock" toggle key and the "Calculator" key, you can use the Keyboard Filter feature in Windows. This feature allows you to suppress undesirable key presses or key combinations, which can be particularly useful for dedicated devices or specific user needs.

Here’s a general approach to disable keys using the Keyboard Filter:

1. Enable the Keyboard Filter: You can enable the Keyboard Filter feature by running the following command in an Administrative Command Prompt:

      Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:Client-DeviceLockdown /featurename:Client-KeyboardFilter
   

   After running this command, you will need to restart your device.
2. Block Specific Keys: Once the Keyboard Filter is enabled, you can use PowerShell to block specific keys. For example, to block the "Num Lock" key, you would need to find the specific key identifier and set it to disabled. For the "Calculator" key, you would do the same.
3. Restart Your Device: After applying the changes, restart your device to ensure the settings take effect.

Please note that the Keyboard Filter may not block all keys, and some hardware-specific keys might require additional steps to disable.

For more detailed instructions and examples, you can refer to the Keyboard Filter documentation provided by Microsoft.

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References:

• Keyboard Filter
• Keyboard Filter considerations

Answer 3

Hi Mitch Vander Wall,

For a standard Windows 11 laptop, the most robust and "Microsoft-supported" way to handle this without dangerous registry editing is to use Microsoft PowerToys. It is a set of system utilities developed by Microsoft for advanced users to tune their workflow.

Method 1: The Modern Way (Microsoft PowerToys)

This is the safest method because it allows you to toggle the setting on or off easily without rebooting.

Install PowerToys: Download it from the Microsoft Store or GitHub (search "Microsoft PowerToys").

Open Keyboard Manager: Once installed, open PowerToys and navigate to "Keyboard Manager" on the left sidebar. Click "Remap a key". Click the + (Plus) button to add a new mapping.

For Num Lock:

Under "Physical Key", click Type and press your Num Lock key.

Under "Mapped To", select Disable from the dropdown menu.

Critical Note: Ensure your Num Lock is turned ON before you do this. Once you map it to "Disable", the button stops working, so the state will stay permanently locked to "Numbers".

For Calculator: Click + again. Under "Physical Key", press the Calculator icon key on your laptop. Under "Mapped To", select Disable. Save: Click OK. The changes are instant.

Method 2: The "Native" Way (SharpKeys)

If you prefer not to have the PowerToys application running in the background and want a permanent registry fix, use a small open-source tool called SharpKeys. This tool writes a "Scancode Map" directly to the Windows Registry, telling the OS kernel to ignore those keys completely.

Download and run SharpKeys (from the Microsoft Store or GitHub). Click Add.

Map From: Click "Type Key" and press your Num Lock key (Code 00_45).

Map To: Select "Turn Key Off" (top of the list).

Repeat for the Calculator key (often E0_21). Click "Write to Registry".

Reboot your computer.

Both methods will effectively "kill" those keys so accidental presses are ignored.

I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer then. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

VP