How to Change Number Lock Settings on Any Device

Number Lock — the Num Lock key on keyboards, or the PIN/passcode lock on phones and computers — controls how you interact with your device. Depending on what you mean by "change number lock," you might be adjusting keyboard behavior, updating a PIN, or modifying how your screen lock works. Each scenario involves different steps, different settings menus, and different tradeoffs.

Here's a clear breakdown of all the common interpretations — and what actually changes when you change each one.

What Is "Number Lock"? The Two Main Meanings

The phrase "change number lock" typically refers to one of two things:

• Num Lock on a physical keyboard — a toggle key that switches the numeric keypad between entering numbers and performing navigation functions (arrow keys, Home, End, etc.)
• Numeric PIN or passcode lock — the number-based security code used to unlock smartphones, tablets, laptops, or accounts

Both are legitimate uses of the term, and the steps to change each are completely different.

How to Change Num Lock on a Keyboard 🔢

What Num Lock Actually Does

On full-size and tenkeyless keyboards with a dedicated numeric keypad, Num Lock controls the keypad's behavior:

• Num Lock ON — the keypad types numbers (1–9, 0, decimal point)
• Num Lock OFF — the keypad acts as arrow/navigation keys

Most keyboards have a small Num Lock indicator light that shows its current state.

Toggling Num Lock Manually

The simplest change is pressing the Num Lock key (labeled Num Lock, NumLk, or Num depending on the keyboard). It's a toggle — press once to turn on, press again to turn off.

On laptop keyboards without a dedicated keypad, you may need to hold Fn and press the corresponding key (often F11 or a key labeled with a small numpad icon).

Changing the Num Lock Default in Windows

If you want Num Lock to be on by default every time you boot:

1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit in the Run dialog — press Win + R)
2. Navigate to: HKEY_USERS.DEFAULTControl PanelKeyboard
3. Find the key named InitialKeyboardIndicators
4. Change the value:
   • 0 = Num Lock off at startup
   • 2 = Num Lock on at startup
5. Restart your PC

Alternatively, some motherboard BIOS/UEFI menus include a Num Lock on boot toggle — typically found under keyboard or boot settings.

Num Lock on macOS

Mac keyboards don't use Num Lock in the traditional sense. The Clear key (on extended keyboards) clears the numpad entry, but there's no Num Lock toggle. On a standard Mac keyboard, the top row numbers always output digits regardless.

How to Change a Numeric PIN or Passcode Lock 🔐

On Windows (PIN Login)

Windows Hello uses a numeric or alphanumeric PIN as a login credential:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Sign-in options
2. Under PIN (Windows Hello), select Change
3. Enter your current PIN, then set a new one
4. Optionally enable "Include letters and symbols" for a stronger alphanumeric PIN

If you've forgotten your PIN, Windows offers a reset path tied to your Microsoft account or local account recovery options.

On Android

Android PIN locks are managed through:

1. Settings → Security (or Lock Screen)
2. Select Screen lock
3. Confirm your current lock method
4. Choose PIN and enter a new numeric code

Android allows PINs of 4 to 16 digits on most devices. Longer PINs are generally more secure. Some manufacturer skins (Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI, etc.) place these settings under slightly different menu names, but the path is always within Security or Lock Screen settings.

On iPhone/iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

1. Open Settings → Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models)
2. Tap Change Passcode
3. Enter your current passcode
4. Tap Passcode Options to choose between a 4-digit numeric code, 6-digit numeric code, or custom options
5. Enter and confirm your new passcode

iOS defaults to a 6-digit numeric PIN, which provides one million possible combinations compared to ten thousand for a 4-digit PIN.

Key Variables That Affect the Process

Security Considerations When Changing a Numeric PIN

Not all numeric PINs carry the same risk profile:

• 4-digit PINs are convenient but limited to 10,000 combinations — brute-forceable with enough attempts if there's no lockout
• 6-digit PINs scale to 1,000,000 combinations
• Biometrics + PIN (Face ID, fingerprint) reduce how often your PIN is actually entered, lowering exposure
• Device lockout policies — both iOS and Android can be configured to wipe or lock after repeated failed attempts, which significantly changes the effective security of shorter PINs

On Windows, a PIN is device-specific and not transmitted over the network, which makes it more secure than a password in certain attack scenarios — even if it looks simpler.

The Setup-Dependent Part

Whether you're toggling a keyboard Num Lock default or updating a security PIN, the right approach depends on which device you're using, which OS version you're running, and what problem you're actually solving. A user changing Num Lock on a desktop gaming setup is dealing with registry-level Windows settings. A user updating a passcode on an older iPhone is navigating a completely different set of menus and constraints. Someone using a Samsung tablet sits somewhere else again.

The mechanics described here apply broadly — but exactly where the settings live, what options are available, and whether a particular shortcut works on your specific device all come down to your own configuration.