Scroll Lock is a toggle key that freezes your screen scrolling — press it once to turn it on, press it again to turn it off

Scroll Lock is one of those keyboard keys that most people never use, but when it turns on by accident, it can feel like your computer is broken. When Scroll Lock is active, your arrow keys and Page Up/Page Down keys move the view within a spreadsheet or document without moving your cursor position. In other words, the page scrolls but your selection stays put. Once you know what's happening, it takes one keystroke to fix.

The Scroll Lock key is usually located in the upper right area of your keyboard, often near the Print Screen and Pause keys. On some laptops, especially thin models, Scroll Lock might be a secondary function on another key — you may need to hold Fn and press another key to activate it. The exact location varies by keyboard model, but it's always labeled "Scroll Lock" or "ScrLk".

Key Takeaways

  • Scroll Lock is a toggle: press the key once to turn it on, press it again to turn it off.
  • When Scroll Lock is on, your arrow keys and Page Up/Page Down scroll the view instead of moving your cursor.
  • On most keyboards, Scroll Lock is in the upper right corner near Print Screen; on laptops it may require the Fn key.
  • If you can't find the physical key, you can turn Scroll Lock off through your keyboard settings or by using an on-screen keyboard.

Finding and pressing the Scroll Lock key

Start by looking at your keyboard's upper right section. On a full-size desktop keyboard, Scroll Lock sits between the Print Screen key and the Pause key, usually in its own small cluster. Press it once. You should see the Scroll Lock indicator light up on your keyboard (if your keyboard has one), or you may see a small notification on your screen depending on your operating system.

If you're using a laptop or compact keyboard, Scroll Lock might not have its own dedicated key. Instead, it's often combined with another key as a secondary function. Look for "ScrLk" printed in smaller text on one of the keys in the upper right area. You'll need to hold the Fn key (usually in the lower left corner) and press that key at the same time. For example, on some Dell and HP laptops, Scroll Lock is Fn + Pause.

Once you've pressed Scroll Lock, try using your arrow keys or Page Down again. Your cursor should move normally, and the page should scroll as expected. If the problem persists, move on to the next section.

Turning off Scroll Lock on Windows

If you can't locate the physical Scroll Lock key or it doesn't seem to work, you can turn off Scroll Lock through Windows settings. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I. Go to Accessibility, then Keyboard. Look for the toggle labeled "Scroll Lock" or "Use Scroll Lock". Turn it off.

Another quick method is to use the on-screen keyboard. Press Windows key + Ctrl + O to open it. Look for the "ScrLk" button in the upper right area and click it once. This works the same way as pressing the physical key — it toggles Scroll Lock on and off.

If you're using an older version of Windows or the settings path is different, you can also try the Ease of Access Center. Press Windows key + U, then look for keyboard options. Some versions of Windows also let you check the Scroll Lock status in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen — if there's a small indicator showing Scroll Lock is on, clicking it may turn it off.

Turning off Scroll Lock on Mac

Mac keyboards don't have a dedicated Scroll Lock key in the traditional sense, so Scroll Lock is rarely an issue on macOS. However, if you're using an external Windows keyboard connected to a Mac, or if you're running Windows on a Mac through Boot Camp or virtualization software, Scroll Lock can still activate.

If you're using a Windows keyboard on a Mac, look for the Scroll Lock key in the upper right area and press it to toggle it off. If you're running Windows through Boot Camp, follow the Windows instructions above. If you're using virtualization software like Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, the Scroll Lock key should work the same way it does in Windows — just press it once to turn it off.

Turning off Scroll Lock in spreadsheet programs

Scroll Lock is most noticeable in spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, because that's where it has the most visible effect. When Scroll Lock is on in Excel, pressing the arrow keys moves the view around the spreadsheet instead of moving to the next cell. This can be confusing if you're trying to navigate your data.

The fix is the same: press the Scroll Lock key once to turn it off. After that, your arrow keys will move your cursor from cell to cell as normal. If you find yourself accidentally turning Scroll Lock on frequently, you might consider disabling the key entirely through your keyboard settings so it can't be activated by accident.

Preventing accidental activation

Scroll Lock is easy to turn on by accident because the key is in a high-traffic area of the keyboard, especially if you're reaching for Print Screen or Pause. If this happens to you regularly, you have a few options.

The simplest approach is to be aware of where the key is and avoid it. If you're left-handed or have an unusual typing style, you might naturally hit it more often — in that case, you could remap the key or disable it entirely. On Windows, you can use the Registry Editor or a third-party tool like AutoHotkey to remap Scroll Lock to do nothing, or to map it to a different function. On Mac with a Windows keyboard, you can use Karabiner-Elements to remap keys. These tools require some technical setup, but they're worth it if you're constantly fighting with Scroll Lock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Scroll Lock even exist?

Scroll Lock was designed for older computers and terminals where you might want to freeze the view while keeping your cursor active. It's rarely used today, but it remains on keyboards for backward compatibility. Some specialized software still uses it, which is why it hasn't been removed entirely.

Will turning off Scroll Lock affect my other keyboard functions?

No. Scroll Lock is an independent toggle that only affects how your arrow keys and Page Up/Page Down behave. Turning it off won't change anything else about your keyboard or computer.

Can Scroll Lock turn on by itself?

Scroll Lock won't turn on by itself, but it can be activated by accident if you bump the key or if a program sends a command to activate it. If you find it turning on repeatedly, check whether you're accidentally hitting the key, or whether a program you use regularly is activating it.

Is Scroll Lock the same on all keyboards?

The function is the same everywhere, but the location and how you access it varies. Full-size keyboards have a dedicated key; laptops often require the Fn key; and some specialized keyboards may not have it at all. Check your keyboard's manual or labels if you're unsure where to find it.