Key Takeaways:
- Most laptops and keyboards don’t have a dedicated Numpad.
- You can emulate the Numpad functionality in Windows when you don’t have a dedicated number pad.
- There are several methods to emulating Numpad on Windows, such as using an on-screen keyboard, a Numpad emulator, or an AutoHotKey script.
However, not every laptop or keyboard has a dedicated Numpad pad. For example, both my 14-inch laptop and the external 10-keyless keyboard have no Numpad.
So, what if your laptop or keyboard has no Numpad?
Don’t worry; you can emulate the Numpad functionality in Windows even if your laptop or keyboard doesn’t have a dedicated Number Pad.
In this article, we will explore three easy ways to emulate Numpad in Windows 10 and 11 operating systems. Follow the one you like.
Table of contents:
How to emulate Numpad on Windows
To type without Numpad, there are three methods. i.e., use the on-screen keyboard, a dedicated Numpad emulator, or an AutoHotKey script to emulate Numpad on Windows 10 and 11. All three methods achieve the same result. So, follow the method that is comfortable and easy to use for you.
The steps below work the same in Windows 10 and 11.
1. Use the on-screen keyboard to emulate Numpad
Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in On-Screen Keyboard to type on touchscreen devices or with a mouse. You can use this on-screen keyboard to emulate the Numpad on Windows.
Here’s how to emulate Numpad with the on-screen keyboard:
- Click on the “Start” icon on the taskbar.
- Search and open “On-Screen Keyboard.”
- Click on the “Options” key on the on-screen keyboard.
- Select the “Turn on numeric keypad” checkbox.
- Click on the “Num Lock” key on the on-screen keyboard.
- You can now emulate and use the Numpad using the on-screen keyboard.
Steps with more details:
First, open the On-Screen Keyboard. To do that, press the “Start key” on your keyboard or click on the “Start icon” on the taskbar. After the Start menu opens, search and open “On-Screen Keyboard.”
After opening the on-screen keyboard application, see if you can find the number pad. If you cannot, click on the “Options” key on the on-screen keyboard.
The above action will open the on-screen keyboard’s options window. Here, select the “Turn on numeric keypad” checkbox and press the “Ok” button to save changes.
After that, click on the Num Lock key to enable Numpad. Once the Number pad is enabled, you can use it to emulate the Numpad on Windows.
2. Use a Numpad emulator
If your keyboard or laptop is missing the Numpad, you can use a free Numpad emulator. It creates a virtual number pan on your screen, and you use the mouse pointer to emulate Numpad keys.
Here’s how to use a Numpad emulator:
- Download the Numpad Emulator software.
- Install the Numpad Emulator application.
- Open the Numpad Emulator.
- You now start using the Numpad.
Download link -> https://sourceforge.net/projects/numpad-emulator/
Steps with more details:
First, download the Numpad Emulator from the official Source Forge download page. After downloading, double-click on the exe file and install it. Once installed, launch the Numpad Emulator from the Start menu.
As soon as you open the application, you will see a virtual Numpad on your screen. At this point, the Numpad emulator is working as it should, and you can start using it.
The good thing about this application is that it lets you customize and add new keys to the virtual Numpad. For example, maybe you want to add other missing keys, Home, End, Print Screen, etc.., to the virtual Numpad.
To add extra keys to the emulated number pad, click on the “Settings” icon and select the “Add/remove buttons” option.
The above opens two new Windows. One window has all the keys/buttons you can add, and the second window is where you can add the new keys/button. To add a new key, simply drag and drop it from one window to the other onto the location of your choice.
Once all the keys are added, click the “Apply” button.
As soon as you do that, the virtual number pad will be updated to show the new keys. In my case, I added six keys, i.e., alt, ctrl, tab, home, end, and print screen.
Finally, if you often use the application, it is better to make it start with Windows. To that, click on the “Settings” icon, select the “Settings” option, check the “Autorun with Windows” checkbox, and click the “Ok” button.
Closing the application will minimize it to the taskbar. To quit the application, right-click on the Numpad Emulator and select the “Quit” option.
3. How to emulate Numpad with AutoHotKey
AutoHotKey is a popular, lightweight, and open-source software to create keyboard shortcuts, fast macro-creation, automation, and more. We can use AutoHotKey to emulate the Numpad in Windows. The good thing is that you can either transform the top row numbers on your keyboard to Numpad keys or make it show a virtual Numpad on your screen, just like the Numpad Emulator. I will show both methods; follow the one you like.
Note: Download and install AutoHotKey before following the below steps. Download link -> https://www.autohotkey.com/download/
AutoHotKey script to use top row number keys as Numpad keys:
First of all, right-click on the desktop and select the “New -> Text Document” option to create a new text file.
After creating the text file, rename it to “NumPad.ahk.” It is important that you use the “.ahk” file extension.
Once the file has been renamed, right-click on it and select the “Edit” option.
In the opened window, paste the below script, save it, and close it.
#WindowsLoop
#If GetKeyState("CapsLock", "T")
1::Numpad1
2::Numpad2
3::Numpad3
4::Numpad4
5::Numpad5
6::Numpad6
7::Numpad7
8::Numpad8
9::Numpad9
0::Numpad0Next, double-click on the newly created AHK file. This action will launch the script, and it sits silently on the taskbar. To use it, turn on Caps Lock and press the top row number key to simulate the corresponding Numpad key. When the Caps Lock is turned off, the top row keys function normally. As you can tell, you get the best of both worlds.
As long as the script is running, you can use the top row numbers on your keyboard as the Numpad keys.
AutoHotKey script to create a virtual on-screen number pad:
If you want to emulate Numpad with an on-screen keyboard, follow the steps below.
Head over to the ComputorEdge website and click on the “KeyPad.zip” link to download the zip file.
After downloading, right-click on the zip file and select the “Extract All” button. Click the “Extract” button when prompted. This action will extract the content to a folder.
Open the extracted folder and double-click on the “KeyPad.ahk” file. If you don’t have AutoHotKey installed, you can use the “KeyPad.exe.”
After opening the file, you will see an on-screen Numpad, and you can start using it. You can also turn off and turn on Num Lock to enable or disable Numpad.
What is a Numpad?
A Numpad, also known as a dedicated number pad or numeric keypad on your keyboard. It is typically located on the right side of a keyboard and includes keys for numbers 0-9, as well as mathematical operators such as +, -, *, and special characters “forward slash” and “period/decimal.” Sometimes, the Numpad is also available as a separate plug-in device for Windows.
What are the uses of Numpad?
No matter who you are, a Numpad on your keyboard is quite useful. For instance, professionals such as accountants, data analysts, and programmers often use Numpad to perform quick calculations and type numbers. The Numpad is also useful for gamers who play games such as strategic and role-playing games that require a lot of numerical input.
Additionally, being a dedicated Number Pad, some tasks require using Numpad and cannot be done with the top row number keys on your keyboard. For instance, if you want to create an invisible folder, you need to use the alt codes that require using a Numpad. The same is true for moving the cursor with your keyboard.
Emulating Numpad on Windows – Conclusion
In conclusion, there are several options for emulating a Numpad on a Windows computer. These include using the built-in on-screen keyboard, a dedicated Numpad emulator software, or creating custom scripts using AutoHotKey.
Use the method of your choice depending on your need. For example, if you want a customizable virtual numeric keypad, use the Numpad Emulator. If you are an AutoHotKey user, use the AutoHotKey Numpad script. On the other hand, if your need is temporary and you prefer not to use third-party software, the on-screen keyboard can be a convenient solution.
That is all. It is that simple to emulate Numpad on Windows.
I hope this simple and easy Windows how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.
