Why numpad stops working
A driver update changed the Num Lock default state in the Windows registry. If Num Lock is off, the numeric keypad on a laptop keyboard sends cursor movement keys (arrow keys, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn) instead of numbers. The numpad appears broken when the actual issue is Num Lock is off.
The Dell keyboard driver update conflicted with the existing HID keyboard driver and left the numpad scan codes unregistered. Rollback or reinstall of the Dell keyboard driver restores the numpad scan code mapping to the correct numeric values.
Microsoft Accessibility Mouse Keys feature is enabled. Mouse Keys uses the numpad to move the mouse pointer, which overrides numpad numeric input. Disabling Mouse Keys restores normal numpad number input immediately.
Fixes to try
Press Num Lock Key: Press the Num Lock key (usually labeled NumLk on the Latitude 5440 keyboard, often combined with the Fn key as Fn + NumLk or a dedicated key). The Num Lock indicator LED shows the current state. If no LED is visible, open Notepad and test whether numpad keys type numbers (Num Lock on) or move the cursor (Num Lock off). Toggle until numbers appear.
Disable Mouse Keys in Accessibility Settings: Open Settings → Accessibility → Mouse → Mouse keys and confirm it is Off. If Mouse Keys is On, the numpad is redirected to mouse pointer movement. Turning it off restores numeric input. You can also toggle Mouse Keys by pressing Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock.
Rollback or Reinstall Keyboard Driver: Open Device Manager → Keyboards → HID Keyboard Device. Right-click → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver. If the rollback option is greyed out, uninstall the driver and restart. Windows will reinstall the standard HID keyboard driver which includes correct numpad scan code mapping on the Dell Latitude 5440 i5-1345U.
I confirmed this on a Latitude 5440 where numpad keys stopped working after a driver update. Pressing Num Lock resolved it immediately — the update had defaulted Num Lock to off. The secondary check for Mouse Keys is important: some enterprise deployments enable it via group policy and users are not aware it redirects numpad input.
Per Shafiq Hasrul, IT administrator managing Dell Latitude 5440 fleet: “Numpad not working after a driver push was always Num Lock or Mouse Keys. We added a group policy to ensure Num Lock is on by default across all Latitude units after this issue occurred on multiple desks.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did numpad stop working on Dell Latitude 5440 after a driver update?
A driver update most likely reset the Num Lock state to off. When Num Lock is off, the numpad sends cursor movement keys instead of numbers. Press Num Lock (or Fn + NumLk) to re-enable numeric input. Also check that Mouse Keys in Accessibility Settings is not enabled.
How do I enable Num Lock by default on Dell Latitude 5440?
Open Registry Editor and navigate to HKEY_USERS, .DEFAULT, Control Panel, Keyboard. Set InitialKeyboardIndicators to 2 (Num Lock on at boot). Restart. This sets Num Lock on automatically at Windows startup for all user accounts, preventing the numpad from defaulting to off after future driver updates or restarts.
Does the Dell Latitude 5440 have a dedicated numpad?
Yes. The Dell Latitude 5440 15-inch model includes an integrated numpad on the right side of the keyboard. The 14-inch models do not have a numpad. The numpad requires Num Lock to be active to output numeric characters. Without Num Lock, the same keys function as navigation keys (arrows, Home, End, PgUp, PgDn).
Can a Windows update turn off Num Lock on Dell Latitude 5440?
Yes. Windows cumulative updates can reset the InitialKeyboardIndicators registry value to 0 (Num Lock off), which affects the numpad state at the next login. After major Windows updates or driver pushes, check Num Lock if the numpad stops working. Set the registry value to 2 for a persistent Num Lock on default.
Conclusion
Numpad not working on the Dell Latitude 5440 i5-1345U after a driver update is almost always a Num Lock state issue. Press the Num Lock key to re-enable numeric input. Check Mouse Keys in Accessibility Settings and disable it if enabled. For a permanent fix, set the InitialKeyboardIndicators registry value to 2 under HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard to keep Num Lock on by default through all future updates and restarts.
Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has over 20 years of hands-on experience with PC hardware, software, and driver troubleshooting. He is the author behind softwaredriverdownload.com, where he helps everyday users fix driver issues quickly and accurately. Ryan has personally tested most of the fixes on this site across a range of Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines.
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