Turn off Num Lock on Ubuntu Mate Login Screen

caseoli 2015-05-06 12:50:32 UTC #1

Hey guys,

If you are having problem with NumLock key then do the following:

sudo apt-get install numlockx

go to /usr/share/lightdm/lightdm.conf.d

edit 60-lightdm-gtk-greeter.conf

add greeter-setup-script=/usr/bin/numlockx on

greetings.

WastedPenguin 2016-01-08 19:13:17 UTC #2

WARNING!!! This needs updating for 15.10!

You are missing one very crucial part:

sudo apt-get install numlockx

If you follow the guide and don’t install numlockx first you will boot to a black screen.

Wimpy 2016-01-09 00:35:39 UTC #3

I've never encountered a blank screen. Why do we need numlockx exactly?

WastedPenguin 2016-01-09 00:54:00 UTC #4

numlockx is required for the 'greeter-setup-script=/usr/bin/numlockx on' part of the tutorial. It forces the numlock key to be enabled at the login screen.

Unless there's an easer way around Wimpy? This was the first answer i found.

Wimpy 2016-01-09 00:56:22 UTC #5

Why does numlock have to be enabled?

WastedPenguin 2016-01-09 01:01:35 UTC #6

For passwords that require numbers at the login screen, i tend to use the num pad on keyboards so it saves all those times you forget to turn it on before typing your password. Or its just that one button less to press, we’re all lazy...

Wimpy 2016-01-09 09:56:31 UTC #7

I just turn off numlock in the BIOS

WastedPenguin 2016-01-09 11:49:59 UTC #8

If only it was that easy. I think the post is titled badly, if you follow the steps it turns the numlock on at boot not off. I do have it enabled in the bios but for some reason it still doesn’t force it on with this install?

I think you might have miss understood my first comment too after reading through again, i didn’t mean if you don’t install numlockx on Mate all systems will boot to a black screen. It will only happen if you follow the guide and don’t install numlockx first. I have edited it to word it better anyway, my bad.

Wimpy 2016-01-09 16:20:56 UTC #9

Understood I've edited the opening post.

mrjoeyman 2016-11-16 22:55:24 UTC #10

Can I still follow this tutorial to have my numlock enabled at the sign in screen? It is very frustrating to have to enable it manually every time. I have 16.10 Yakkety. Thanks!

Update: Yes!

caseoli 2017-05-02 14:21:40 UTC #11

Exactly 2 years ago I posted that.

Still works for me in UM 16.04.2

Tom_De_Coninck 2017-05-11 07:13:47 UTC #12

Yes, this works perfectly.

But why not implement this as default or add this option in Mate tweaks?

I love Ubuntu Mate, never looked back..

But somehow it bothers me that anno 2017 we have to edit scripts (ubuntu mate), or edit registry (windows) to enable something as simple as numlock on at boot time.

regards,
Tom