Use Mouse Keys to move the mouse without a mouse on Windows 11
The Mouse Keys feature is a feature in Windows 11 that allows you to use the numpad buttons as buttons to move the mouse on the system. There are many reasons for the idea that the mouse stops working. It could be due to a problem with the mouse cable if we are talking about a wired mouse here, or a problem with the wireless connection if we are talking about a wireless mouse. Its battery may be drained, so you need to charge it or install new batteries if it is not rechargeable.
There are many problems that can occur and cause your mouse to stop, so in this article we will talk about the Mouse Keys feature that helps you use the Numpad buttons or as some call them the calculator buttons instead of the mouse.
Enable Mouse Keys
There is more than one way to activate this feature, the most prominent way is through the At, Shift and Numlock buttons, and a pop-up screen will appear asking you if you want to activate this feature, you will choose Yes through the keyboard and the feature is done, the good thing is that this feature is available in all versions of Windows and is not exclusive to Windows 11 only, what is new in Windows 11 is that you can activate this feature through the Settings application as well, follow the steps
Steps
- Open the Settings app by pressing Windows + I.
- Select Accessibility settings.
- Select Mouse
- Activate the Mouse Keys option in front of you.
Now you can change the settings as you like, by default Windows will allow the use of calculator buttons to control the mouse when the Numlock button is on, but you can change this via the Only use mouse keys when numlock is on option, so you can use these buttons as you like without numlock working at all, and you can control the mouse speed by changing the speed of the mouse pointer from the screen in front of you, and thus you use the mouse and move the pointer without a mouse, the important thing is that you only know the shortcuts and the function of each button, and this is what we will mention below.
Abbreviations
- Use number 8 to move the cursor up.
- Use number 2 to move the cursor down.
- Use number 4 to move the cursor to the right.
- Use number 6 to move the cursor to the left.
- Use number 7 to move the cursor angled up and left.
- Use number 9 to move the cursor angled up and right.
- Use 1 to move the cursor at an angle down to the left.
- Use number 3 to move the cursor at an angle down to the right.
- Use number 5 as a substitute for the left mouse button.
- Use the - button as an alternative to the right mouse button.
- To double press use the + button.
- To drag an item, long press the 0 button, the item will be selected, drag and move it using the buttons mentioned above, and press the period (.) button to release.
Using Mouse Keys
The Mouse Keys feature is a very important and indispensable feature in Windows. Yes, to a large extent, you may not need to use this feature. You certainly have your own mouse and on the laptop there is its own Trackpad to use, but this is a very important and useful feature at many times. You should not forget it and you will certainly love using it and working with it. The Mouse Keys feature has been available on the Windows system since ancient times, it is not exclusive to Windows 11 only.