Mastering Mouse Keys: Windows Navigation Simplified

Mouse Keys is a feature in Windows that lets you use the numeric keypad on your keyboard to move the mouse cursor. This is especially useful when your mouse stops working, or if you simply prefer using the keyboard. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to enable Mouse Keys and control your mouse cursor using your keyboard.

How to use Mouse Keys on Windows

How to turn on Mouse Keys

If your mouse stops working or you simply can't use it, Windows 10 has a built-in Mouse Keys feature that lets you use the numeric keypad on your keyboard to move the mouse pointer and perform actions such as clicking, double-clicking, and opening context menus. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to turn on and use Mouse Keys:

Turning on Mouse Keys:

• Opening Ease of Access Settings: Press the "Windows logo key + U" on your keyboard to open the Ease of Access settings. Alternatively, go to "Start > Settings > Ease of Access".
• Selecting Mouse Options: On the left-hand side of the Ease of Access settings, scroll down and select "Mouse".
• Enabling Mouse Keys: On the right side of the screen, under "Control your mouse with a keypad", click or tap the toggle switch to turn it on.
• Adjusting Pointer Speed: You can adjust the Pointer speed and Pointer acceleration sliders to control how quickly the mouse pointer moves across the screen.
• Optional Shortcut: You can also enable the "Hold Ctrl key + to speed up and the Shift key to slow down" option for easier control.

Using Mouse Keys:

Once you've enabled Mouse Keys, you can use the numeric keypad to navigate and interact with your computer. Here are some basic controls:

• Moving the Pointer: Use the numeric keys to move the pointer in different directions. For example, "7" moves the pointer up and to the left, "9" moves up and to the right, "1" moves down and to the left, and "3" moves down and to the right.
• Left-Clicking: To left-click on an item, point to it with the mouse pointer, press and hold "/", then press "5".
• Right-Clicking: For right-clicking, point to the item, press and hold "-", then press "5".
• Double-Clicking: To perform a double-click action, point to the item, press and hold "*", then press "+".
• Dragging and Dropping: To drag and drop an item, first select it by pointing to it and pressing "0". Then, move the pointer to the desired location and press the "." (decimal point) to drop the item.

With these steps, you can easily turn on and start using Mouse Keys on Windows 10, giving you an alternative way to interact with your computer when a mouse isn't available or convenient.

How to move the mouse pointer

If you're using Windows 7, 8.1, or 10, you can use the Mouse Keys feature to move the mouse pointer with your keyboard's numeric keypad. Here's how to set it up:

Enabling Mouse Keys

• Open the Ease of Access Center by clicking the Start button, then Control Panel, followed by Ease of Access, and finally, Ease of Access Center.
• Click "Make the mouse easier to use."
• Under "Control the mouse with the keyboard," select the "Turn on Mouse Keys" check box.

Moving the Mouse Pointer

Once Mouse Keys is enabled, you can use the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer. The keys corresponding to different directions are:

• 7 – Up and to the left.
• 9 – Up and to the right.
• 1 – Down and to the left.
• 3 – Down and to the right.

Selecting a Mouse Button

Before clicking on items, you must select the active mouse button: the left button, the right button, or both.

• Select the left mouse button by pressing "/".
• Select the right mouse button by pressing "-".

Clicking Items

With the left button selected, point to the item, then press "5" on the numeric keypad. For the right button, the process is the same, but you press "-" before "5".

Double-Clicking Items

With the left button selected, point to the item, then press the "+" key.

Dragging and Dropping Items

To drag and drop an item, first, press "0" to select and drag it. Then, move the pointer to the desired location and press the "." (decimal point) key to drop the item.

Adjusting Mouse Keys Settings

You can adjust the Mouse Keys settings to change how quickly the mouse pointer moves and whether your computer makes a sound when you turn on Mouse Keys. To do this:

• Go back to the Ease of Access Center.
• Under "Control the mouse with the keyboard," click "Set up Mouse Keys."
• Adjust the settings according to your preferences.

Alternatively, if you're using Windows 10, you can enable Mouse Keys by following these steps:

• Press the Windows key + U on your keyboard to open the Ease of Access settings.
• Scroll down and select "Mouse" in the left-hand column.
• On the right side of the screen, click or tap the toggle switch under "Control your mouse with a keypad" to turn it on.
• Adjust the Pointer speed and Pointer acceleration sliders to your preferred settings.
• You can now use the numeric keypad to move the mouse pointer.

How to left-click using Mouse Keys

Enabling Mouse Keys:

• Open the Ease of Access settings by pressing the Windows logo key + U on your keyboard.
• Scroll down and select Mouse in the left-hand column.
• On the right side of the screen, click or tap the toggle switch under 'Control your mouse with a keypad' or 'Turn on Mouse Keys' to enable the feature.
• Adjust the Mouse Keys settings, including Pointer speed and Pointer acceleration, to your preference.
• Ensure you have a keyboard with a numeric keypad, as this is necessary for Mouse Keys to function.

Using Mouse Keys to Left-Click:

• Before attempting to left-click, ensure you have selected the item you wish to click on.
• To select an item without using a mouse, you can use the arrow keys or the Tab key to navigate between options.
• Once you have selected an item, press the forward slash key (/) on the numeric keypad, followed by the 5 key to perform a left-click.
• The 5 key on the numeric keypad now acts as your left mouse button.
• You can change the function of the 5 key by pressing the (-) key on the numeric keypad, which will change it to a right-click.
• Press the (+) key after a left-click to perform a double-click.

Additional Notes:

• Holding down the Ctrl key will speed up how quickly the pointer moves, while holding down the Shift key will slow it down.
• You can also use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the mouse cursor. For example, pressing and holding 4 will move the cursor left, while 6 will move it right.
• To drag and drop an item, press the 0 key to click and drag, then move the pointer to the desired location and press the decimal point key (.) to drop the item.

How to right-click using Mouse Keys

To right-click using Mouse Keys on Windows, you need to first set up Mouse Keys on your computer. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Setting Up Mouse Keys on Windows:

• Open the Ease of Access settings by pressing the Windows logo key + U on your keyboard. Alternatively, you can click the Start button, open the Control Panel, click on Ease of Access, and then click on Ease of Access Center.
• Scroll down and select "Mouse" in the left-hand column.
• On the right side of the screen, click or tap the toggle switch under "Control your mouse with a keypad" or "Turn on Mouse Keys" to enable the feature.
• Adjust the Mouse Keys settings to your preference. You can adjust the Pointer speed and Pointer acceleration settings using the sliders provided.

Using Mouse Keys to Right-Click:

• Once Mouse Keys is enabled, you can use the numeric keypad on your keyboard to control the mouse pointer.
• To right-click using Mouse Keys, press the "-" (minus) or "-" key on your numeric keypad, followed by the "5" key.
• If you want to double-right-click, press the "-" key, followed by the "+" (plus) key on your numeric keypad.
• To switch back to left-clicking, press the "/" (forward slash) key on your numeric keypad.

Note: You can also use the "*" (asterisk) key on your numeric keypad to select both mouse buttons. Then, press "5" to click or "+" to double-click.

How to double-click using Mouse Keys

To double-click using Mouse Keys on Windows, first ensure that your computer has a number pad. Then, follow these steps:

• Press the Windows key on your keyboard, or press Ctrl + Esc at the same time.
• Type "mouse keys" and press Enter. This opens the Mouse Keys area of your Accessibility options.
• Enable Mouse Keys. If you can click, just click the switch at the top of the window. If not, press the Spacebar to toggle on the switch.
• Make sure "Only use Mouse Keys when Num Lock is on" is selected. If there's no checkmark in the box, use the Tab key to navigate to the box, then press Spacebar to add a checkmark.
• Change the speed of the cursor if desired.
• Press the Num Lock key to enable Mouse Keys.
• Use the arrow keys on the numeric keypad to move the mouse cursor to the desired item.
• Press the '+' key on the numeric keypad to double-click.

Frequently asked questions