Why wouldn't my Mac keys: "UIO, JKL and M" not work?

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Level 1

14 points

Why wouldn't my Mac keys: "UIO, JKL and M" not work?

I have more than once found that a block of keys on mac laptops won't work. I posted a solution and a history dating back to the days when computers developed from typewriters through word processors.

The problem arises when a vestige of old code called "Number Lock" mysteriously activates itself.

The cure I found is to press the "option key' 5 times. (The option key used to be labelled as the "Alt" key on some Mac keyboards,

My solution was deleted by Apple Community adjudicators. I am reposting it here because Mac users need this solution until the phantom code remains.

I am currently using a macbook Pro running Sequoia but the problem has arisen on several Macs and on several OSX versions

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Jan 21, 2025 8:56 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

D.I. Johnson

Level 8

37,709 points

Jan 21, 2025 9:04 AM in response to PatrickJC

This situation is caused by having enabled Mouse Keys.

To disable Mouse Keys, go to Apple  menu > System Settings > Accessibility. Click Shortcut and then uncheck the box for Mouse Keys.

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Answer 2

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,846 points

Jan 21, 2025 10:26 AM in response to PatrickJC

PatrickJC wrote:

The problem arises when a vestige of old code called "Number Lock" mysteriously activates itself.

Actually it's caused by a special accessibility feature provided by Apple which lets users move the cursor without a mouse or trackpad being turned on by mistake. As D.I. Johnson explaiined, better to turn it off totally. For more info also see

Fix for 789uiojkl keys or numeric keypad … - Apple Community

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Why wouldn't my Mac keys: "UIO, JKL and M" not work?

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