Numeric keypad doesn't work in Excel after El Capitan install

Question

Numeric keypad doesn't work in Excel after El Capitan install

I just installed El Capitan on my MacBook Air and now find that my usb-connected numeric keypads do not work in Excel ( I have two and neither works properly ). The do work in Notes and in Word, just not in Excel for Mac 2011. When I enter a number it appears briefly and automatically backspaces. If I hold down a number key a series of numbers will appear in the cell and when I stop the last entered number is backspaced out. Microsoft support was no help.

MacBook Air (13-inch Late 2010), OS X El Capitan (10.11), Excel for Mac 2011

Posted on Oct 6, 2015 7:49 AM

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Answer 1

Luegugo

Level 1

4 points

Nov 16, 2017 2:06 PM in response to Polemarch

Have you tried just pressing shift+num lock?

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Answer 2

Feb 10, 2016 4:55 PM in response to MarcherConsults

Just got a new computer with El Capitan and noticed my Targus number pad sending clear keystrokes before and after every number press. It seems to be wanting to send num lock strokes for whatever reason.

Look into a program called Karabiner. It offers a variety of key remapping features, but one of them is "Disable NumLock key." This has restored operation to normal for me. When Karabiner is running, click its icon in the toolbar (a little square) and select preferences. This should open to Karabiner's "Change Key" tab. The option you want is found under For PC Users -> Change PC NumLock Key. But you can also simply type "numlock" in the search field and look for it.

Hope that helps!

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Answer 3

Oct 15, 2015 7:38 AM in response to rpatinha

A good try but it doesn't work. I just completed a chat with Targus and learned that the Targus AKP11US and AKP10US devices that I have been happily using are incompatible with El Capitan and unless they find a workaround or issue a driver update there is no way to make them work. Why oh why did I upgrade to El Capitan? My machine was working fine and now this. It materially affects my ability to get work done.

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Answer 4

Jan 7, 2016 10:38 AM in response to imblue14

Nope, didn't work. I think the issue is with Targus and until they release a new driver it will just continue to do this.

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Answer 5

imblue14

Level 1

0 points

Jan 7, 2016 8:45 AM in response to MarcherConsults

FIX FOR AUTO BACKSPACE.

Goto Excel as my Keypad which is from TARGUS Company.

click on any cell and then start pressing keys on TARGUS KEYPAD in a Mad Way like you want to try all the keys out.

Keep punching in and then hold and press keys down as much as you can with your 4 or 5 finger and release.

Delete what ever you typed and then Check by typing any Numeric Key , it works everytime for me when ever i disconnect the keypad from my Macbook Air 2014.

hope it works for you all....

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Answer 6

Mar 6, 2016 5:44 PM in response to MarcherConsults

I had the same problem. By chance, I tried using the device with Google Sheets and it worked perfectly on both my macbook pro and my desktop iMac. Both operating systems are El Capitan, OSX11.3

Since Google has really improved their office products, this work-around is alright with me. MS came out with a new office suite this year... I'm still using the 2011 version. But the Google version if free.

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Answer 7

Mar 13, 2016 4:34 PM in response to Polemarch

Thanks Polemarch! That worked for me, too. Mid-2012 MacBook Pro with El Capitan. Was very frustrated with hundred of numbers to enter and a dysfunctional keypad.

Karabiner seems quite complex to configure, so I appreciate the exact instructions you gave.

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Answer 8

Sep 18, 2016 10:20 PM in response to Polemarch

Thank you, Polemarsh! I was so disappointed my Targus Wireless numeric keypad wasn't working in Excel. This fix with Karabiner worked perfectly.

One question... Do I have to leave Karabiner on all the time? It said if I shut it down, I would lose the changes I'd made. I don't see anywhere to save it.

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Answer 9

Dec 7, 2016 10:56 AM in response to Polemarch

Of course Sierra broke Karabiner..... But the good news they have Karabiner-Elements working for at lease this. Go to: https://pqrs.org/latest/karabiner-elements-latest.dmg and then the instructions are pretty similar to what Polemarch posted above.

Thanks Polemarch, you're a lifesaver. (Well at least a sanity saver!!)

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Answer 10

Jul 14, 2017 1:36 PM in response to Timandjayme

Timandjayme, I don't know if you'll catch this, but I'm actually trying to walk somebody through how to set this up in Karabiner Elements, but I'm still on 10.10, so I can't install it, and apparently it's different. Can you give any advice as to how you disable the number lock in Elements?

Thanks!

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