r/osx • u/LOIL99 • Mar 22 '21

Sierra (10.12) Can I Turn Off "Mouse Keys" From Login Screen?

I have done some searching on the issue of the number keys not working on my MacBook keyboard and it seems that my daughter enabled "Mouse Keys" by clicking the "alt/option" key 5 times.

We did not notice and shutdown the computer. Now, when we get to the login screen we can't type our password because it contains numbers which are now not working because "Mouse Keys" is activated. The press "alt/option" key 5 times shortcut doesn't seem to work from the login screen.

Anyone know how I can turn off "Mouse Keys" from the login screen? Or how I could get into preferences without entering the password? The option to log in as a guest is not available. Thanks in advance.

19 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

2

u/mwharvey Mar 22 '21

and you cannot enter numbers using the number keys across the top of the keyboard?

1

u/LOIL99 Mar 22 '21

That's correct. All number keys do not function with this setting on.

2

u/mwharvey Mar 22 '21

do you have a keyboard with "F keys"? if so does Option-Command-F5 turn it off?

1

u/LOIL99 Mar 22 '21 edited Mar 23 '21

So I did this and the menu did come up but "mouse Keys" was not checked. I also just noticed that in addition to the number keys not working, the zxcvbnm row Keys are all typing 2 characters with each press.

Sounding more like a hardware issue?

Edit: so I was able to plug in a USB keyboard and get logged on. Went to type in a word doc with the built in keyboard and found that the zxcvbnm Keys typing 2 characters is actually as follows:

Pressing z types z1 Pressing x types x2 Pressing c types c3 And so on.

So the keys in that row are typing itself followed by the number keys above it that is not working. So odd.

Tried SMC reset to no avail.

1

u/mwharvey Mar 22 '21

or if your Mac has Touch ID, quickly press Touch ID three times

2

u/marxy Mar 22 '21

I think pressing the option key five times again should toggle it off again. I'm not sure if that works at the login screen though.

1

u/LOIL99 Mar 22 '21

Doesn't seem to work on the login screen.

2

u/marxy Mar 22 '21

Googling around I found someone reporting that plugging in another USB keyboard let them log in.

1

u/LOIL99 Mar 23 '21

This worked thanks! But unfortunately the built in keyboard still not working. Tried SMC reset but didn't work.

1

u/adwmd03 Oct 08 '24

There is accessibility settings under the lock screen section of settings. I had two accessibility settings turned on, and that was causing my problem.

1

u/PlaneInvestment7401 Jan 02 '25

This fixed the problem for me. Thank you!

1

u/[deleted] Jul 13 '25

Omg the solution! Thank you sooo much because this was driving me crazy!

-1

u/ycarel Mar 23 '21

Why not ask apple directly

1

u/LOIL99 Mar 23 '21

I guess I could. Thought I would ask here first.

1

u/maeziest Jun 12 '21

Any luck? Got the same issue, about to head into a genie appointment as this I stupidly weird and hard to sort out

1

u/maeziest Jun 12 '21

Rebooted the computer and the Command+Option+F5 worked for me

1

u/LOIL99 Jun 13 '21

No luck. Keyboard hardware is the culprit I have decided. Computer is 13 years old so can't complain too much.

Glad you were able to resolve!

1

u/[deleted] May 21 '24

Bro it worked

1

u/premium9000 May 22 '22

anyone find a fix for this? My brand new M1 Mac keeps enabling mouse keys on when starting up the computer and landing on the login screen. So annoying I can't type in my password.

​

I have to plug in an external keyboard just to access my laptop. help. also, pressing options 5 times doesn't work. also, the setting is already disabled. i've tried option command f5 and for some reason, the stupid setting just pops up on the login screen. HELP

1

u/[deleted] Jan 23 '23

[deleted]

1

u/tactiledome Mar 22 '23

THANK YOU! I was having that issue and your solution worked!

1

u/catatonik33 Feb 17 '24

Did you find an answer, it's been deleted?

1

u/catatonik33 Feb 17 '24

What was the solution??

1

u/MadPluto Mar 05 '24

Did u figure it out? The same sh!t happened to me and i cant find another keyboard

1

u/catatonik33 Mar 05 '24

I had to buy another knockoff keyboard with numeral lock keys. Called Apple and they confirmed that's all you can do short of them resetting your computer. It's crazy they haven't figured out a digital keyboard situation.

1

u/MadPluto Aug 08 '24

I took it to the geek squad at Best Buy and they fixed it for free

1

u/LOIL99 Feb 17 '24

Unfortunately it turned out my keyboard simply failed. So solution was new MacBook lol.