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The newest version of Ubuntu has a new nifty feature: a big exclamation mark warning in the password box when you have Numlock on at login.

Numlock warning at login

When you mouse over the warning: Numlock warning at login with mouseover

Why would the user be concerned about this?

MicroParsec
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  • Sounds like a bug, this warning should only be shown for capslock, not numlock. –  Apr 25 '16 at 20:54
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    I've edited my question to show what it says when you hover the mouse over the exclamation. When you enable Caps Lock it turns to a brighter white warning. But my thoughts exactly, you only need a warning for Caps Lock – MicroParsec Apr 25 '16 at 20:59
  • @ParanoidPanda no, IIRC, the reason is for laptop keyboards, where numlock enables numpad on keys which would otherwise be part of the normal space. And it's not new: there were bugs filed about it in 2012: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity-greeter/+bug/945534 – muru Apr 25 '16 at 21:18
  • So they re-enabled this feature that was removed in 12.04? I do not have a laptop keyboard, and most laptops I've had don't do numlock that way. It seems a bit excessive to have this warning for everyone. I always leave numlock on because it's more useful. – MicroParsec Apr 25 '16 at 21:53
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    So, is there a way to disable it? – brandizzi Apr 29 '16 at 21:03
  • @brandizzi Apparently no according to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/1526322. – edwinksl Jun 02 '16 at 20:08
  • Oddly I never noticed this, and that's because it only shows up on my lock screen. I logged out and it doesn't show on the "logged out" login screen, even if I press the numlock button. I never lock my laptop though so I never saw it until now. Does it show up on everyone's login screen or just the lock screen like me? – Delorean Jun 04 '16 at 17:21
  • @Dorian I have a couple desktops and I don't have this behavior. It seems logical that [this answer](https://askubuntu.com/a/786081/225694) is correct. I would assume that whether you get it or not is related to keyboard layout. – Elder Geek Apr 21 '17 at 21:04

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If I'm not mistaken it is for laptop users, so they know when the num-pad is on which is usually on the lettered keys as well.

DanglingPointer
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