Most keyboards include a Num, Caps, and Scroll Lock key. Pressing those keys activates or deactivates their functions. Although many keyboards have indicator lights highlighting whether those keys are on or off, a lot of wireless ones don’t for the sake of preserving batteries.
Does your keyboard lack indicator lights for its lock keys? If so, you can add lock button indicators to Windows 11’s system tray to make up for your keyboard’s lack. This is how you can add new lock key indicators to Windows 11’s system tray with TrayStatus, AddLED, and Keyboard LEDs.
How to Add Num, Caps, and Scroll Lock Indicators With TrayStatus
TrayStatus lets you add lock key statuses, alongside a variety of system performance indicators, to the system tray.
This software is freely available for personal use, but there’s also a Pro Standard version with additional features. you’re able to try out TrayStatus Pro Standard for 30 days before it reverts to the free version.
This is how to add system tray lock key indicators with TrayStatus:
Now you should see Caps and Num Lock key indicators in the Windows system tray area, which are enabled within the software’s settings by default after installation. The1icon is the Num Lock indicator, and theastatus indicator is for Caps Lock. Theaindicator becomes a capitalAwhen Caps Lock is on. The1indicator has a white or black background when Num Lock is on.
To add a Scroll Lock indicator and others, right-click the TrayStatus Caps Lock icon in the system tray and selectSettings. Click theStatus Indicatorstab and selectShow Scroll Lock Status. You can also choose to show Ctrl, Alt, Win, Shift, RAM, CPU, and hard drive indicators on the system tray from there. The RAM and CPU indicators are handy forchecking system resource usage in Windows 11.
Click on the drop-down menu to selectLight IconsorDark Iconsoptions. Light is better for dark Windows themes. However, dark indicators will likely be more visible on a light Windows taskbar. SelectApplyto set your new settings.
How to Add Num, Caps, and Scroll Lock Indicators With AddLEDs
AddLEDs is an alternative to TrayStatus that should work ok on Windows platforms from 7 to 11. This freeware software adds Scroll, Num, and Caps Lock indicators along with two others for network and disk usage.
It also enables you to set a beep sound when you press the lock keys. you may add lock button indicators to your Windows system tray with AddLEDs as follows:
You will now see five new indicators appear within the Windows system tray area. The1,a, andSicons are theNum,Caps, andScroll Lockindicators. The flashingDandNicons are indicators for disk and network activity.
If you prefer to remove a few indicators, right-click one of the AddLEDs icons in the system tray. Then move the mouse cursor overShowto deselect the selected indicator options there.
AddLEDs has a few settings with which you can change the color scheme of its system tray indicators. Right-click one of the indicators and move the cursor over Icon Indicators to view those options. Then you can select color scheme options likeTransparent,Black/White,Blue/Red/Green,Green/Red, andRed/Blue.
To set a beep sound for your lock keys, select theOtherssubmenu on AddLEDs' context menu. ClickSoundto enable that option. Then you’ll hear a beep whenever you press the lock keys.
How to Add Num, Caps, and Scroll Lock Indicators With Keyboard LEDs
The Keyboard LEDs software adds an all-in-one system tray indicator for the Caps, Num, and Scroll lock keys. It also enables users to set an on-screen display indicator for lock keys that’s visible in the bottom-right corner of the desktop. This is how you can add Num, Caps, and Scroll Lock indicators to Windows 11 (and older platforms) with Keyboard LEDs like this:
What looks more like a battery icon with three boxes will appear in your system tray after starting Keyboard LEDs. Those boxes go red when you turn on Num, Caps, and Scroll Lock. The left box is for Num, the central box is for Caps, and the right one is the Scroll Lock indicator.
To configure the indicators, right-click the Keyboard LEDs icon to selectSettings. You can choose different colors for each indicator box by clicking the color drop-down menus for theLed 1,2, and3drop-down menus. Click the button drop-down menus to change the lock key indicator for each box.
Select theOn Screen Displaycheckbox and itsCaps,Scroll, andNum Locksettings to see the alternative lock key indicators. Enabling that setting adds text-based indicators just above the system tray area, as in the snapshot below. Those indicators tell you if their lock keys are turned on or off.
Add Handy Lock Key Indicators to Windows 11’s System Tray
The indicators TrayStatus, Keyboard LEDs, and AddLED add to Windows 11’s system tray make it crystal clear whether your Caps, Num, and Scroll Lock keys are on or off. They’re invaluable programs for users with keyboards that lack lock key light indicators.
Even if your keyboard does have lock key lights, on-screen visual indicators are still an excellent addition to the system tray area of Windows.
