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Scroll Lock
Scroll Lock
from Wikipedia

The scroll-lock key with an activated indicator light on an IBM Model M keyboard.

Scroll Lock or ScrLk[1] (sometimes notated [2] or [3]) is a lock key (typically with an associated status light) on most IBM-compatible computer keyboards. Depending on the operating system, it may be used for different purposes, and applications may assign functions to the key or change their behavior depending on its toggling state.[4][5] The key is not frequently used, and therefore some reduced or specialized keyboards lack Scroll Lock altogether.

Pressing Ctrl+Scroll Lock performs the same function as pressing Ctrl+Pause/Break. This behavior is a remnant of the original IBM PC keyboards, which did not have a dedicated Pause/Break key. Instead, they assigned the Pause function to Ctrl+Num Lock and the Break function to Ctrl+Scroll Lock.

Function

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Window scrolling

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The Scroll Lock key is meant to lock all scrolling techniques and is a vestige of the original IBM PC keyboard. In its original design, Scroll Lock was intended to modify the behavior of the arrow keys. When the Scroll Lock mode is on, the arrow keys scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor.[4][5] In this usage, Scroll Lock is a toggling lock key like Num Lock or Caps Lock, which have a state that persists after the key is released.

Today, this particular use of Scroll Lock is rare. Modern programs honoring this behavior include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project,[6] Image-Line FL Studio,[7] IBM Lotus Notes, Forté Agent, Renoise, Cakewalk by BandLab, and LibreOffice Calc.

Some text editors (such as Notepad++, Microsoft Visual Studio) exhibit similar behavior when the arrow keys are used with Ctrl pressed.

Most GUI environments neglect Scroll Lock, which means scrolling must be accomplished with a mouse, using means such as scrollbars or scroll wheels, or an "autoscroll" feature activated by the middle mouse button (which may be part of the scroll wheel). In some instances, Ctrl+⇧ Shift in conjunction with the arrow keys can enable scrolling.

Some web browsers including Google Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer support a caret browsing mode which can be toggled by F7. While the window scrolling behavior with caret navigation disabled (the default) is similar to that suggested for Scroll Lock, enabling caret navigation will enable a cursor scrolling behavior as if Scroll Lock were disabled.

Console scrolling

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Pressing the Scroll Lock key in the Linux console while the text is scrolling through the screen freezes the console output (but not input) during which no further text is sent to the screen, while the program continues running as usual — or becomes blocked at the write syscall when too much data is prevented from reaching the terminal, causing the tty's output queue to become full if the tty file descriptor is not using non-blocking I/O. When Scroll Lock is pressed again, the screen is unfrozen and all text generated during the freeze is displayed at once and the program continues to run normally. This allows the user to pause the display and read long log messages that scroll through the screen too quickly to read, such as when the system is booting up (provided the keyboard driver has already been loaded). Unless configured otherwise or in raw mode, Ctrl+S (DC3 in ASCII) and Ctrl+Q (DC1 in ASCII) can be used instead of Scroll Lock in Unix-like systems to freeze and unfreeze the tty output respectively.

This behavior emulates the Hold Screen key or similar flow control mechanisms on computer terminal hardware.

On the FreeBSD system console, the Scroll Lock key not only pauses output, but additionally enables scrolling: after pressing Scroll Lock, one can use Page Up and Page Down to scroll up or down. Pressing Scroll Lock again disables this mode and moves back to the bottom of the output. The Linux console implemented this behaviour by using ⇧ Shift+Page Up and ⇧ Shift+Page Down, not requiring Scroll Lock to be active; this behavior has been removed due to a vulnerability (CVE-2020-14390).[8] The NetBSD console can be scrolled either with ⇧ Shift+Page Up/ ⇧ Shift+Page Down or by pressing Scroll Lock then Page Up/Page Down .

Boot diagnostics

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In Multiuser DOS, System Manager, and REAL/32, activating Scroll Lock during boot will always enter a special diagnostic mode, where the operating system and loaded device drivers will display detailed status and debugging information about themselves and their interaction with the operating system, sometimes up to several screenfulls per loaded driver.[9] Automatic scrolling is suspended for as long as Scroll Lock remains activated.[10]

DR-DOS 7.02 and higher provides a CONFIG.SYS directive named SCROLLOCK=ON|OFF to change the Scroll Lock status on the fly.[9] Activating Scroll Lock during boot will enter a DIAG mode as well, wherein some special drivers may display more verbose messages,[9] but in contrast to the situation under the Multiuser DOS family normal DOS drivers do not typically display additional information. The operating system, however, will temporarily suspend any automatic timeouts (TIMEOUT=<seconds>,<character>,<switch>) in CONFIG.SYS trace (TRACE=ON|OFF) and F7/F8 single-stepping modes for as long as Scroll Lock is active.[9]

Debugging

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In the Microsoft Windows NT family starting with Windows 2000, a debugging feature can be enabled, that allows the user to manually crash the system, generating a memory dump for analysis of the current state of the operating system. This can be accomplished by setting the REG_DWORD registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\i8042prt\Parameters\CrashOnCtrlScroll to 1. Once set, the user can hold the RCtrl key and tap the Scroll Lock key twice to trigger a Blue Screen of Death.[11][12]

In Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 and 6.0, Ctrl+Pause/Break pauses the running program in the integrated development environment, as does its alias Ctrl+Scroll Lock.

Copy and paste

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In conjunction with the alternative DOS keyboard and console drivers FreeKEYB and K3PLUS, Scroll Lock also serves as part of a copy & paste facility between applications. Compared to the standard keyboard driver KEYB these drivers offer several extensions including an extended keystroke buffer with key stacking facility, macro recorder, and a second cursor called CopyCursor, which can be invoked on demand (by default on pressing Ctrl+Alt+F11 or the middle mouse button) and freely move on the screen using the cursor keys or the mouse, even outside the area reachable by the standard cursor in the running application. Once invoked, pressing F11 (or the left mouse button) the characters under the CopyCursor can be stuffed, one after another, into the keyboard buffer, from where they will be read by the running application as emulated key (or Alt Numpad) input, thereby typically showing up at the location of the standard cursor. The CopyCursor will move to the next screen position after each F11 (or backwards with each ⇧ Shift+F11). Normal keyboard input is possible while the CopyCursor is enabled, and the user can switch between the two cursors by toggling the Ctrl+Alt+F11 hotkey again. Pressing Esc or ↵ Enter exits the CopyCursor, so that, on its next invocation, it will show up at the position of the standard cursor again rather than at its previous location. If the screen contents are scrolled, the position of the CopyCursor will move accordingly until reaching the display limits. With Scroll Lock activated, keypresses will still reach the normal keystroke buffer, while CopyCursor input will be stacked up internally for later use in a second queue, dynamically maintained within the extended keystroke buffer. Thereby, it is possible to "collect" selected screen output from different programs and spool out the data much later while within yet another application by toggling Scroll Lock off again. It is also possible to use this as input into the macro recorder for later use as scrap macro. Since this is an integral part of these keyboard drivers, it is fully transparent to running software and therefore works with virtually any DOS program, including at the command prompt, temporary shelled programs, and task switchers.[13][14][15]

Other uses

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IBM PC documentation called Scroll Lock an "inactive key". When PC Magazine asked an executive of keyboard manufacturer Key Tronic about the key's purpose in a 1983 interview, he replied "I don't know, but we put it on ours, too."[16]

The indicator light is sometimes used for other purposes such as a keyboard layout indicator[17][18] in some Linux distributions or other applications,[19] because doing so is less likely to cause problems than manipulating other keys/lights.

Keyboard, video, mouse switches (KVM) often use the Scroll Lock key on the keyboard connected to the KVM switch for selecting between computers. On KVM switches with On-screen display (OSD), a "double click" of the Scroll Lock key often brings up the OSD, allowing the user to select the desired computer from a list or access the configuration menu of the KVM. Some models, especially those without an OSD, switch to the input corresponding to the number key pressed after Scroll Lock, or in the case of some two-port switches, the up and down arrow keys. Simple models with only two or four inputs may immediately switch to the next input following a double press of the Scroll Lock key.

Scroll Lock on keyboards without a Scroll Lock key

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Laptops and keyboards without a physical Scroll Lock key[20] may have a second function on another key that acts as if a Scroll Lock key is activated.

Some common methods are:

  • Fn+S or Fn+F6 on certain Dell laptops.[21]
  • Fn+C or Fn+K on certain Lenovo laptops.
  • Fn+C on certain HP laptops.
  • Fn+F11 on Windows.

Another way to press Scroll Lock is to use an on-screen keyboard. In Windows 8 and later versions, it can be found in the "Windows Ease of Access" program group. This will provide access to an emulation of a standard 101/102-key keyboard.[22]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Scroll Lock is a on computer keyboards designed to alter the behavior of , enabling them to scroll the contents of a text or screen without moving the cursor or insertion point. Typically located in the upper-right section near the and Pause/Break keys, it often features an indicator light on full-sized keyboards to show when activated. On laptops and compact keyboards, it may require a function ( combination due to space constraints. Introduced in 1981 as part of the original PC/XT 83-key keyboard layout and the subsequent PC/AT 84-key design, Scroll Lock addressed the limitations of early text-based computing environments with fixed 80x25 character displays. In these systems, such as applications, activating Scroll Lock allowed to pan through documents or program output that exceeded the visible screen area, preventing the cursor from advancing into non-displayed regions. Additionally, pressing Control (Ctrl) + Scroll Lock simulates Ctrl + Break or Pause, a dual function rooted in the PC's scan code 70 (hex 46), which provided a way to interrupt program execution or pause output in command-line interfaces. This key persisted into the enhanced 101/102-key keyboard standard of the late 1980s and remains a standard feature on most PC-compatible keyboards today, primarily for with legacy software. In modern graphical operating systems like Windows and macOS, its role has largely faded, though it retains specific utilities; for instance, in , enabling Scroll Lock permits arrow keys to shift the viewable worksheet area without changing the active cell. Some terminal emulators and text-based games, such as those in environments, may also use it to control scrolling or pause gameplay. Despite its diminished prominence, the key's inclusion underscores the enduring influence of IBM's original PC design on contemporary hardware standards.

History

Origins and Development

The Scroll Lock key was introduced in 1981 as part of the original Personal Computer (Model 5150) keyboard, an 83-key Model F design developed by engineers. It formed one of three primary toggle keys on the keyboard, alongside and , enabling users to switch between distinct input modes for enhanced control in early computing environments. This design choice reflected IBM's emphasis on providing hardware-level support for application-specific behaviors, particularly in text-heavy software where screen real estate was limited to fixed displays like the 80x25 character . The original intent of Scroll Lock was to modify the operation of cursor-control keys, such as the , allowing them to scroll the entire contents of a text or without relocating the active cursor position. This addressed key limitations in early text-based interfaces, where fixed screen sizes made navigating large documents or datasets cumbersome, as otherwise only moved the cursor within the visible area. IBM engineers incorporated this functionality to facilitate block-mode operations—common in mainframe terminal emulations and early database applications—enabling efficient panning over extended data blocks without disrupting the cursor's reference point. For instance, pressing Scroll Lock would toggle the into a scrolling mode, with a second press reversing the action to restore cursor movement. In terms of hardware implementation, Scroll Lock was positioned in the top row of the keyboard, near the and between the Pause and PrtSc keys, designated as key position 70 in the scan code layout. The key generated specific scan codes (make: 0x46, break: 0xC6) processed by the keyboard controller and interrupt routines, ensuring reliable state management across software applications. This positioning and design underscored IBM's focus on ergonomic accessibility for professional users handling repetitive data navigation tasks.

Early Adoption in Computing

The Scroll Lock key appeared on the PC/AT keyboard introduced in August 1984 as part of the 84-key layout, which added dedicated LED indicators for , , and Scroll Lock to provide visual status feedback. This update built on the original PC's 83-key design from 1981, enhancing the existing lock keys with bidirectional keyboard communication for LED control. One of the earliest and most prominent adoptions of Scroll Lock occurred in , the landmark application released in January 1983. In this software, activating Scroll Lock toggled the behavior of from moving the active cell pointer to scrolling the , enabling users to pan across large datasets exceeding the screen display without altering the selected cell until it reached the window edge. A "SCROLL" indicator appeared in the lower right corner when enabled, and the feature was integral to efficient navigation in expansive spreadsheets, with the key positioned in the upper right of the keyboard above the pointer-movement pad. This implementation popularized Scroll Lock among business users, as dominated the market and set a precedent for control in data-intensive programs. In environments, Scroll Lock found utility in command-line interfaces for managing text output, where pressing Ctrl + Scroll Lock functioned equivalently to Ctrl + Break (or Pause), halting the scrolling of lengthy command results to allow review without interrupting execution. This capability prevented rapid text overflow in full-screen terminals, aiding navigation through verbose listings like directory outputs or program logs, and reflected the key's role in early DOS-based systems from the mid-1980s onward. The key's utility in influenced its integration into other prominent 1980s applications, standardizing Scroll Lock for data navigation across PC software. By the mid-1980s, Scroll Lock achieved broader standardization on PC-compatible keyboards, particularly with the 1986 introduction of the Enhanced Keyboard (101/102-key layout), which retained the key and its LED while expanding the overall for wider compatibility. This evolution cemented its presence in the PC ecosystem, influencing third-party manufacturers and ensuring consistent support in and early Windows environments for scrolling tasks.

Core Functionality

Scrolling in Spreadsheet Applications

In , a successor to the pioneering program from the 1980s, activating Scroll Lock alters the behavior of the , shifting them from selecting adjacent cells to scrolling the entire worksheet view. When enabled, the active cell remains stationary as the sheet's content pans in the direction of the pressed arrow key, typically by one row or column at a time, facilitating broad navigation without changing the selection. This toggle is indicated by "Scroll Lock" appearing in the at the bottom of the Excel window. The mode also influences other navigation keys to enhance scrolling efficiency. For example, pressing the while Scroll Lock is on moves the view to the upper-left corner of the visible window, positioning the active cell there without altering its absolute location on the sheet. Similarly, combinations like Ctrl plus an scroll the view rapidly through large areas of the , such as by the height or width of the visible window. This functionality persists in through its 2025 releases, including subscriptions, to ensure compatibility with legacy macros, add-ins, and user workflows originating from earlier software like Lotus 1-2-3. Deactivating Scroll Lock reverts the to standard cell movement, and the feature can be toggled via the physical key, on-screen keyboard, or indicator if no dedicated hardware key is available. In practice, Scroll Lock proves valuable for reviewing large datasets in fields like , where users scroll through thousands of rows—such as transaction logs or projection tables—while keeping the active cell unchanged to avoid unintended edits or selections. This approach streamlines inspection of complex spreadsheets without disrupting formulas or data entry positions.

Scrolling in Text-Based Interfaces

In text-based interfaces such as command-line consoles and terminals, the Scroll Lock key primarily modifies the behavior of to facilitate through output without interfering with input or cursor positioning. In and early Windows consoles, Scroll Lock was intended for pausing output in text modes, but primarily handled cursor movement; modern scrolling uses Page Up/Down or . This functionality allows users to pause and examine lengthy textual streams, such as directory listings or program outputs, by toggling the mode on and using directional keys to navigate vertically or horizontally through the fixed screen area. In Unix and terminal environments, including emulators like , Scroll Lock often pauses or freezes ongoing text output, allowing review of previous content using Page Up/Down or terminal-specific methods; generally continue to handle cursor movement. This behavior supports efficient inspection of verbose logs or script results in resource-constrained text interfaces, where mouse scrolling may be unavailable or impractical. As of 2025, Scroll Lock remains operational in the Windows Command Prompt and for these purposes, supporting navigation through output buffers during log analysis or command execution. This persistence ensures compatibility with legacy text workflows, paralleling its role in applications for decoupled navigation.

Specialized Applications

Debugging and Programming Tools

In software development environments, the key, particularly when combined with the Ctrl modifier, functions as a soft pause or break mechanism to interrupt program execution without termination, enabling developers to inspect code states during . This capability traces back to the original PC architecture, where Ctrl + Scroll Lock emulated the to halt assembly code or DOS-based programs, complementing the dedicated Pause/ for runtime . In integrated development environments, Ctrl + Break (with Ctrl + Scroll Lock serving as a historical equivalent) can pause execution for examination of variables, stack traces, and —especially valuable in iterative loops where continuous monitoring reveals dynamic changes. Due to the infrequent use of Scroll Lock on modern hardware, developers often remap keys via tools like .

System Diagnostics and Boot Processes

During the boot process in text-based operating system consoles, such as those in distributions, pressing the Scroll Lock key pauses the scrolling of startup messages, allowing users to review diagnostic output without halting the overall boot sequence. This feature is particularly useful for examining kernel initialization logs or error notifications that appear rapidly on screen. For example, in environments running or similar init systems, Scroll Lock enables scrolling up and down through the buffer using once activated, providing essential visibility into the boot diagnostics. In console environments, including remote access via keyboard emulation, the Scroll Lock key toggles the pausing of boot log scrolling, permitting administrators to monitor and analyze startup information without interrupting the process. This capability is valuable in data centers where physical access is limited, ensuring that verbose boot outputs from / firmware or OS loaders can be inspected in real-time over network connections. Hardware diagnostic utilities, such as MemTest86, incorporate Scroll Lock to manage the display of error messages during memory testing. Activating Scroll Lock via the spacebar stops the scrolling of detected faults, suspending the test when the screen buffer is full to facilitate navigation and detailed review of issues like failing addresses or data patterns. This mechanism aids in pinpointing hardware defects without overwhelming the limited text output on bootable diagnostic media. Scroll Lock continues to be relevant in enterprise IT for legacy systems lacking graphical boot interfaces, where it supports scrolling through messages and diagnostic screens on hardware with constrained display capabilities, such as serial terminals or minimal VGA outputs.

Contemporary Usage and Alternatives

Keyboards Without Dedicated Scroll Lock

The Scroll Lock key has been omitted from most and compact keyboards since the early to optimize space in slim designs, particularly on devices like MacBooks and ultrabooks where every millimeter counts for portability. Apple MacBooks, for instance, have never included a dedicated Scroll Lock key, relying instead on key combinations such as Fn + Shift + F12 to emulate the function. Similarly, major manufacturers like and HP have designed the majority of their keyboards without a physical Scroll Lock, using Fn pairings (e.g., Fn + C on HP EliteBooks) to access it when needed. This trend reflects the shift toward reduced key layouts in hardware, where legacy keys are deprioritized to accommodate touchpads, controls, and minimalist aesthetics. By 2025, the Scroll Lock key has become largely vestigial in consumer-grade keyboards due to the declining relevance of keyboard-centric scrolling in an era dominated by touch and gesture-based interfaces. and applications increasingly favor gestures on trackpads or screens for navigation, reducing the need for dedicated hardware toggles like Scroll Lock that originated in text-based environments. In full-size desktop keyboards, the key persists for compatibility, but in the portable segment—which constitutes the bulk of new shipments—its absence is standard to streamline manufacturing and . This omission creates compatibility challenges, particularly in spreadsheet applications like , where the absence of a direct Scroll Lock key disrupts traditional navigation workflows. Without it, users cannot easily toggle the mode that allows to scroll the entire view rather than shift the active cell, leading to accidental or stalled editing sessions in large datasets. Legacy software relying on Scroll Lock for similar behaviors, such as certain tools, also suffers, compelling users to resort to on-screen keyboards or external peripherals, which interrupts and requires adaptations. As a result, professionals in data-heavy fields often pair laptops with full keyboards or remap functions to mitigate these issues.

Emulation Methods and Software Workarounds

Keyboard remapping tools enable users to replicate Scroll Lock functionality by assigning the key's behavior to alternative combinations on keyboards lacking a dedicated button. On Windows, allows mapping a key combination, such as Ctrl + K, to send the Scroll Lock toggle using the Send {ScrollLock} command in a script, effectively emulating the key press for applications like spreadsheets or terminals. Similarly, on macOS, Karabiner-Elements supports complex modifications where users can configure a key sequence, like Option + K, to output the Scroll Lock keycode, integrating seamlessly with system-wide input handling. Software alternatives provide non-keyboard methods to achieve similar scrolling behaviors without relying on hardware. In , users can employ built-in horizontal and vertical scroll bars or the mouse wheel to navigate large worksheets, bypassing the need for Scroll Lock to control cell selection versus viewport movement. applications, such as the built-in On-Screen Keyboard in Windows, offer an on-screen toggle for Scroll Lock, accessible via Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, allowing direct clicking to activate or deactivate the mode in supported programs. Operating system-level solutions further facilitate emulation in specific environments. Windows' On-Screen Keyboard not only toggles Scroll Lock but also displays the status indicator, making it suitable for remote or touch-based setups. In , the xmodmap utility can remap unused keys or combinations to the Scroll Lock keycode for terminal applications, such as using xmodmap -e "keycode 78 = Scroll_Lock" to assign it to a specific code, enabling pause/resume of output scrolling in tools like . This approach ensures compatibility with text-based debugging sessions where Scroll Lock traditionally halts screen updates. For developers maintaining legacy debugging workflows in 2025 environments, best practices involve creating custom scripts tailored to integrated development environments (IDEs) or terminals. For instance, an script can bind a hotkey to toggle Scroll Lock while preserving focus in debugging consoles, as demonstrated in community configurations for pausing verbose logs without interrupting code execution. On , combining xmodmap with shell scripts allows conditional emulation during boot diagnostics or serial console sessions, ensuring reliable output control in modern distributions like 24.04 LTS. These methods prioritize minimal latency and cross-application consistency to support uninterrupted development flows.

References

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