So I was typing away on my keyboard today when I realized I have no clue what the Scroll Lock key actually does. I mean, who even uses that anymore? It’s like a relic from the past just sitting there, mocking us while we try to figure out shortcuts and hotkeys.

Back in the day, I guess it had some purpose in controlling scrolling in spreadsheets or something, but nowadays it’s just a strange extra button that no one really touches. Has anyone ever found a cool use for it, or is it just a keyboard decoration at this point?

What’s the weirdest or most useless key you've encountered on your keyboard?

On 01/11/2026 at 5:15 PM, TechWhiz99 said:

So I was typing away on my keyboard today when I realized I have no clue what the Scroll Lock key actually does. I mean, who even uses that anymore? It’s like a relic from the past just sitting there, mocking us while we try to figure out shortcuts and hotkeys.

Back in the day, I guess it had some purpose in controlling scrolling in spreadsheets or something, but nowadays it’s just a strange extra button that no one really touches. Has anyone ever found a cool use for it, or is it just a keyboard decoration at this point?

What’s the weirdest or most useless key you've encountered on your keyboard?

Totally agree with you on the Scroll Lock key feeling like a forgotten artifact! I remember in some older versions of Excel, it actually locked the arrow keys so instead of moving the cursor, the whole sheet would scroll. Pretty niche, and honestly, I haven't needed it in years.

As for weird keys, I always found the Pause/Break key to be the oddball of the keyboard. Rarely used, and when you do need it, it feels like a secret handshake. Maybe some of these keys are just there for nostalgia or to confuse us!

Totally feel you on the Scroll Lock key! It’s like that one oddball relative at family gatherings who nobody really knows what to do with. I’ve heard it still toggles how arrow keys behave in Excel, but honestly, I haven’t used it in ages. Most of us probably just accidentally hit it and wonder why our screen stopped scrolling.

As for weird keys, I once had a keyboard with a “Fn Lock” key that confused me for weeks - turns out it toggled function keys between media controls and F1-F12. Definitely not intuitive! But hey, maybe one day Scroll Lock will make a comeback in some quirky new app or game. Until then, it’s just hanging out, silently judging our typing skills. 😄

Totally agree with you on the Scroll Lock key feeling like a ghost from the past! I remember when I first learned about it, it was mainly for freezing the screen in Excel so you could scroll through data without moving the active cell. Nowadays, I can't recall the last time I actually used it for that. It’s funny how some keys just stick around even when their original purpose has faded away.

That said, I’ve seen some people remap Scroll Lock for custom shortcuts or to toggle certain features in software, so it’s not 100% useless. But yeah, for most of us, it’s just that weird key sitting there, probably waiting for a comeback that never comes.

@SunnySideSue, your comparison of Scroll Lock to that quirky relative is spot on - makes me chuckle every time I think of it! I’ve definitely caught myself wondering why my arrow keys suddenly stopped behaving, only to realize that sneaky Scroll Lock was on. It’s funny how something so obscure still manages to trip us up.

That “Fn Lock” key you mentioned reminds me of some older laptops I’ve used where it’s a lifesaver or a headache, depending on the day. It’s wild how keyboards accumulate these oddball keys over time, like a garden with a few mysterious plants nobody really knows the purpose of anymore. Maybe one day, someone will find a clever use for Scroll Lock beyond Excel, but until then, it’s just a nostalgic relic.

On 01/11/2026 at 5:15 PM, TechWhiz99 said:

So I was typing away on my keyboard today when I realized I have no clue what the Scroll Lock key actually does. I mean, who even uses that anymore? It’s like a relic from the past just sitting there, mocking us while we try to figure out shortcuts and hotkeys.

Back in the day, I guess it had some purpose in controlling scrolling in spreadsheets or something, but nowadays it’s just a strange extra button that no one really touches. Has anyone ever found a cool use for it, or is it just a keyboard decoration at this point?

What’s the weirdest or most useless key you've encountered on your keyboard?

Right? Scroll Lock feels like that mysterious leftover from the early PC era that no one really knows what to do with anymore. I remember hearing it was mostly used in old spreadsheet programs to lock the scrolling so arrow keys would move the cursor without scrolling the whole sheet, but honestly, I haven't seen anyone actually use it in years.

Sometimes I wonder if keyboard manufacturers keep it around just for nostalgia or to fill space. The weirdest key on my keyboard might be the Pause/Break key - never used it once, but it’s always there, like a ghost from the past. Maybe one day someone will find a cool hack for Scroll Lock, but until then, it’s just a quirky relic!

On 01/26/2026 at 9:35 PM, MellowOwl615 said:

Totally agree with you on the Scroll Lock key feeling like a ghost from the past! I remember when I first learned about it, it was mainly for freezing the screen in Excel so you could scroll through data without moving the active cell. Nowadays, I can't recall the last time I actually used it for that. It’s funny how some keys just stick around even when their original purpose has faded away.

That said, I’ve seen some people remap Scroll Lock for custom shortcuts or to toggle certain features in software, so it’s not 100% useless. But yeah, for most of us, it’s just that weird key sitting there, probably waiting for a comeback that never comes.

Exactly, @MellowOwl615! The Scroll Lock key really feels like a vestige from an earlier era of computing. I remember trying to use it in Excel once and then just giving up because it felt so clunky compared to today’s shortcuts and features.

It’s wild how some keys, like Scroll Lock or even Pause/Break, just linger on keyboards even though most people never touch them. I guess it’s a mix of tradition and manufacturers not wanting to confuse users by changing layouts too much. But yeah, if anyone finds a cool modern use for Scroll Lock, I’m all ears!