I attach a patch to xorg-server which seems to fix it for me. Side effects are yet to be discovered :)
Rebuild xorg-server with the following series of commands (might not be the best way, but that's what I found, I'm not yet familiar with these): sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot dpkg-dev mkdir build cd build apt-get source xorg-server sudo apt-get build-dep xorg-server cd xorg-server-1.15.1 cp ~/Downloads/xorg-server-xkb-numlock.patch debian/patches/ # replace Downloads appropriately echo xorg-server-xkb-numlock.patch >> debian/patches/series dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -b cd .. sudo dpkg -i xserver-common_1.15.1-0ubuntu2_all.deb xserver-xorg-core_1.15.1-0ubuntu2_amd64.deb ** Patch added: "Works for me, probably not the proper solution though" https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-settings-daemon/+bug/1247668/+attachment/4099529/+files/xorg-server-xkb-numlock.patch ** Package changed: gnome-settings-daemon (Ubuntu) => xorg-server (Ubuntu) -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to gnome-settings-daemon in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1247668 Title: NumLock turned off on layout switch Status in X.Org X server: Confirmed Status in “xorg-server” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: Extracting from bug 1218322, confirmed there by multiple users: When switching the keyboard layout using a shortcut (such as Alt+Shift), NumLock functionality is (mostly) turned off. More precisely: it goes into an inconsistent state where pressing numpad 5 inserts the digit 5, but the other numpad keys move the cursor. Pressing the NumLock key turns it off completely (pressing numpad 5 no longer does anything), and pressing once again turns it on. This means that if someone prefers to have the NumLock functionality switched on all the time, they have to press the NumLock key twice after each layout change. I find this a huge usability problem. (I don't have a LED, so I cannot tell how that one is lit.) The bug is not present when changing the layout via the indicator applet. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10 Package: gnome-settings-daemon 3.8.5-0ubuntu11.1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-12.19-generic 3.11.3 Uname: Linux 3.11.0-12-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2.1 Architecture: amd64 Date: Sun Nov 3 21:54:37 2013 InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-05-30 (522 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20120425) MarkForUpload: True SourcePackage: gnome-settings-daemon UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to saucy on 2013-10-12 (21 days ago) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/xorg-server/+bug/1247668/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : [email protected] Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp

