--- a/kcms/keyboard/keyboard_hardware.cpp
+++ b/kcms/keyboard/keyboard_hardware.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ void init_keyboard_hardware()
         set_repeat_mode(false);
     }
 
-    TriState numlockState = TriStateHelper::getTriState(config.readEntry("NumLock", TriStateHelper::getInt(STATE_UNCHANGED)));
+    TriState numlockState = TriStateHelper::getTriState(config.readEntry("NumLock", TriStateHelper::getInt(STATE_ON)));
     if (numlockState != STATE_UNCHANGED) {
         KModifierKeyInfo keyInfo;
         keyInfo.setKeyLocked(Qt::Key_NumLock, numlockState == STATE_ON);
--- a/kcms/keyboard/keyboardmiscsettings.kcfg
+++ b/kcms/keyboard/keyboardmiscsettings.kcfg
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-or-late
       <default code="true">qgetenv("QT_IM_MODULE") == "plasmaim" ? QStringLiteral("accent") : QStringLiteral("repeat")</default>
     </entry>
     <entry name="numLock" key="NumLock" type="Int">
-    <!-- STATE_UNCHANGED -->
-      <default>2</default>
+    <!-- STATE_ON -->
+      <default>0</default>
     </entry>
     <entry name="repeatDelay" key="RepeatDelay" type="Int">
       <tooltip>If supported, this option allows you to set the delay after which a pressed key will start generating keycodes. The 'Repeat rate' option controls the frequency of these keycodes.If supported, this option allows you to set the delay after which a pressed key will start generating keycodes. The 'Repeat rate' option controls the frequency of these keycodes.</tooltip>