Keypad module locking mechanism for mobile computing devices

A mobile computing device includes: a housing with a lower wall, a keypad seat and side walls joining the lower wall to the keypad seat and extending upwards from the keypad seat to a bay opening. The walls define an access compartment between the lower wall, the side walls and the keypad seat, and a keypad bay for a keypad module between the keypad seat, the side walls and the bay opening. The device includes a latch slidably mounted to the keypad seat between locked and unlocked positions, including: a hook to engage a keypad module recess in the locked position and secure the keypad module in the bay, and to disengage from the recess in the unlocked position to enable removal of the keypad module; and an activation member in the access compartment to receive an input to transition the latch from the unlocked position to the locked position.