Fn lock

Keyboard function keys f1 through f12 often have a printed icon that indicates a secondary action, fn lock, fn lock as muting sound or adjusting display brightness. The secondary functionality is sometimes called action keys mode or hotkeys. On some keyboards, you must press the fn key to enable that command. Many notebooks feature a setting that allows you to use the action keys functionality without pressing the fn key each time.

Microsoft Windows function keys the F1 to F12 keys in the top row of your keyboard can perform multiple tasks, depending on how you use those keys. You can lock or unlock these keys to make them do various tasks. For example, the F2 on most keyboards decreases the volume level from your speakers. You can make these keys perform the tasks assigned to F1, F2, and so on, by locking and unlocking them. Whether to keep your Fn keys locked or unlocked depends on what features you prefer to use. If you tend to use the F1 to F12 features more often, lock your function keys so you can use those features with a single keystroke. You can alternate between function key usage by pressing and holding down the Fn key on your keyboard and then pressing a function key.

Fn lock

Last Updated: December 4, Fact Checked. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed , times. Learn more On many modern keyboards especially on laptops , the F1 — F12 keys at the top of the keyboard act like hotkeys by default. This can be frustrating when you're gaming and want to quickly press a function key without using function lock or holding down Fn. But don't worry, you can disable the function key so you can press F keys like normal. We'll give you several easy options for changing the behavior of the function key on Windows and macOS. If you're using a PC, try pressing the Num Lock key and the Fn key at the same time to use the Function keys as desired.

Keyboards that have it usually have a light signal to indicate if the F Lock key is activated or not, fn lock.

The F1-F12 keys on the top of your keyboard can perform two functions. On their own, they perform one action, but they act differently when used with the Function Fn key. For the latter, you need to press the Fn key along with any function key every time you want to perform a distinct operation. If you don't want to keep holding down the Fn key, Windows gives you the option to permanently lock it. This will allow you to utilize F's secondary operations without pressing the Fn key. Below, we discuss multiple ways of locking and unlocking the Fn key in detail.

Read the affiliate disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser effortlessly and without spending any money. Read more. Knowing how to use the functions keys or F-keys on your keyboard can make your life easier. Just a single key from this set can perform two sets of commands, be it a multimedia command or a specific task. By pressing the Fn button together with one of those keys, you can immediately change how the keys work. Doing it every time you use them, however, is not necessary since you can simply lock and unlock the Fn key in your Windows 10 or Windows The Fn key in your keyboard is basically like the Shift and CapsLock buttons. And if you often create documents, you know how they work: you hold Shift to capitalize a letter or two and release it to quickly go back to small letters, while a single press of CapsLock will let you compose entire sentences in uppercase without holding another key.

Fn lock

Last Updated: March 2, Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed , times. Learn more It can get annoying if you have to constantly and consistently press the FN key to use the F1-F12 keys on your keyboard. Luckily, there are a few ways you can change that.

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Meanwhile, locking the Fn key in Windows 10 or 11 is permanently putting the function keys to their alternate commands until the lock is disabled. The name of this feature varies by manufacturer. Repeat the key combination to return to the original Fn key setting. Any additional feedback? You can alternate between function key usage by pressing and holding down the Fn key on your keyboard and then pressing a function key. Once the lock icon lights up, the Fn key has been successfully locked. We'll give you several easy options for changing the behavior of the function key on Windows and macOS. One way to use your keyboard to lock the Fn key is through the F Lock key, which you can simply press to toggle between the standard and alternate commands. Can you help us improve? Read Mahesh's Full Bio. If you are unable to change the way the Fn key works using any of these methods, you may want to purchase a generic keyboard and use that instead. This should allow you to use the function keys without pressing the Fn key. Skip to Content. Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games.

Remember hitting the F5 key to refresh on your Windows 95 computer? It was almost obsessive. Back in the day, the F1—F12 keys had just one function each, but modern keyboards often include extra functions that you access with an Fn key also called the Function key.

Alternate commands are labeled on top of the keys such as Redo. Thankfully, there are a variety of ways to do it. Go to source You can restore the original settings at any time by pressing those two keys again. Written by:. Skip to content. You may need to select an Advanced menu first. Additional support options. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. No account yet? Over the last few years, he's written a number of tech articles on various online publications including but not limited to MakeTechEasier and Android AppStorm. Select System Options. If you are unable to change the way the Fn key works using any of these methods, you may want to purchase a generic keyboard and use that instead. It'll be toward the middle of the window. Read Mahesh's Full Bio.