How To Enable/Disable Fn Function Keys in Windows | Lock/Unlock Hotkeys
Vinayak SP
21/05/2023
Nowadays, there are many brands currently available in the market for laptops and desktops. And as we all know, technology is growing day-by-day in our "digital" world. Also, the tools for laptop, desktop, kind of gadgets are significantly evolving. Their looks, features, functionalities, specifications, etc. are worth as per their prices are growing. Obviously, people are expecting quality things in return for every single penny they spent on computers.
Toggle lock and unlock the Fn key —
Basically, if you work daily on the laptop, you might know about the function keys and its use. If you see top row on the keyboard where F1 to F12 function hotkeys are placed, you will also notice some printed icons for secondary actions. These secondary action buttons are to increase and decrease the volume and the brightness, also to shut down or sleep the laptop, enable/disable keyboard lock or Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, etc.
Function keys like F1 to F12 are used more often. The function keys are meant to perform some special actions. And companies have introduced additional action buttons for people without adding extra buttons to the standard keyboard. You must have noticed a thing, upon pressing Caps-lock key, you will see an indicator somewhere on the keyboard or on the button itself. Likewise, there are some indicators which are normally get overlooked by us for secondary action buttons as well.
Anyways, it's quite normal that we usually never go through "user manuals" ever. And so, people are unaware of such small things. And many of us who are using the latest laptops may not know about turn off function keys hotkeys and how to toggle [enable/disable] function keys. Let's find out how this can be done, right?
Due to lack of awareness, we accidentally enable or disable special action buttons and we end up in a frustrating situation like we wanted to rename the file (by pressing F2) and upon pressing F2, suddenly the volume got increased (obviously, because "special action buttons" might have Enabled). Similar kinds of things you must have experienced as well while you use your keyboard. But let me tell you, there are many ways to turn off Fn lock on Windows or to lock these function keys. So, let's find out how to toggle [enable/disable] Function keys.
Toggle lock and unlock the Fn key: Its now easier to toggle function keys on Windows. You can disable or enable function lock keys through UI/CMD. Instead of pressing the Fn key every time, you can set the function keys as fixed-function keys. Learn the shortcut keys to enable/disable function hotkeys on laptops. This guide teaches you how to lock and unlock the role of Fn (function) keys on your keyboard using a computer.
Well, there are 3 ways to toggle the function keys and I hope you easily understand all the following steps:
Step 1: Use BIOS option.
You may know about BIOS settings; you need to change that setting to make the function key locked. Basically, it's the simplest way to open the BIOS setting in Windows. For more information or to proper understanding you have to follow given steps.
To open "BIOS", click on start button, type "BIOS" and search.
Click on "Change advanced startup options" and "Restart" your device.
After restarting the window go to troubleshooting and click on "Advanced options".
You will see couples of different options there, choose "UEFI firmware setting".
Click on "Restart".
Go to "Enter setup" option.
Choose "Function key behavior" item from the list and switch it into a multimedia key.
This is the simplest way where you just have to press Function key > Esc button together.
You will see FnLock sign over Esc button itself and it is used to switch between special action buttons or function buttons. You can use this to lock or unlock the function keys.
Through this, either you will use special action buttons or F1 to F12 like Standard function keys. But this method is mostly applicable for the latest generation laptops and won't work for older computers.
To enable/disable function keys, check if your keyboard has a dedicated Fn lock key or search for specific key combinations for your laptop brand.
Dell/Lenovo: Fn + Esc,
HP: Fn + ShiftLock or Ctrl + Fn,
ASUS: Fn + Insert or Fn + ShiftLock.
If none work, search for your model. You can also use BIOS to enable/disable function keys in Windows.
Video: How to Enable or Disable Function Keys in Windows
How to Enable or Disable Function Keys in WindowsHow to Enable or Disable Function Keys in Windows. In this short tutorial, I’m going to show you how to enable or disable function keys in Windows. You change the settings in your BIOS menu or you hopefully have a relatively new keyboard that has an Fn lock key on it. 0:00 Intro Function Keys 0:31 Fn Lock Key 1:25 Enable Function Keys in BIOS So, in the old days, Windows only had function keys set at the F keys. While these function keys still exist, you now also have action or hotkeys that you use for stuff like turning the volume up or down, entering flight mode, and so on. Fn lock We start with the first method, where we try to activate the Fn lock key. If it doesn’t work, skip to the second method where we change the setting in the BIOS menu. Some keyboards have a dedicated Fn lock key. Search for this on your keyboard first and try enabling or disabling the function keys by pressing on the key. Dell and Lenovo laptops often have the Fn lock key set on the escape key. Enable or disable function keys Dell: Fn + Esc. Enable or disable function keys Lenovo: Fn + Esc. HP laptops often use the combination Fn + ShiftLock or Ctrl + Fn. For ASUS it is often the keyboard combination Fn+ Insert or Fn + ShiftLock. If none of these work, you can always search for your model specifically. Enable or Disable Function Keys in Windows 10 with BIOS To enter the BIOS you need to restart your PC. For my laptop, I can enter the BIOS by hitting F2 during boot. This can be different for other models. Then I need to switch to the main tab. Here you have the setting, Function Key Behavior. It’s this setting that you need to change from Media Key to Function Key. After this, hit the F10 key to save and exit the BIOS settings. So, for people with other brands, it might be that your BIOS menu is slightly different. For instance, for Dell laptops, the Function Key Behaviour setting can be found in the Advanced tab instead of the tab main. I'm inspired by creators as TechGumbo and Tech Insider. This concludes our tutorial on how to enable or disable function keys in Windows 10. #Windows10 #tutorial #HowTo
Frequently Asked Questions
Please take a moment to read through our FAQ section for quick answers to common questions.
How do I enable function keys with Fn?
You need to press the Fn key along with the function key you want to use. For example, Fn + F1 to mute or Fn + F5 to refresh.
How can I enable f1 to f12 keys without pressing Fn?
On some keyboards, you can enable the function keys' fixed-function mode in the BIOS settings. This will allow you to use the function keys without pressing the Fn key.
How do I unlock my Function key without the Fn key?
If your keyboard doesn't have a dedicated Fn lock key, you may need to enable it in the BIOS settings or check for specific key combinations for your laptop brand.
Why is my Fn key disabled?
The Fn key may be disabled due to a software issue or a malfunctioning keyboard. Try updating your drivers or resetting your keyboard settings. If the issue persists, you may need to replace your keyboard.
How to deactivate the FN key?
You can't deactivate the Fn key completely, but you can disable its functionality on some keyboards. Check your keyboard's manual or search for specific instructions online.
How Can I Turn Off the Function Key?
On some keyboards, you can turn off the function key's default behavior in the BIOS settings. This will allow you to use the function keys without pressing the Fn key.
How to Lock & Unlock the Function (Fn) Key in Windows 11?
To lock/unlock the Fn key in Windows 11, use the Fn + Esc key combination. If that doesn't work, check your keyboard's manual or search for specific instructions online.
How to use the function keys on your Mac?
The function keys on a Mac can be used in combination with the Fn key. For example, Fn + F1 to dim the screen or Fn + F4 to launch Launchpad. You can also customize the function keys' behavior in the Keyboard preferences.
Bottom Line
If you have any other suggestions or find something more promising than the options I mentioned, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below. I'm open to hearing your ideas and suggestions.
Feel free to reach out to me anytime. I'm always happy to connect and share information that can be helpful to others.
A passionate web geek, digital columnist, and a successful solo entrepreneur who has been dedicatedly working on ProBlogBooster. Don't miss out on his insights - Join the PBB tribe & follow on social media and subscribe to email newsletter to stay updated with the latest tech trends & internet buzz!
Computer Tips and Tricks,Fixed,Software tips,Windows,Windows Tips,Windows Tools
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