If function keys or the Fn key don’t work as expected, then you need to disable or enable Action Keys (Hotkeys) mode on your Windows 10 / 8 / 7 laptop. If I accidentally activate the Action Keys (Hotkeys) mode, then F2 will lower volume and I have to press Fn + F2 for renaming files. On my laptop, the default function of F2 is to rename files, while pressing Fn + F2 will lower volume. If your keyboard doesn’t have an Fn lock key, you’re out of luck.F2 key doesn’t rename file in Windows 10? Function keys for brightness control (F11, F12) do not work any longer? Most laptops have a Fn key on the keyboard which can change the behavior of function keys (F1 – F12). You won’t really find apps that can toggle the Fn keys on the fly or add a virtual ‘Fn lock’. The function keys will revert back to their primary function.įunction keys are often useful in games but if their primary action is set to control media, brightness, WiFi, etc on the system instead of giving the game (or any other app) control over it, they cannot be used within the game.While holding down the Fn key, tap the Fn lock key once and release both keys.To unlock the Function keys, hold down the Fn key.Tap the F1 key and it will execute its secondary function.While holding the Fn key, tap the Fn lock key and then release both keys.Tap and hold the Fn key on your keyboard.

Tap the F1 key on your keyboard and see what it does to determine the primary function of the key.

To enable the Fn key lock, follow these steps. Your keyboard must have a key that can lock the Fn key (see Escape key in screenshot below). This can all be done from Windows 10 and you don’t have to boot to BIOS but, it depends on the keyboard that you have. When the Fn key is turned Off, the Function keys will revert to their primary function. it can enter an On state where the Function keys will execute their secondary function. If you’d like to be able to change the primary function of these keys from inside Windows 10 though, you’re going to have to settle for an Fn key that toggles the functions. You can easily change the primary function of the Function keys on a Windows 10 laptop however, you have to go through BIOS to do so.

This key works like the Shift key i.e., it must be held down in order to use the secondary function of the Function keys. The Fn key will switch the state/function of the Function keys from their primary to their secondary one. In order to switch between these actions, users must hold down the Fn key when they tap one of these keys. They perform two different functions media control, and general app control. A Windows 10 laptop has Fn or Function keys at the top.

F key functions windows 10