The function keys on your Mac keyboard are useful as they give you the ease of controls for screen brightness, volume, media playback, Mission Control, Launchpad, and more. If you just want to use the function keys, you can simply press the ‘fn‘ key + F1, F2, or whichever you want to use. But what if you want to use the function keys without pressing the fn button? Follow this simple guide to know.
If you frequently use the alternative function of a function key, you can switch the keyboard so that the function keys perform the alternative function without you having to press Fn. When this option is selected, press and hold Fn as you press a function key to use a function key’s original hardware control function. How to swap the Fn (Function) and Ctrl (Control) keyboard keys in BIOS. PC Data Center Mobile: Lenovo Mobile: Motorola Smart.
The function keys on your Mac are located in the top row, but with the new MacBook Pro, Apple introduced the MacBook variant with a touch bar at the top of the keyboard replacing the function keys. So, to access function keys on the newer MacBooks with touch bar, you need to press the fn key which temporarily shows you the function keys on the touch bar as long as you keep the fn key pressed. This can be altered and you can get back the function keys like you usually see on most Macs.
Use Function Keys Without Pressing Fn Key [Mac]
You have two options, you can use the top row of keys on your Mac keyboard as controls for built-in Mac features or as standard function keys. To use the standard function keys, you can always hold the fn key when pressing a function key, but if you want to change the top row of keys to work as standard function keys without holding the fn key, follow these steps:
- Head over to the Apple icon in the menu bar and click on it.
- Click System Preferences.
- Click Keyboard from the list.
- Check the box that says ‘Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys‘.
When this option is selected, press the fn key to use the special features printed on each key or showing you on the touch bar. Now you can use function keys without pressing fn key on your Mac.
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Control features on your Mac
By default, the top row of keys on your Apple keyboard control many different features on your Mac. For example, pressing the keys with speaker icons adjusts the volume.
If your Mac has a Touch Bar, learn about using function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
Use standard function keys
Standard function keys work differently depending on the app and the keyboard shortcuts that you've set up. Some apps have their own keyboard shortcut preferences that you can customize.
To use the standard function keys, hold the Fn (Function) key when pressing a function key. For example, pressing both Fn and F12 (speaker icon) performs the action assigned to the F12 key instead of raising the volume of your speakers.
If your keyboard doesn’t have an Fn key, try pressing and holding the Control key when pressing a function key.
Change the default function key behavior
If you want to change the top row of keys to work as standard function keys without holding the Fn key, follow these steps:
How To Use Fn Key
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Click Keyboard.
- Select 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys'.
If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys'
If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys', you might be using a keyboard not made by Apple. These keyboards might need a utility to change the keyboard functions. Check with your keyboard manufacturer for more information.
Mac F12 Key
Learn more
Learn about using function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.