Symptoms
When you press a function key on a Microsoft keyboard, the function key does not work as expected. Alternatively, certain keys do not work when you press them. These keys may include the following:
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The NUM LOCK key
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The INSERT key
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The PRINT SCREEN key
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The SCROLL LOCK key
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The BREAK key
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The F1 key through the F12 FUNCTION keys
NoteThis article only described and resoved the issue on a Microsoft keyboard which equipped with an F LOCK toggle key, issue with other types of keyborad may not applied to this article.
Cause
This behavior may occur if the keyboard is equipped with an F LOCK toggle key, and the F LOCK key has been turned on.
Depending on the keyboard model, the following keys may be alternate function keys:
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NUM LOCK
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INSERT
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PRINT SCREEN
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SCROLL LOCK
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BREAK
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F1 through F12 FUNCTION
The F LOCK key toggles the alternate function keys. An alternate function key is a key that has two possible commands depending on the F LOCK toggle key state.
Workaround
To work around this behavior, press the F LOCK key. The F LOCK key switches between the standard function key commands and the Microsoft keyboard enhanced command.
More Information
Alternate command keys give the keyboard additional functionality by providing two command modes for the top row of standard F LOCK keys.
The F LOCK key and the alternate command keys are available on certain keyboard models only, and the types of alternate commands that are available vary depending on the keyboard model.
The F LOCK key switches between the standard commands that are labeled on the front of the keys, such as F1 or INSERT, and the alternate commands that may or may not be labeled on the keys. When the F LOCK light is on, the F LOCK key is on and these keys perform their standard commands. When the F LOCK light is off, the alternate commands are enabled. You can choose the mode that you prefer to work in, or you can switch the F LOCK key on and off to access the commands that you use most frequently.
The F1 through F12 FUNCTION keys have special alternate commands. These keys are called enhanced function keys. Enhanced function keys provide quick access to frequently used commands that can increase your productivity. These commands are typically printed above or on the keys.
The following table specifies the default enhanced-function key assignments that are available for Microsoft keyboards. However, you can reassign many of the keys by using the Microsoft IntelliType Pro keyboard software. Keyboards differ in what additional keys they provide. For example some keyboards provide keys for such things as Calculator, Volume control, Internet Home page, Internet Search page, Mail, and so on.
Close |
F6: Closes the document or the file in the active window. |
Forward |
F8: Forwards the e-mail in the active window. |
Function Lock (F LOCK) |
Switches between the standard function key commands (F LOCK light on) and the Microsoft keyboard enhanced commands (F LOCK light off). Leave it on or off, or alternate between modes for increased key press functionality. |
Help |
F1: Opens the Help system for the active window. |
New |
F4: Creates a new document in programs that support this command. |
Office Home |
Starts the Web browser and goes to the Microsoft Office Web site. (This is not available on all keyboards.) |
Open |
F5: Opens a document in programs that support this command. |
|
F12: Prints the file in the active window. |
Redo |
F3: Cancels the previous undo action. |
Reply |
F7: Replies to the e-mail in the active window. |
Save |
F11: Saves the file in the active window. |
Send |
F9: Sends the e-mail in the active window. |
Spell |
F10: Starts the spell checking program in the active document, if the document's program has this feature. |
Task Pane |
Shows or hides the Office task pane that was previously displayed. (This is not available on all keyboards.) |
Undo |
F2: Cancels the previous action. |
To download the latest software for the keyboard, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
//www.microsoft.com/accessories/en-us/downloads
Haven’t you always wondered what those little function keys at the top of your keyboard do? You’ve probably only used them to adjust your volume or screen brightness, but they actually do a lot more. Keep in mind that some of these function key shortcuts are different depending on the type of computer you have. You are also able to change these features, and some computers come with pre-set functions for these keys that you have to change manually.
So before slamming the keyboard in frustration trying to get them to work, go into your settings and see how your computer has been set up. Pressing the fn button with the F keys will typically enable them to work. These 11 other keyboard shortcuts will make your life easier, too.
Here’s the answer to the mystery of those function keys. You’ll be surprised by how much they can do.
F1
- Opens help menu when pressed with Windows button
- Hides/displays ribbon menu in Excel and Word when hit with Control button
F2
- Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens Document Library in Microsoft Office
- Allows you to edit the selected folder or file name in Windows Explorer
- Edits the active cell in Microsoft Excel
- Ctrl + F2 displays a print preview in Microsoft Word
F3
- Opens search feature in Windows Explorer
- Shift + F3 lets you change from lowercase to uppercase to all caps in Word
- Opens find feature in Firefox and Chrome
- Opens Mission Control on an Apple computer running macOS X
F4
- Alt + F4 closes window
- Places the cursor in the address bar in Explorer
F5
- Starts slideshow in PowerPoint
- Refreshes Internet browser pages
- Ctrl + F5 will completely refresh a web page, clearing the cache and downloads all content again
- Opens Find and Replace in Microsoft Office
F6
- Goes to the next page in a split screen in Microsoft Word
- Ctrl + Shift + F6 lets you easily switch between Word documents
F7
- Alt + F7 does a spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word
- Shift + F7 open Thesaurus in Microsoft Word
F8
- In Excel, enables extend mode for arrow keys
- Enables safe mode in Windows
- Displays a thumbnail image for all workspaces in macOS
F9
- Refreshes document in Microsoft Word
- Sends and receives emails in Outlook
- Ctrl + F9 inserts empty fields into Word
- Displays a thumbnail for each window in a single workspace in macOS 10.3 or later
F10
- Opens menu bar
- Ctrl + F10 maximizes window in Word
- Shift + F10 does the same thing as a right-click
F11
- Exits and enter full-screen mode in browsers
- Shift + F11 adds a new spreadsheet in Excel
- Hides all open windows and shows the desktop in macOS 10.4 or later
F12
- Opens Save As in Word
- Shift + F12 saves Word document
- Ctrl + F12 opens Word document
- Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints Word document
- In macOS 10.4 or later, F12 shows and hides the dashboard
Now that you know what all those function keys do, make sure you know these 15 common computer mistakes you should have stopped making already.
Originally Published: December 13, 2019