How to Disable the Function Key

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: June 13, 2024 Fact Checked

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.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Changing the BIOS Settings on a Windows PC

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1
Enter the system BIOS or UEFI. Depending on your computer manufacturer and BIOS version, you may be able to change the behavior the function keys in the BIOS. Start by booting in to the BIOS. The standard way to do this is to reboot your PC and press the required key (usually F1, F2, F10, or Del).^{[1]
X
Research source} However, most modern Windows 10 and 8.1 PCs now have an easier way to do this:^{[2]
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Research source}
- Press the Windows key + I key together to open Settings.
- If you're using Windows 8.1, click Change PC settings.
- Click Update & Security (Windows 10) or Update & recovery (Windows 8.1).
- Click Recovery in the left panel.
- Click Restart now under "Advanced startup" in the right panel.
- Click Troubleshoot.
- Click Advanced Options.
- Click UEFI Firmware Settings and select Restart. The PC will boot into the BIOS.
- If you don't have a UEFI settings option, search for your computer model to figure out which key you need to use to enter the BIOS.
2
Select the Configuration or System Configuration tab. You can use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate, and press Enter to make selections.^{[3]
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- If you don't see an option with a name like this, look for System Options or similar.
- You may need to select an Advanced menu first.
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3
Set "Hotkey Mode" or "Action Keys" to Disabled. The name of this feature varies by manufacturer. When the feature is disabled, you will not have to press the Fn key to use the F1 – F12 keys as regular F1 – F12 keys.^{[4]
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- You can toggle this feature back on by returning to these BIOS settings at any time.
4
Press F10 and then Enter to save. This saves your settings and reboots into Windows, where you'll no longer have to hold down the Fn key to use the Fx keys.^{[5]
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Research source}
- If you want to use the hotkey functions of the keyboard, such as toggling Wi-Fi on or off or muting the volume, you can still press Fn and the associated Fx key to do so.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Changing Function Key Behavior on a Mac

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1
Click the Apple menu
menu. It's at the top-left corner of the screen.
- Mac keyboards now make the F1 – F12 keys act like special hotkeys by default.^{[6]
  X
  Research source} If you'd rather the F1 – F12 keys act like F1 – F12 keys rather than their hotkey functions (like muting sound or pausing a song), this method has you covered.
It's near the top of the menu.^{[7]
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Research source}
It'll be toward the middle of the window. This opens the "Keyboard" window to a tab that's also called "Keyboard." ^{[8]
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4
Check the box next to "Use F1, F2, etc keys as standard function keys." When this box is checked, you won't have to press Fn to use the function keys as F1 – F12. The change will take effect immediately, and you can click the red circle at the top of the window to close it.^{[9]
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Research source}
- If you decide you want to use one of the special functions printed on the F1 – F12 keys, just hold down the Fn as you press the key.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Function Lock on a Windows PC

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1
Find the Fn Lock key on your keyboard. The Fn Lock usually displays a small lock icon and the letter "Fn." It may be shared with another key, such as Esc or Shift.
- For example, if you're using a Lenovo ThinkPad, the Esc key says "FnLk" at the bottom, which means that you'll use the Esc key as the function lock key.^{[10]
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  Research source}
- Not all keyboards have a Function Lock key, so this method won't work for everyone.
Don't lift it yet.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source

Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
3
Press the Fn Lock key while continuing to hold down Fn. When you release your fingers, the Fn key will no longer be needed to use the F1 – F12 keys as normal (or as hotkeys, depending on the manufacturer's original settings).^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source

Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
- You can restore the original settings at any time by pressing those two keys again.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using the Num Lock Key on a Windows PC

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1
Find the Number Lock key on your keyboard. This key may be named something like NumLk, Num Lock, or Num with an arrow pointing down. You can usually find it around your number pad, or as a secondary function on another key.
- On many modern smaller keyboards, you'll need the Fn key just to use the Num Lock key. If your Num Lock key is combined with another key, such as F11, this method won't work for you.
Don't lift your finger just yet.^{[13]
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Research source}
3
Press the Num ⇩ key while continuing to hold down Fn. Once you press the Num Lock key, you can lift both fingers from the keyboard.^{[14]
X
Research source} If you had to press Fn to use the F1 – F12 function keys normally before, you should no longer have to do that now (and vice-versa).
- If this doesn't work, try pressing the Fn + Num Lock + Shift keys all at the same time.
- Repeat the key combination to return to the original Fn key setting.

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Tips

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.

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