A Guide to Locking and Unlocking Function Keys in Windows

Located right between the Ctrl and Windows keys on your PC or laptop, you have a multi-purpose function (Fn) key.

This is a common occurrence on most devices. This single Fn key launches additional functions for the other function keys, F1-F12, located on the top row of your laptop keyboard.

This article explains how to lock and unlock the function key in Windows 10 or 11.

But before we start, for those who don’t know what function keys are, let’s discuss them.

What is the lock and unlock function key in Windows?

Function keys are used to execute a specific command or function (discussed later in this article) on PCs or laptops. An example of such activity is disabling the touchpad. Your device has 12 standard function keys that can be used for several other functions. All of them have different numbers, from 1 to 12.

They can perform various functions individually. And when pressed in combination with Fn, they can be used for another function. It mostly depends on the computer program.

For example, if you press the F1 and F2 keys individually, they increase or decrease the volume of the device, respectively. On the other hand, if pressed together with Fn, they perform a completely different operation.

How to lock and unlock the function key (Fn) in Windows 11/10?

Following are some ways to lock and unlock function key in Windows 11/10.

From the keyboard

The easiest way to lock and unlock a function key in Windows is from the keyboard. But the only catch here is that it differs depending on each manufacturer.

Below are some ways to lock the function key on different laptops.

Press and hold the Fn key. Then press the key with the lock on it.
For Dell laptops, there are several ways to lock. You can use the Shift key, the Caps Lock key, or the Shift key. Either one should work for you in most cases. But if not, then the laptop doesn’t have a keyboard shortcut.

And to unlock the keys, you should try the same method that worked for you when locking the function keys.

Using BIOS/UEFI settings

This is another method or method used to lock and unlock the function key in Windows 11/10. Keep in mind that your system must have an advanced BIOS. Also, this will change the double use of keys to single use.

Following are the steps to lock and unlock a function key in Windows using BIOS/UEFI settings.

Boot into BIOS.
Select the System Configuration menu by pressing the right or left arrow key.
Select the action key mode by pressing the up or down arrow key.
Display the Enabled and Disabled options by pressing the Enter key.
Select one option by pressing the up or down arrow key.
- Enabled: The Fn key is not required for the action printed on the key. For example, use a specific key for a typed action, and if you use the same key with Fn, a different action will be performed.
- Disabled: Requires pressing Fn to perform the typed action.
Restart your computer

For recent Dell models, follow these steps to disable the Fn lock key.

Click “Advanced”
Click on the function key behavior.

To enable the Fn key in multifunction media, press the Fn key and the Caps Lock key at the same time. And repeat the same action to disable the key.

Using the Control Panel

Using the control panel, you can lock and unlock the function key in Windows. To do this, follow these steps.

Launch the search menu by pressing Ctrl + S. Find the control panel by typing in the search bar.
Click on Control Panel in the search results.

Click the View button.
Click on the “Small Icons”option.
Click Windows Mobility Center.
Click the function key.
Select the Function Key option.

After that, the function keys will be active. And there would be no need to press the Fn key with the function keys every time.

If you want to unlock these function keys, follow these steps.

Launch the search menu by pressing Ctrl + S. Find the control panel by typing in the search bar.
Click on Control Panel in the search results.
Click the View button.
Click on the “Small Icons”option.
Click Windows Mobility Center.
Click the function key.
Select the Media Key option.

But these options may not be available on all laptops, so you should try other methods for such devices.

How to disable Function Key Lock in Windows 10?

To disable feature lock in Windows 10, follow these steps:

Click “Enter here”to find the options on the taskbar.
Write additional settings.
Open the window shown directly by selecting the “Advanced Startup Changes”option.
For an advanced launch, click Restart Now.
Select “Advanced Options”and “Troubleshoot”in the blue “Advanced Boot”options.
Select UEFI firmware settings.
To enter the BIOS settings, restart your computer.
Look for the Action Key Mode option in the System Configuration tab or other tab.
Disable the action key mode setting.

What do the F1 – F12 keys do?

As stated above, below are all the functions or actions performed by the 12 function keys in Windows 11/10.

F1

Pressing the Windows key opens the help menu.
The control button hides or shows the ribbon menu in Microsoft Word and Excel.

F2

Pressing the Alt and Ctrl keys will open the document library in Microsoft Office.
In Windows Explorer, F2 will allow you to edit the name of the selected file or folder.
It also allows you to edit the active cell in Excel.
If you press only the Ctrl key, this allows you to display a print preview in MS Word.

F3

It opens the search feature in Windows Explorer.
To change lowercase to uppercase in Word, press it with the Shift key.
To open the search function in Chrome and Firefox.
On an Apple computer running macOS X, F3 opens Mission Control.

F4

It closes Windows when used with the Alt key.
It also places the cursor in the File Explorer address bar.

F5

To start a slideshow in PowerPoint.
To refresh web browser pages.
Pressing the Ctrl key will refresh the web page, clearing the entire cache and loading its contents.
To open “Find and Replace”in MS Office.

F6

Go to the next page in MS Word.
Using the Shift and Ctrl keys, it will switch between documents in MS Word.

F7

To check spelling and grammar in Word, press it with the Alt key.
Using Shift, he opens the Thesaurus in MS Word.

F8

To extend mode for arrow key in excel.
Turn on Safe Mode in Windows.
On macOS, it displays a thumbnail image for all workspaces.

F9

To update a document in MS Word.
To send and receive email in Outlook.
To insert blank fields in MS Word, press the F9 function key and Ctrl.
In macOS 10.3 or later, F9 displays a thumbnail for each window in the same stage.

F10

To open the menu bar.
This key must be used with the Ctrl key to maximize the window size.

F11

To exit and enter full screen mode in web browsers.
Use the Shift key to add a new spreadsheet to Excel.
On macOS 10.4 or later, hide all open windows and show the desktop.

F12

To open the “Save As”option in MS Word.
To save a Word document, use it with the Shift key.
To open a Word document, use the Ctrl key.
To print a Word document, use the Ctrl and Shift keys.
To show and hide the dashboard in Mac 10.4 or later.

These are the various functions of the F1-F12 function keys in Windows.

Conclusion

So here you go. By now, you must have figured out how to lock and unlock a function key in Windows. These keys are useful for several purposes. Therefore, you should know these little details about them. Otherwise, it also doesn’t hurt to learn a little about the device you use regularly.

You can save a lot of time by using these keys, because individually they perform different functions, and when pressed together, they perform a different function.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I disable the Fn key on my HP Windows 11 laptop?

To disable the Fn key on an HP Windows 11 laptop, follow these steps: – Open the BIOS setup menu and press the F10 key. – Press “Additional menu”. – Click on the “Device configuration”menu. – Select “Enable”or “Disable Fn key”by pressing the right or left arrow key.

How can I change the behavior of the function key?

To change the behavior of a function key, do the following: – As above, enter your PC’s BIOS settings to disable Fn. – In Bios, select the “Advanced”tab. – Click “Function Key Behavior”. – Choose between multimedia key or function key according to your preference.

What is BIOS?

BIOS stands for Basic Input/Output System. It is a program that starts a computer system as its microprocessor powers it.