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When a Function Keys Not Working, it’s usually because of a mechanical keyboard problem. If this is the case, you need to get a new keyboard. But sometimes keys that don’t work can be fixed. The function keys (Fn keys) make it easier and faster to do many different things. With the right combination of keys, you can turn on your Wi-Fi, turn up the volume on your speakers, and do a lot of other things.
But sometimes, even if you press the right key combination, you don’t get the result you want. “Why don’t the function keys on my keyboard work?” you might ask. Well, there could be more than one reason for this.
[Solved] Function Keys Not Working On Windows
Check to see if the Fn keys are locked
Most of the time, someone accidentally pressed the Fn lock key, which stopped the Fn keys from working. It’s easy to tell if the Fn keys are locked because the Fn lock key also affects toggle keys like Caps Lock and Num Lock.
Find the Fn, F lock, or F Mode key on your keyboard. Depending on your laptop, you may need to press once or press and hold for a few seconds. If that didn’t work, press the Fn key and the Esc key together.
Use the Troubleshooter for Hardware and Devices
In older versions of Windows, you could use the Control Panel to get to the Hardware and Device troubleshooter. To get to it now, you need a command line. Here’s how it can be done:
- In the search box on the Start menu, type “command prompt” and choose the best result.
- Enter msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic.
- Press Enter. This will bring up the troubleshooter for Hardware and Devices. Click Next on its window to start fixing the problem.
Open the Control Panel and turn off the Filter Keys
- Select Large Icons and Small Icons under View by.
- Click the Center for Ease of Access.
- Choose Make the keyboard easier to use from the list of all the settings you can change.
- Go to Make it easier to type and uncheck the box next to Turn on Filter Keys.
- To save your changes, click Apply > OK.
Update the drivers for your keyboards
It’s possible that the Fn keys stopped working because the driver was old, broken, or corrupted. In this case, it should be fixed by updating the keyboard driver. To update the keyboard driver using Device Manager, do the following:
- Right-click the “Start” button and choose “Device Manager.”
- Add to the list of keyboards.
- Select Update driver when you right-click the driver.
- Select the option to automatically look for drivers, then click Start.
VAIO Event Service on
- Type services.msc after pressing the Windows key + R.
- You’ll need to find VAIO Event Service in the list of services. If you don’t have a VAIO device, the service might be called something else.
- Double-click the service and look at the section called “Startup type.” Make sure that it is set to auto.
- Also, make sure the service is running by checking the Service Status option. If not, begin.
- To save the changes, click OK and Apply.
If you know more details about this, than you can check on Microsoft Support Center.
[Solved] Function Keys Not Working On Mac
Use air pressure to clean the keys
Dust or food can get stuck under the keys on a wired or wireless Apple Keyboard. This can cause keys on your Mac to stop working. As of now, it only works with a few keys, which is why it’s worth thinking about if your Mac’s function keys don’t work. It’s hard to say which Key, letting out a few blasts of compressed air, is the best. But it’s a great way to clean if you haven’t had a better chance yet.
Reset to Factory Defaults
If resetting the Mac’s Bluetooth module didn’t help, you must reset your Magic Keyboard to factory settings. Before you can move on, you need to disconnect any other Apple devices that are connected via Bluetooth, since the reset process affects all of them. If you use a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad, you should also have a wired or wireless USB mouse ready (or turn on Mouse Keys) to connect your devices.
- Hold down the Shift and Control keys and tap the Bluetooth status icon or the Bluetooth control in the Control Center.
- Click Factory reset on all of the Apple devices that are connected.
- Choose OK.
- Wait a minute or two. Then, click Bluetooth in System Preferences.
- Plug the Magic Keyboard and any other Apple devices back into the Mac.
Check the Keyboard settings
If you have changed the keyboard settings and turned on “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys,” you may find that you can’t use the single F1 to F12 keys to change the brightness of the screen, adjust how bright the keyboard is, increase or decrease the volume, and so on. Here’s how to check the settings for the Mac keyboard:
- Click the Apple icon and then click System Preferences.
- Click the Keyboard tab after choosing Keyboard.
- Find the box that says “Use F1, F2, etc. as normal function keys.”
- If you have checked the box to use the F key by itself to print, uncheck it.
Check the Bluetooth connection
If your Mac’s Bluetooth can’t find your Magic Keyboard, neither the function keys nor the whole keys will work when you press them. This is because your Magic Keyboard isn’t connected to your MacBook
Go to Apple > System Preferences > Bluetooth from the Apple menu. Then, in the right column, you can see a list of all the devices that Bluetooth has found. It also tells you whether they are connected or not. If your Magic Keyboard isn’t connected, you can turn Bluetooth on and off and then connect the keyboard.
Unpair and reconnect the keyboard
Your Magic Keyboard is connected to your computer via Bluetooth, but none of the function keys work? Then disconnect the keyboard from your Mac and try to pair it again. Still, go to the Apple menu, click System Preferences, and then click Bluetooth. Next to the name of your keyboard, click the remove (x) icon. Then wait for Bluetooth to find your keyboard, pick it from the list, and click Connect.
Restart your Mac
When you give your Mac a fresh start, it usually fixes some small system problems. If the function keys on your MacBook Air, Pro, or iMac aren’t working, you might be able to fix the problem by going to the Apple menu, clicking Restart, and then clicking Restart again to confirm the action. Check to see if the function keys are back to normal after the Mac starts up.
Update macOS
It’s always a good idea to keep your Mac running the most recent version of macOS, since updates fix bugs and make the system more secure and faster. If your Mac’s macOS is out of date, the function keys might not work. To check for updates, go to the Apple menu, click System Preferences, and then click Software Update.
FAQ
How do I enable function keys on my Mac
- On your Mac, go to the Apple menu and click on System Settings. Then, in the sidebar, click on Keyboard. (You might have to scroll.) …
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts on the right, and then click Function Keys in the list on the left.
- Turn on “Use F1, F2, etc. as standard function keys” or “Use F1, F2, etc. as standard function keys.”
Why won t my function keys work
Find the Fn, F lock, or F Mode key on your keyboard. Depending on your laptop, you may need to press once or press and hold for a few seconds. If that didn’t work, press the Fn key and the Esc key together. Then, try using one of the Function keys.
Why my function keys are not working
If the function keys don’t work, it could be because you have a function lock or F-Lock key that needs to be turned on or off. With the F-Lock key, you can turn on or off the F keys (F1–F12) or their secondary functions. On some keyboards, the F-Lock key may be called the Fn key.
How do I restore my function keys
- Restart your computer.
- Stop your computer from starting up normally (hit Enter at the launch screen)
- Enter your System BIOS.
- Find the Keyboard and Mouse setup.
- Set the F1-F12 keys to be the most important ones.
- Save, then leave.
Where is the Fn lock button
If this is the case with your keyboard, there will be a small padlock on the Esc key. Press the Fn key and the Esc key together to lock the Fn key. When the lock symbol lights up, the Fn key has been locked. To open, you can press both keys again at the same time.
What is the Fn key on laptop
(Function key) A key on a keyboard that acts like the Shift key and lets you use a key’s second function. The Fn key is often found on the keyboards of laptops. It is used to control hardware functions like the brightness of the screen and the volume of the speakers.