On the upper part of computer keyboards there are function keys, thanks to which you can perform special operations, such as increasing or decreasing the brightness of the screen, the volume, etc., by simply pressing them. It’s just a pity that on most keyboards it is necessary to press the Fn key, generally located at the bottom left, to activate them, an operation that for most people can be a bit uncomfortable.
Taking into account what has just been said, I decided to write this tutorial on how to use the function keys without pressing Fn, and if you’re here now and you’re reading these lines, it seems clear to me that the topic is of your interest. Believe it or not, it’s doable and, I’ll tell you more, it’s not too complicated. So follow my instructions on what to do that you can find in this tutorial dedicated to the topic and you will discover how to do it in no time.
I’ll tell you right now that, contrary to what you might think, the actions you have to do to succeed in the undertaking are quite simple, as well as the possible programs to use. Whether you are using a Windows PC or a Mac makes no difference. It’s doable in both cases. But now let’s stop talking and get to work. I wish you, as usual, a good reading and I wish you the best of luck for everything.
Using function keys without pressing Fn on Windows
Are you using a computer with Windows installed on it and would like to know how to use the function keys without pressing Fn? Then follow the instructions on what to do that you find right below. This is possible by using some special programs as well as, in some cases, BIOS/UEFI intervention.
Using SFunKey
If you want to use the function keys without having to press Fn every time on the keyboard of your computer and you don’t want to complicate your life too much, you can do it by using SFunKey. It is a program that allows you to use the function keys by double pressing them, without having to use Fn. It also allows you to remap the keys in question in an incredibly easy way. It is free and compatible with all versions of Windows.
Are you asking how you can use it? I’ll tell you right now. First of all, go to the program’s download page on Softpedia’s website and click on the Download button on the top left corner. Then click on the Softpedia Secure Download (US) link in order to download the software.
Once the download is complete, open the .exe file and click on Yes. Click on Next four times, then on Install and finally on Finish. If you get an error message after the setup process is complete, start the program with administrator privileges by going to the C:³Program Files (x86/x64)³ folder, right-clicking on the SFunKey executable, selecting Run as administrator and Yes.
At this point there is practically nothing more to do. You can start using the function buttons immediately without having to press the Fn key, you only have to remember to press the function key of your interest twice in a row and that’s it. Convenient, isn’t it?
If you need to change the behavior of the function keys or multimedia keys, double-click on the program’s icon (the comic with the “F”) that has been added to the Windows notification area and click on the Keys tab in the software window that appears on the desktop. Then select the function key you wish to act on and choose the function you wish to assign to it from the adjacent drop-down menu. That’s it!
If you also want to intervene on the F12 key (usually reserved for system functions), check the Enable F12 item on the right. Once this is done, the computer will be restarted so that the changes are actually applied.
Also from the program’s settings, I would like to point out that you can choose to disable the icon or message that appears when you press the function keys, as well as its transparency and display delay, and to disable the program’s operation when specific programs are running. You can do all this from the Setting tab of the SFunKey window.
Please note that if you want to take advantage of SFunKey’s functionality every time you start Windows, you should make sure that the program runs at login. To do this, check the box next to Start with Windows in the Settings tab.
Using KeyTweak
As an alternative to the software mentioned above, you can use the function keys without pressing Fn by using KeyTweak. This is a free program that runs on all versions of Windows that, unlike the one I have already mentioned, can be useful for this purpose because it allows you to change the behavior of the keys on the keyboard. As a result, you can use it to disable the Fn key and assign the function keys directly to the reference function or the one you are interested in. Great, isn’t it?
In order to use it for your purpose, first of all, go to the software download page on Softpedia’s website and click on the Download button at the top left. After that, click on the Softpedia Mirror (US) link in order to start downloading KeyTweak to your PC.
After the download is complete, open the .exe file and click on Yes. Click on I Agree, Install and Close. Then open the newly installed program by calling it from the Start menu and click on Yes.
Now that you see the KeyTweak window on the screen, select the key on the image of the keyboard corresponding to Fn (passing the pointer over the various buttons will show you a comic strip indicating the exact key of reference) and click on the button Disable Key at the bottom.
Now select, one at a time, the keys at the top of the on-screen keyboard related to the function keys (passing the pointer over them you will always see a comic strip indicating the exact key) and choose, from the Choose New Remapping: drop-down menu at the bottom, the related function (e.g. F1 if you are working on the F1 key, F2 if you are working on the F2 key and so on). Then press the Remap Key button on the right.
If you want to change the behavior of the function keys according to your needs and preferences, select from the drop-down menu above the behavior you prefer. Always click on the Remap Key button on the right to confirm your changes.
Alternatively, click on the Half Teach Mode button at the bottom, click on Scan a Single Key, press one of the function keys on the “physical” keyboard and select, from the Destination Key (select from keylist): drop-down menu, the relevant function. Then press OK to confirm.
All the keys you have chosen to work on will be listed in the section below the heading Pending Changes: located in the lower right part of the program window. To apply the changes you made, click on the Apply button and the Yes at startup button that appear on the screen. Mission accomplished!
If you have second thoughts about a particular key, after selecting it, just click on the Restore Default button at the bottom to restore its usual operation. If you want to restore the default operation of all the keys of the keyboard that you have modified, click on the Restore All Defaults button at the top and then click on Yes in response to the warning that appears on the screen.
Of course, in addition to the function keys, KeyTweak can also be used to remap all the other keys on the keyboard, proceeding in a manner similar to what we saw earlier. If you want to work on special keys and multimedia keys, select them under the Specialty Buttons section on the right.
Acting from BIOS or UEFI
On some computers, especially laptops, it is possible to disable the use of the Fn key to use the function keys directly, using the BIOS or UEFI (practically the evolution of the classic BIOS). Let’s see now how to do it.
First of all, access the BIOS or UEFI by following the instructions that I have provided in my tutorial on the subject. Once this is done, use the directional arrow keys on your PC’s keyboard to access the System Configuration section or the Advanced section.
Then select the Action Keys Mode/Action Keys Mode option using the arrow keys and press the Enter key on your keyboard. Then select the Enabled/Enabled option from the menu that appears and press the Enter key on your keyboard to confirm your choice.
After the changes have been made, you can exit the current panel and save the BIOS settings by pressing the Esc key on your computer keyboard. Then, highlight Yes/Yes in the message about saving settings that appears in the middle of the screen and press Enter on your keyboard to exit BIOS and restart your computer.
If you are using UEFI, to save and apply your changes go to the Save and Exit/Save & Exit tab, choose the Save changes and Exit/Save changes & Exit option and answer yes to the warning that appears on the screen to save your changes and restart your computer.
Note: Unfortunately, I cannot be more precise about what to do, as the BIOS and UEFI entries may be slightly different depending on the make and model of your computer. Therefore what you see on the screen may not correspond exactly to the indications I have provided.
Using function keys without pressing Fn on a Mac
Do you own a Mac (desktop or laptop) and would you like to be able to use the function keys without having to press Fn every time? Well, actually you wouldn’t have to do anything special since on macOS the function keys by default work as such, without having to hit the Fn key as well.
If, however, on your Apple-branded computer you do not experience what I just described, it is obviously because you have mistakenly (or deliberately, in the past) changed the keyboard settings from the system preferences. To remedy this, therefore, you must always act from there, without having to use third-party software and without having to perform various “tweaks”.
So, first of all, click on the System Preferences icon (the one with the gear) that you can find in the Dock bar, Launchpad or Applications folder of macOS and click on the Keyboard icon in the window that appears on the desktop.
Make sure that the Keyboard tab is selected, then uncheck the box next to Use F1, F2, etc. as standard function keys and you’re done. The changes you make to your system will take effect immediately. That was easy, wasn’t it?
Only in the specific case of the latest generation MacBook Pro, those equipped with the Touch Bar, keep in mind that the function keys are not present on the keyboard and are visible on the Touch Bar only by pressing the Fn key. Once displayed, to use them you just need to press the corresponding virtual key.
However, you can choose to display them in a fixed way for some applications. To do so, open System Preferences again as seen above, click on Keyboard, select the Abbreviations tab, click on Function Keys in the menu on the left, press the [+] button at the bottom and specify the relevant application. That’s it!