How to disable Fn key in Dell laptop

How to Choose Whether Your Function Keys are F1-F12 Keys or Special Keys

• Chris Hoffman

  @chrisbhoffman



• Updated

Modern laptop and desktop keyboards have a multi-purpose set of keys in the function row. These keys can perform special actions related to the audio volume, playback, and hardware features. They can also function as the classic F1-F12 keys but not at the same time.

These keys will often perform special actions by default, but you may want to use them as standard F-keys for example, for PC gaming. Rather than holding down the Fn key every time you press a key, you can choose what they do by default.

Toggle Fn Lock

This can often be toggled with an Fn Lock key, which functions like a Caps Lock key. Toggle the Fn Lock on and thekeys will function as if youre holding down the Fn key all the time, just as the Caps Lock key makes your letter keys function as if youre holding down the Shiftkey all the time.

Dependingon your keyboard, you may actually have a dedicated Fn Lock key. If you dont, you may have to press the Fn key and then press an Fn Lock key to activate it. For example, on thekeyboard below, the Fn Lock key appears as a secondary action on the Esc key. To enableit, wed hold Fn and press theEsc key. To disable it, wed hold Fn and press Esc again. It functions as a toggle just like Caps Lock does.

Some keyboards may use other combinations for Fn Lock. For example, on Microsofts Surface keyboards, you can toggle Fn Lock by holding the Fn Key and pressing Caps Lock.

Change an Option in the BIOS or UEFI Settings

Many laptops that ship with built-in keyboards often have an option for this in their BIOS or UEFI setupscreen. Rebootthe computer and press whatever key it asks you to press while its booting up to access this screen often F2, Delete, or F10 or use the new method to access UEFI firmware on Windows 8 and 10. If youre not sure how to access this screen, perform a web search for the model of PC you haveand Access BIOS or access UEFI. You could also just look in the PCs manual. [If you built your own PC, look in the motherboards manual.]

Look for an option that controls this feature and you can change it. For example, we found this option under Advanced > Function Key Behavior on one modernDell laptop.

Change the Option in a Control Panel

You may also see this option in various places throughout Windows. For example, if youre using Windows in a Boot Camp configuration on a Mac, you can open the Boot Camp configuration panel from your system tray and youll find this option named Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys under theKeyboard tab.

On Mac OS X, this option can be found in the System Preferences window. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences to open it, click the Keyboard icon, and then click the Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys option.

Dell inserts this option into the Windows Mobility Center, and some other PC manufacturers may also do this. To access it on Windows 10 or 8.1, right-click the Start button and select Mobility Center. On Windows 7, press Windows Key + X. Youll see the option under Fn Key Behavior.

This optionmay also be availablein a keyboard settings configuration tool installed by your computer manufacturer. You might find it in your system tray or Start menu, and it might offer a similar option for controlling this. Its not standardized.

In general, you can often change this setting right on the keyboard itself via the Fn Lock key or a hidden Fn Lock shortcut. On many laptops, its available as an option in the BIOS or UEFI settings screen you can access during boot-up. If all else fails, dig through your keyboard-configuration panels in the operating system itself.

If you still cant find the option, perform a web search for your manufacturer of laptop or keyboard and fn lock or something similar. The information you find online may point you in the right direction.