This post shows how to change what the Fn keys do in Windows 11/10. The Fn or the Function key is a meta-modifier key used to activate secondary functions or special features on certain keys. The functionality of the Fn key depends on the keyboard manufacturer and model.
One thing I did not like about my Windows laptop keyboard was the behavior of the Function and Multimedia keys – that is, the topmost row in the keyboard. On my earlier one, I was used to pressing the key to activate the Function keys like F1, F2, etc., and to press Fn key + the F1, F2 key to activate the multimedia operations like Speaker on or off, Search, etc.
Swap or change Function key behavior in Windows laptops
I wanted to change this behavior; ie. I wanted to interchange, swap or inverse keyboard Function and Multi-media keys back to the one I was used to, and here are two ways you can do it.
How to change what the Fn Keys do in Windows 11/10
The method to change what the Fn key does is different for every manufacturer. However, one of these methods should help you:
- Via System BIOS
- Via UEFI Firmware Settings
- Via Windows Mobility Center
Let’s now see these in detail.
1] Via BIOS
The system BIOS can also be used to change the functionality of the Fn key. This method works in HP, Dell, Acer and most other devices. Here’s how:
- Open your device’s BIOS.
- In the System BIOS, navigate to the System Configuration menu and select Action Keys Mode.
- Press the Enter key to enable or disable it.
- Click on Exit to save the changes.
On Some laptops, you can see the following screen.
On such laptops, restart your Windows computer, and when it starts booting, press the F2 key to enter the BIOS settings.
Press the Advanced tab and double-click on Function key behavior. Change the setting from Multimedia key to Function key.
Read: How to Lock and Unlock Function (Fn) key in Windows
2] Via UEFI Firmware Settings
UEFI offers a graphical UI and allows navigating using a mouse and keyboard. You can modify the Fn button’s behavior by altering the UEFI Firmware Settings. Here’s how:
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Navigate to System > Recovery and click on Restart now beside Advanced startup.
- Once you boot into the Windows Recovery Environment, select Troubleshoot > UEFI Firmware Settings > Restart.
- The UEFI Firmware settings will now open; navigate to the Configuration tab.
- Click on Hotkey Mode and select Enabled or Disabled.
NOTE: Entering the BIOS/UEFI and changing settings is normally not advisable – especially if you are not used to it. I, therefore, recommend you follow the next method.
Read: Function (Fn) keys not working on Windows laptop
3] Via Windows Mobility Center
You can easily change the Function key behavior using the Windows Mobility Center.
To open the Windows Mobility Center, open the Run box, type mblctr and hit Enter. It goes without saying that you can also access it via Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Windows Mobility Center > Adjust commonly used mobility settings.
Under Function Key Row, from the drop-down menu
Select the Function key instead of Multimedia key.
In this way, you can interchange, swap, or inverse keyboard Function (Fn) and Multi-media keys on your laptop.
What does the Fn key do on Windows 11?
The Fn or Function key is a modifier key that works somehow like a Shift key and helps activate the second feature of the dual-purpose keys. However, the functionality of the Fn key can change according to the key combination used. Note that its functionality can also depend on what manufacturer’s keyboard you’re using.
Read: What do Keyboard F1 to F12 Function Keys do
Why are my Fn buttons not working in Windows 11?
The Fn buttons may not work if the keyboard drivers are outdated and corrupted. Update them and see if the error gets fixed. However, if that doesn’t help, the problem may be with your keyboard; use a different keyboard to see if the error still appears.
NOTE: Please read the comment by David Joseph below.
in my del inspiron 3542 when i press WinKey+X, mobility center is opening but its not showing to change the multimedia keys tabs. Its not showing function key rows
Related Dell Drivers and programs are required to be installed. Did you at anytime format your computer? If so you may not see these options. I have now formatted my computer, and I too do not see them now. You may consider the BIOS option. be careful. :)
Im actually having an issue as I can’t activate the backlight keyboard. Normally, it’s FN + F10 and i’ve tried also to press only F10 but still it doesn’t work. Any tip?
If neither F10 or Fn+F10 do not work, then it could be a Driver or Hardware issue.
Thank youuuuu! you made a very confusing thing much easier for a windows newbie like me!!!
hey so i just bought the dell inspiron 15 7000. Ive tried changing the funtion keys to multimedia keys in mobility center. it works. but when i close my laptop it reverts back to default settings of function keys, Ive gone in the bios and changed the function keys settings to multimedia. after i save and get to the desktop its worked. but when i close my laptop or power down, and than power on my computer the default settings have been restored. Ive tried refreshing windows! nothing. Ive also spoken with dells technical support for countless transfers. they claim the settings cant be changed. but isnt that the whole point of the bios? what now?
Can i make these changes permanent? please help! thanks
I had changed these settings for sure. Some Dell program appears to me reversing the changes, in your case. See if you can identify it. I recently reformatted this laptop and clean installed Windows 8.1. I am not facing any of these issues now.
The “Wnd+x > Mobility Center > Function Key Row > Select Multimedia Key” works on my Dell XPS laptop, thank you!
THANK YOU, Windows + X did the trick without BIOS
in my laptop not showing function key row
You can see this post: http://goo.gl/0PwIYK
hallelujah – thanks for that. I bought a new laptop and got sick with hitting f1-f6 as multimedia key during my work with Total Commander or Excel.
Hey, i just bought inspiron 15 3000. And, in windows mobility center it did not show the lower part of the image of your mobility center. So it doesn’t have the function key row. I don’t want to settle for the BIOS option, because i want to turn on/off fn keys whenever it is necessary and BIOS option is a lot hassle.
my friends daughter was messing about with my computer and somehow she changed my colour screen to grayscale and i have tried everything to get it back to normal and nothing works please help
by the way its a dell inspiron 1520
Press Left Alt, Left Shift and PrtScr keys together and see if that helps. :)
my keyboard backlighting isn’t working i’ve been in to the windows mobility centre and clicked on the keyboard backlighting thumbnail to get in to the backlighting control no problem. I then set backlighting to bright set the timer to auto turn off after 5 mins click on ok and nothing happens. the thumbnail continues to show backlighting off and there is still no lighting on the keyboard. any suggestions?
thank you so much! I cannot live without using my f2 key and was constantly turning to airplane mode….yay!
thank you soo much… i had been searching this all over internet but your “Via Windows Mobility Center” Worked. Thank you so much :)
Hello all, I have come up with a strange problem which are listed as 1. Ctrl, Alt keys not working. 2. Caps lock and Num lock keys lights not working. Can anybody help. I would be very very thankful. God bless.
i press fn + power button when i switch on my laptop then it doesn’t work only when i press the power button can any one help me how i dissolve the fn + power button
its a dell driver app called “Dell QuickSet”, you can find it on the Dell drivers page. Mine is quickset64
So I bought a Dell laptop and I want to set my four arrow keys (up, down, left, right) behaving like PgUp, PgDn, Home, and End when pressing the function button. Do you have any idea?
This was a big help – thanks for posting.
My F1-F12 keys have all sorts of multimedia buttons on them (volume, brightness, wifi, etc). But I am working in a 3D application which uses F1-F12 heavily, and I do not want to have to press fn+F9 … how i am off FN key
pls help me sir.
I can’t seem to post an image here but if you go to CONTROL PANEL, then select WINDOWS MOBILITY CENTER (last item on mine) you will see at the bottom a selection for FUNCTION KEY ROW – switch that setting and you will reverse functionality of function keys.
Thanks for your help.
Downlaod QucikSet utility of DELL to restore these options from here:
Go under Applications Section and select QuickSET utility from:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/inspiron-1564/drivers
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/inspiron-1564/drivers
Go there and select QUCIKSET utility.
“Windows Mobility Center” solved my issue… thanks!!!
hai i got the problem in number key of right side 2,4,6,8 works like a arrows how to change the settings
i got the problem of right number key pad 2,4,6,8 are working like arrows
i want to off it . But i don’t know how to off it
ITS DELL INSPIRON 15 5547 i hope any one will help plzz
i unable to play games plzzzz
great …thanks a lot for advice…now function keys are working the way I want.
awesome
Thanks. That works well with my Dell 7746 and Windows 10.
Hi i have dell inspiron 15 R lap top.when i press Winkey + E ,Explorer is not open , it will appear again desk top.Can you help me to reset this matter
problem solved!! new xps dell laptop windows10…function keys not working…tried mobility center but dell didnt support it (they called it quickset). After 45 minutes, support had me go into bios and change the function keys directly. worked immediately. Interestingly, my plug in keyboard always worked.
No need to do all the bios settings… just hold the Fn key and press esc. … its done
Awesome thanks for a simple solution as the Mobility Center has not got this option in windows 10
Well… I was running mad with it…somehow figured it… then really felt like helping others who might face this trouble
control panel -> windows mobility center
Works great. Thanks!
thanks, to get to mobility you can also right click the power button and you will see windows mobility center, 2nd to last option :)
thank you. i was preparing a laptop for my boss and got this problem. btw the laptop is dell 3443
Hi all,
great article. Just to update, I think in the latest bios from dell there is a slightly different screen choices to click through. Most people could figure that out, but for n00bs like me I had to email dell. they sent me the correct walkthrough to switch the function lock as of 2/12/16 for windows 10 del xps 15″. Reposting dell’s instructions below for others:
“Once in the bios choose “post behavior” and then “FN Lock Options”. check the box for “FN lock” and then check “lock mode enable/secondary”. If already configured that way, check “lock mode enable/primary”.
hope that helps.
Well, thank u Anand Khanse. I want to add more. In my dell inspiron 5999 I was able to switch between multimedia keys and f1,f2 function keys with simple combination of FN + ESC Button.
See Image:
http://i.imgur.com/tn5tkBo.png
Hey; so on my laptop (Inspiron 15 5555 AMD); most of the function keys work without pressing FN (f1 = mute; f2 = volDown; f3 = volUp; f8 = window; f9 = search; f10 = backlight; f11 = brightnessDown f12 = brightnessUp); BUT the f4 (musicBack); f5 (musicStop); and f6 (musicSkip) don’t work unless your press shift as well. How do I make it so I don’t have to press shift to use the f4-6 keys? Thanks in advance :)
Please help! I have a Dell Inspiron 1545, Windows 7, and In windows mobility center, I don’t have the Function key row, and I am scared to go into the BIOS settings. What do I do???
great bro u saved my lot of time. U r genious !!
For all who are not able to get the change function key option in windows mobility center when accessing WinKey+X method, just press Esc+Fn, this will automatically reverts the multimedia keys to function keys and vice versa…
did not work
I don’t have the “Customized by Dell” buttons in my Windows mobility center, is there a driver to download…
try doing Fn+Esc. it should work for you now.
nice information :)
None of these worked for me bc there is no option to change multimedia tabs on my Latitude 5450. However, I was finally able to fix it by hitting the FN button and ESC button at the same time.
i really didn’t like this default feature of Fn key of my vostro 3550, i.e. pressed F2 intending to rename a file but only to disconnect the wireless network :( Thanks a million for this quick and easy swapping solution.
Oh my god. Thank you so much. There was so much bullshit and nothing worked lol I was about to throw my computer out the window until you came :)
Thanks a lot, could do it easily!
YOU CAN PRESS “Fn” + “Esc”(On this button there is a lock with the inscription “Fn”). This combination turn on/off “function key”
Thank you
When my phone beeps or rings near laptop, display of laptop is blinking few seconds. Please can you give me a solution.
Wonderful. Thank You it was super quick and it worked.
Simple solution is fn+escape it will change functional key settings
Thankyou very much…
what is the bios option ? i could not find anything relevant. Such a nice laptop wonder why these morons (Dell) also went in the way of Lenovo in fking up our experience for us.
Best.Solution.Ever! Whooda thunk it? A little blue lock icon with “FN” written on it means that it “Locks” the “FN” key! (not sarcasm, I completely missed this for a while). Thank you!
THANK YOU SO MUCH I WAS TRYING TO DO THIS FOR A WHILE TO KICK SOMEONE IN CSGO IT WOULDN T LET MEEEE !!! YOU CANT CHANGE THE KEY BINDING OF KICKING SOMEONE IT IS F1 AND IT KEPT OPENING AND CLOSING THE SOUND THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!!
A very simple solution to this problem is: For Dell Inspiron 15 (3000 Series)
Just press Fn + Esc key. (If your Escape key has lock symbol with fn printed on it).
The cursor of dell latitude 6420E freezes at times, how can i make active all the times?
I found how to lock and unlock the function keys. I wanted to use F2 as the “rename” key, not for “volume down”. For me…. I found the function lock key is the same as my ESC key. It looks like a little lock with the letters Fn. By pressing the the actual function key and the ESC key (or function lock) it toggles what to do when function keys are pressed. Works very similar to the CAPS LOCK to toggle uppercase and lowercase only you have to press two keys simultaneously.
Omg. This was the best solution on this page. It makes sense as there is a Fn Lock icon on the Escape button. Duh. Thank you so much!
Same here! I’ve been driving myself crazy looking for a solution; didn’t want to go into BIOS and the mutlimedia settings weren’t working.
Solution by @disqus_ZGXZsTdVa5:disqus
No need to do all the bios settings… just hold the Fn key and press esc. … its done
After Downloading Windows 10 Some of the Keys not workings :( Any solutions available ???
Sadly, you have access to a whole menu I do not have access to. When I open windows mobility centre I can only change 5 submenus. Fn key isn’t one of them. In fact everything below the “customised by dell” in your picture doesn’t show up for me.
I’m stuck with a situation where Dell last night randomly decided to reassign the Fn function. How or why a it did this I have no idea. It wasn’t during a reboot. IT happened while I was watching something online and suddenly the brightness button stopped working (today I figured out it works when Pressing Fn…). I’m baffled and worried. because laptops aren’t supposed to randomly change their settings. I’ve tried rebooting but that obviously didn’t work.
So if someone can direct me to a better option than the one above (which isn’t available to me), please help!