{"id":80159,"date":"2021-09-05T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-05T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/?p=80159"},"modified":"2024-04-17T01:54:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T05:54:41","slug":"what-is-the-fn-key-on-your-keyboard-and-what-does-it-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.online-tech-tips.com\/what-is-the-fn-key-on-your-keyboard-and-what-does-it-do\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is the Fn Key on Your Keyboard and What Does it Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Once you know what the Fn key is for, you won\u2019t neglect it anymore. It\u2019ll become part of your day. The Fn key accesses several of the best Windows and Mac shortcuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Is the Fn Key?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fn is an abbreviation for function. More accurately, it\u2019s used to trigger functions. The Fn key is the one we press when we want to do things that are the alternate functions of the F keys at the top of the keyboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The function keys have been around in one form or another for at least 50 years. Programming<\/a> was extremely difficult back then so if there was something you needed to do a lot, you could program a function key to do it with just one press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Today we see mostly just 12 function keys<\/a>, plus the Fn key. Back in the day, that could have ranged from just a few to as many as 24, maybe more. They could be across the top or have their own block like the number pad, or even be in 2 or more places. Aren\u2019t you glad you only see the 12 at the top of your favorite keyboard now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does the Fn Key Do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s see what Fn is really all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What the Fn <\/strong>+ a function key does differs among device types, device and keyboard makers, and operating systems. For simplicity\u2019s sake, we\u2019ll keep it to Windows and Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Look at the keys on your keyboard, especially the F1 to F12 keys. On some of them, there are icons as well as the number of the key. Some may have text in a different color from the main function of the key. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those icons and texts tell us what will happen when we press the Fn key with an F key. For example, Fn <\/strong>+ F5<\/strong>. Depending on the device, keyboard, and operating system, the Fn key may unleash alternate functions for other keys too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does the Fn with a Function Key Do On Windows?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Windows, using Fn + any function key can control a combination of software, hardware, or Windows features. The more common features with symbols are shown below. Symbols will vary between keyboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n