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Tech News Today
Home»Hardware»Function Key (Fn) Is Not Working – How To Fix It

Function Key (Fn) Is Not Working – How To Fix It

Nishant AryalBy Nishant AryalDecember 8, 2022
Fn key not working

Fn keys act as quick shortcuts for managing different media functions such as Volume controls, turning Wi-fi/ Bluetooth, brightness and others. The Fn offers value addition in the functionality of the already existing function keys(F1- F12). 

But what if Fn keys do not work all of a sudden? This is possible if this key is disabled in the BIOS or keyboard configurations. The key might also have incurred damage, or its keystroke might have been affected by the dirt and debris underneath it. 

Table of Contents

  • Fixes For Function Key Not Working
    • Check Mode of Operation 
    • Clean the keyboard
    • Update the keyboard Driver 
    • Remove the Keyboard  Mapping 
    • Contact the Support Center

Fixes For Function Key Not Working

The first thing to do when the Fn key is not working well is to verify if the problem is associated with just the Fn key or if it is with all of the keys on your keyboard. If the problem is only seen with the Fn key, try restarting the computer once. 

If this does not work, connect a spare keyboard and test the Fn key. If it works well this time, the problem is in the physical unit of the earlier used keyboard.  

Check Mode of Operation 

On the newer generation Laptops, users can lock the Fn key and use only the function keys for media controls. If you press the Fn Key (while it is locked) along with the desired Function key ( F1-F12), you won’t get the intended results. This, instead, will make the Function keys do their default tasks ( F1 key for Help, F5 for Refresh, and so on). 

For instance, if you have locked the Fn key, you won’t be able to minimize the volume by pressing  Fn + F2 keys. This means Media Hotkey Mode is Enabled. This may cause you to believe that the Fn key is not working.

Here are the key combinations you could use to unlock the Fn key on Laptops from different manufacturers. Try pressing these key combinations and see if this makes the Fn work normally.

ManufacturersFn Lock Key Combination
Dell/LenovoFn + Esc
HPFn + Shift    or    Ctrl+Fn
AsusFn + Esc    or    Fn + Insert    or    Fn + Shift

You can also go to the BIOS and unlock the Fn key. The process we suggest here is mainly based on Lenovo Laptops; however, it will be almost the same for the other brands. 

  1. Restart the device, and when you see the manufacturer’s logo, continuously press the dedicated BIOS key.BIOS
  2.  Go to the Configuration tab.
  3. Navigate to the Hotkey Mode or Function Key Behaviour.BIOS hotkey settings
  4. Enable the option or change the behavior to Function Key. 
  5. Save the changes and Exit from the BIOS. 
  6. Now, use the Fn key to see if it functions as intended. 

Clean the keyboard

The next thing to do is clean the keys on your keyboard. The keys are often clogged by debris and dirt that usually affects the keystrokes. This also might be why you cannot use the Fn keys. And this is where cleaning the keys becomes essential. 

If you own a mechanical keyboard, you can pull out the Fn key using the tool that comes packaged with the keyboard. Pry the  Fn key and other keys around it. Use the dirt removal sprays and wipes to perform a thorough cleaning underneath the keys. 

Clean mechanical keyboard

Cleaning the keys on your Laptop isn’t easy; therefore, it is recommended to clean the keyboard regularly to avoid such issues. 

Update the keyboard Driver 

The problem is sometimes also with the Keyboard driver. The bugs in the drivers or the corruption can generate issues where certain keys on your keyboard might not work. If it’s a driver-related problem, update the driver and see if this makes the Fn key function normally. 

  1. Press the Windows key  + X, and open the Device Manager.device manager
  2. Click on the Keyboard Section to expand the list of devices under it. 
  3. Right-click on the Keyboard drivers and select Update driver.update keyboard drivers 
  4. Choose the option Search automatically for drivers. search automatically fpr keyboard drivers
  5. Follow the prompts and update the keyboard driver to its latest and most stable version. 

Remove the Keyboard  Mapping 

If the Fn key has been mapped to function as another key (Control key, for instance), then you might see it not working as intended. In this situation, you can reset the Key map configurations to default. 

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and hit enter to open the registry editor. 
  2. Now, go to this registry location. 
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout registry for key map
  3. Find the registry key created to map the Keys and delete it. delete key map registry
  4. Restart your computer and see if it does make your Fn key work. 

If you have remapped the Fn key using the Power toys, you can delete the configuration from the application’s settings. Delete keyboard mapping

Contact the Support Center

If none of the suggested methods works, the issue is probably with the physical unit of your keyboard. Contact the keyboard/laptop manufacturer or service center to repair the keyboard. 

fix
Nishant Aryal
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Nishant is an enthusiast who loves writing about technology. He also is heavily invested in keeping himself updated about the latest happenings in the tech world. At Tech News Today, he covers Operating Systems, how-to-topics, and Fixes.

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1 Comment

  1. Josiah on May 17, 2023 3:49 am

    Thank you!!

    Reply

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