Clever Clogs tip # 710
4 August 2022

Enable the F1 - F12 keys on a laptop ^*

Do you use any of the Function keys on your keyboard? The top row above the numbers?

Over the years I've written about 38 hidden gems to do with Function keys. I occasionally add the disclaimer "if you're using a laptop you might need to hold down the Fn key" because for some people the Function keys do stuff such as dim the lights or turn up the audio volume - on their laptops! :)

My laptop has a FnLock key and I've switched it on so that I can use my F1 - F12 keys without having to hold down the Fn key. But if you don't have (or cannot find) that key you can switch it on using the following keyboard shortcut:

Fn + Esc

If you press Fn + Esc once more you disable the F1 - F12 keys, so that you can use them for dimming the lights or turning up the volume.

Finally, instead of my usual list of related tips I've created a list of all 38 Function key tips I've shared and a link - where applicable - to the relevant tip. Let me know which one you like best. I'll go first ...
SHIFT + F1 in Word.

By the way, if you have one I'm unaware of, please let me know. For example, I didn't realise I never wrote about F6. Do any of you use it?

K.

PS This week's CleverClogsTipTime on LinkedIn, in case you missed it:
The newer is better? Or old is gold? (Excel's New Note or New Comment)

^* Unless stated otherwise this tip is written for Microsoft 365 desktop apps and Windows 10 users, but might also be useful in Office 2010, 2013 and 2016.