The "Fn" key on a Dell toggles the multimedia keys on and off. On some models, you must press "Fn" to activate these multimedia keys, but the keyboard operation can be changed on the Dell PC so that the multimedia keys are always on. This setting, however, can interfere with your work; some enterprise applications assign special functions to certain keys on the keyboard and Dell may override these functions if the key in question is also a multimedia key. You can change the settings on the Dell so that the multimedia keys activate only when "Fn" is pressed.
-
Turn on or reboot the computer. Press "F2" on the Dell logo screen to enter the BIOS settings.
-
Use the arrow keys to select the "Advanced" tab. Scroll down to "Function Key Behavior."
-
Press "+" or "-" to change the setting to "Function Key First." Go to the "Exit" tab.
-
Select "Exit Saving Changes" and then press "Enter" to fix the function key on the Dell and restart the computer.
In most dell laptop [e.g. Studio 1555, Inspiron 1545, Inspiron 3000, Inspiron N5010 etc] the F1-F12 keys at the top of the keyboard are dual function with Multimedia/OEM keys such as volume and screen brightness etc. The problem is, is that the Multimedia/OEM keys are the default, and you have to press the Fn key to get the F1-F12 key to work.
For example, this means you have to hit Alt+Fn+F4 to close a window, instead of the regular Alt+F4. This is really annoying. Is there a way to reverse the default functions of the F1-F12 keys in Windows?
Ideally this is possible without some kind of third party hotkey manager.
- On Dell laptops, there is no dedicated key to turn off the Function key.
- Press the Escape and Function keys together as a Function Lock key.
- The Function Lock option can be configured by booting into UEFI.
This article provides instructions for how to disable the function key on a Dell laptop.
Dell laptop keyboards with a Function key give you two sets of commands. You can use the top row as multimedia keys to toggle different PC settings or use them as standard function keys [F1–F12]. But they cannot do both at the same time. If you want to use the F1-F12 keys for their secondary functions of controlling multimedia or your screen settings, use the steps here to disable them on the laptop.
The behavior of the Functions keys can be controlled by the Function Lock [Fn Lock] found under BIOS or UEFI settings.
Newer Dell computers come with UEFI. This Unified Extensible Firmware Interface has a more user-friendly interface compared to the legacy BIOS. The instructions and screenshots below refer to the UEFI mode of booting into Windows.
The setting to disable the Fn Lock is within the UEFI of your Dell laptop. Power on your laptop or reboot if already switched on. The F2 Function key is the access key to enter UEFI or BIOS on a Dell laptop.
-
To enter UEFI, press F2 when the Dell logo appears. Press every few seconds until the message Preparing to enter Setup appears.
-
On the UEFI Settings screen, drill down to POST Behavior.
-
Select the “+” to expand the options under POST Behavior.
-
Select Fn Lock Options.
-
The Fn Lock is enabled by default. On the right, select the check box for Fn Lock if it’s unchecked.
-
The Fn Lock has two options which are self-explanatory:
- Lock Mode Disable/Standard: The F1-12 Keys behave as function keys. You must hold down the Function key and any of the F1-F12 keys to trigger a command.
- Lock Mode Enable/Secondary: The F1-12 Keys control the secondary functions.
There is no dedicated Fn Lock key on most Dell laptops to disable the F1 to F12 Function keys.
The Function Lock is enabled/disabled by pressing the Escape key [on the top row next to the F1 to F12 keys] and Function key [on the bottom row next to the Windows button] together like a toggle switch.
As you can see, on the Dell XPS 13, the Esc key has a tiny lock icon to indicate the Fn Lock.
When Function Lock is on, you don’t have to hold down the Function key to trigger the action.
The Function keys [F1 to F12] have standard functions associated with them. For instance, press the F5 key in Chrome, and a webpage will refresh and reload. Increasing the playback volume could be the secondary function of the F5 key, as indicated by a small icon below the F5 label.
Enabling Fn Lock allows you to execute any standard functions tied to the F1 through F12 keys without pressing the Function key always. Toggle off the Function Lock, and the F1-F12 keys will be disabled. For instance, press F5 now to increase the volume of the media playback.
When Fn Lock is disabled, you must press the Function key to use the F1 to F12 keys for their standard function. For instance, press the Fn key + F5 to refresh the Chrome page.
Disable Function Lock and the F1-F12 keys if you want to use the top row of the keyboard for one-tap media control. To play games which use the F1-F12 keys, enable the Function Lock again. The toggle feature [Escape + Function key] makes it easy to swap the roles.
Thanks for letting us know!
Tell us why!
Today I learned: Function [Fn] Key Guide for Dell Laptops
Between the ctrl and Windows key on the lower left-hand corner of your laptop keyboard resides the function [Fn] key. It is displayed as Fn on the key itself. Some of you may think this key does nothing. The reason for this is because the Fn key works in a specific way. It is a modifier key that is used on most laptop models to activate secondary or special functions of other keys. The keys that work in conjunction with the Fn key will usually have a blue symbol or blue word displayed [the Dell laptop model XPS 13 9350 symbols are white]. Some of the more useful Fn key combinations for a variety of Dell modeled laptops that we use as loaners are listed below. Keep in mind that many other keyboard models use very similar combinations, including desktop PCs.
Latitude 3340, 7370, 7480, & E7450
Fn + F1: Mute/unmute the volume
Fn + F2: Decrease the volume
Fn + F3: Increase the volume
Fn + F9: Search Windows
Fn + F11: Decrease the screen brightness
Fn + F12: Increase the screen brightness
Fn + PrtScr: Toggle WiFi on/off
Fn + M: 0
Fn + J: 1
Fn + K: 2
Fn + L: 3
Fn + U: 4
Fn + I: 5
Fn + O: 6
Fn + 7: 7
Fn + 8: 8
Fn + 9: 9
Fn + 0: *
Fn + ?/: +
Fn + right arrow: End
Latitude E7440
Fn + F10: Rewind audio and video
Fn + F11: Play/pause audio and video
Fn + F12: Fast forward audio and video
Fn + End: Print Screen; this will also bring up SnagIt if the program is installed on the computer
Fn + M: 0
Fn + J: 1
Fn + K: 2
Fn + L: 3
Fn + U: 4
Fn + I: 5
Fn + O: 6
Fn + 7: 7
Fn + 8: 8
Fn + 9: 9
Fn + 0: *
Fn + ?/: +
Fn + up arrow: Increase screen brightness
Fn + down arrow: Decrease screen brightness
XPS 13 9350
Fn + F1: Mute/unmute the volume
Fn + F2: Decrease the volume
Fn + F3: Increase the volume
Fn + F4: Rewind audio and video
Fn + F5: Play/pause audio and video
Fn + F6: Fast forward audio and video
Fn + F9: Windows search
Fn + F11: Decrease screen brightness
Fn + F12: Increase screen brightness
Fn + PrtScr: Toggle WiFi On/Off