We’re always looking for ways to improve efficiency. And one really simple way to do this lies right at your fingertips: the keyboard function keys.
Denoted as F1 to F12, both Windows and Mac devices come equipped with these, and each key offers unique utilities to enhance your digital experience.
Find out how to utilise these keys to streamline your every-day processes
What Do Windows Keyboard Function Keys Do?
F1: Known as the ‘Help Key’, this key opens the help screen across a wide variety of programs.
F2: Known as the ‘Rename Key’, F2 streamlines file management by enabling quick renaming of selected files or folders.
F3: Known as the ‘Search Key’, it assists in swift searches by activating the search functionality in most programs and applications.
F4: Known as the ‘Close Key’, when combined with the Alt key, it closes the active window.
F5: Known as the ‘Refresh Key’, F5 ensures optimal browsing by refreshing the current webpage.
F6: Known as the ‘Address Bar Key’, this key selects the address bar in browsers.
F7: Known as the ‘Spell Checker Key’, it instigates spell and grammar checks in Microsoft applications.
F8: Know as the ‘Safe Mode Key’, a vital tool during technical glitches, it activates the boot menu in Windows for safe mode initiation when turning on the machine.
F9: Known as the ‘Email Key’, this key is exclusively for Microsoft Outlook users; it triggers the send and receive email functionality.
F10: Known as the ‘Menu Key’, it engages the menu bar in active Microsoft program.
F11: Known as the ‘Full Screen Key’, a user-friendly feature that toggles full-screen mode in browsers.
F12: Known as the ‘Save Key’, this key safeguards your work, triggering the ‘save as’ function in Microsoft Word.
What Do Mac Keyboard Function Keys?
F1 & F2: Known as the ‘Decrease Brightness Key’ and ‘Increase Brightness Key’, these keyboard function keys decrease or increase screen brightness on Mac devices.
F3: Known as the ‘Mission Control Key’, Allows you to navigate seamlessly. This key offers an overview of all open windows and applications so you can easily find what you’re looking for.
F4: Known as the ‘Launchpad Control Key’, This key centralises access to all your applications in a single view
F5 & F6: Known as the ‘Increase Keyboard Brightness Key’ and the ‘Decrease Keyboard Brightness Key’, they allow you to control the illumination of backlit keyboards by decreasing or increasing brightness.
F7 to F9: Know as the ‘Skip Backwards’, ‘Pause/Play’, and ‘Skip Forward’ Keys, these are comprehensive audio controls.
F10: Known as the ‘Mute Key’, This key allows you to mute or unmute effortlessly.
F11 & F12: Known as the ‘Volume Up Key’ and ‘Volume Down Key’, they allow for quick volume adjustments
Using Keyboard Function Keys
Although the above is a long list which may be hard to memorise, it can be used as a simple-to-navigate guide on how to utilise the keyboard function keys. Return to our guide as and when needed and soon you’ll have your frequently-used keys memorised, allowing you to streamline your everyday processes.
Using function keys is just one of the ‘how to’ questions we encourage our customers to ask our helpdesk team as part of our IT support.
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