Function Keys and their Purpose
https://www.computersprofessor.com/2017/05/function-keys-and-their-purpose.html
Function
Keys and their Purpose:
Commonly
known as function keys on a computer keyboard, F1 through F12
may have a variety of different uses or no use at all. The operating system
installed on the computer and the software program that is currently open
dictates how each of these keys operate. A program is capable of not only using
each of the function keys, but also combining the function keys with the Alt or Ctrl key.
For example, Microsoft Windows users can press Alt+F4 to close the currently
active program.
Note: Some keyboards' F1-F12 keys include additional
functionality when used in combination with the Fn key,
which is usually located near Ctrl. For example, if the F11 key has a blue
"Stop" sign under it, pressing Fn + F11 will stop the music you're
listening too. The additional functions available with the use of the Fn key
will differ depending on the brand of keyboard being used. Please check your
computer's documentation or manufacturer's website for specific details on
which features are available on your keyboard.
Tip: Some computers may automatically enable the Fn key for
accessing the special functions on the F1 through F12 keys. You may be able to
turn off the Fn key by accessing the keyboard settings in the Control Panel.
Note: If your keyboard does not have a row of function keys,
they are probably set up as secondary functions on other keys, similar to the
Fn situation outlined above. Some laptop keyboards are set up this way to save
space.
Below
is a listing of some of the more common functions of the functions keys for
Microsoft Windows and Microsoft applications, as well as some for macOS.
As mentioned above, not all programs support these function keys and the
function keys on your keyboard may perform different tasks then those mentioned
below.
F1
- Almost always used as the help
key, almost every program opens a help screen when this key is pressed.
- Enter CMOS Setup.
- Windows Key + F1 would open the
Microsoft Windows help and support center.
- Open the Task Pane.
F2
- In Windows renames a highlighted icon, file, or folder in all versions of Windows.
- Alt+Ctrl+F2 opens document window
in Microsoft Word.
- Ctrl+F2 displays the print preview
window in Microsoft Word.
- Quickly rename a selected file or folder.
- Enter CMOS Setup.
F3
- Often opens a search feature for
many programs including Microsoft Windows when at the Windows Desktop.
- In MS-DOS or Windows command line
F3 will repeat the last command.
- Shift+F3 will change the text in
Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital letter at the
beginning of every word.
- Windows Key + F3 opens the Advanced
find window in Microsoft Outlook.
- In Windows Explorer start the search
function.
- Open Mission Control on an Apple computer
running macOS X.
F4
- Open find window in Windows 95 to
XP.
- Open the address bar in Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.
- Repeat the last action performed
(Word 2000+).
- Alt+F4 closes the program window
currently active in Microsoft Windows.
- Ctrl+F4 closes the open window
within the current active window in Microsoft Windows.
F5
- In all modern Internet browsers, pressing F5 will refresh or reload the page or
document window.
- Ctrl+F5 forces a complete refresh
of the web page, clearing the cache and downloading all contents of the
page again
- Refresh the list of contents in a
folder.
- Open the find, replace, and go to
window in Microsoft Word.
- Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.
F6
- Move the cursor to the address bar in Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and most other Internet
browsers.
- Ctrl+Shift+F6 opens to another
open Microsoft Word document.
- Reduce laptop speaker volume (on
some laptops).
F7
- Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in
Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.
- Shift+F7 runs a Thesaurus check on
the word highlighted.
- Turns on Caret browsing in Mozilla
Firefox.
- Increase laptop speaker volume (on
some laptops).
F8
- Function key used to enter the Windows
startup menu, commonly used to access Windows Safe Mode.
- Used by some computers to access
the Windows recovery system, but may require a Windows installation CD.
- Displays a thumbnail image for all
workspaces in macOS.
F9
- Refresh document in Microsoft Word.
- Send and receive e-mail in Microsoft Outlook.
- Opens the Measurements toolbar in
Quark 5.0.
- Reduce laptop screen brightness
(on some laptops).
- With macOS 10.3 or later, displays
a thumbnail for each window in a single workspace.
- Using the Fn key and F9 at the same time opens Mission Control on an Apple computer
running macOS X.
F10
- In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application.
- Shift+F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted
icon, file, or Internet link.
- Access the hidden recovery partition on Compaq,
HP, and Sony computers.
- Enter CMOS Setup on some computers.
- Increase laptop screen brightness
(on some laptops)
- With macOS 10.3 or later, shows
all open Windows for the active program.
F11
- Enter and exit fullscreen mode in all modern Internet browsers.
- Ctrl+F11 as computer is starting
to access the hidden recovery partition on many
Dell computers.
- Access the hidden recovery
partition on eMachines, Gateway, and Lenovo computers.
- With macOS 10.4 or later, hides
all open windows and shows the Desktop.
F12
- Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word.
- Ctrl+F12 opens a document In Word.
- Shift+F12 saves the Microsoft Word
document (like Ctrl+S).
- Ctrl+Shift+F12 prints a document
in Microsoft Word.
- Preview a page in Microsoft
Expression Web.
- Open Firebug or browser debug tool.
- With an Apple running macOS 10.4
or later, F12 shows or hides the Dashboard.
- Access the list of bootable
devices on a computer at startup, allowing you to select a different
device to boot from (hard drive, CD or DVD drive, floppy drive, USB drive,
and network).
F13
- F15
- On newer Apple keyboards the F13,
F14, and F15 may be shown in place of the Print Screen key, Scroll lock key, and Pause key.
F16
- F19
- On newer Apple keyboards the F16,
F17, F18, and F19 keys are above the number pad.
F13
- F24
- Early IBM computers also had
keyboards with F13 through F24 keys. However, because these keyboards are
no longer used, they are not listed on this page.