Whenever I play WOW I can't press some of the F keys because they are either work for volume, brightness settings, etc. What do I have to do in order to use them as F keys, as to toggle it off and back on? Thank you.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How To F Lock?
- Thread starter AbsenceOfTruth
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Hold down the function key, which is located near CTRL from my recollection of a mac keyboard, and while holding it down, press the appropriate keys.
Apparently you can also switch this setting around so to adjust the brightness and volume, you need to hold down that key. But it works better this way around.
Apparently you can also switch this setting around so to adjust the brightness and volume, you need to hold down that key. But it works better this way around.
Open the Keyboard & Mouse panel in System Preferences. In there you will find a checkbox that says, "Use F1-F12 keys to control software features." If you enable this option, your function keys will work like the would on a desktop keyboard. You can still access the brightness/volume features by holding down the fn key.
I'm new to apple (MBP 2.4) and this is something I've been wanting to know. I thought I had accidentally enabled the Fn-lock somehow. After a lot of searching I finally found this thread. Thanks a lot guys!
Yeah... I'd really like a function lock on my Mac.
Is there something I can download that will make it so I can more easily turn function lock on/off rather than go to the system preferences?
Or does someone like to program and want to make something for me... maybe just have a transparent program that appears as a dockling... the icon shows whether function lock is on or off, clicking on it will change it from on/off or pressing F19 will change it from on/off.
Whoops, topic resurrection. 9.5 months dead and it lives again!
Is there something I can download that will make it so I can more easily turn function lock on/off rather than go to the system preferences?
Or does someone like to program and want to make something for me... maybe just have a transparent program that appears as a dockling... the icon shows whether function lock is on or off, clicking on it will change it from on/off or pressing F19 will change it from on/off.
Whoops, topic resurrection. 9.5 months dead and it lives again!
I am using a Windows OS on a MACbook - I want to lock the function keys and was hoping this tip would work . I tried it by going back into the MAC operating system and clicked the option in system preferences but when I went back into Windows OS, the lock didn't apply? Would appreciate any advice to let me know what I'm doing wrong . . .
Right click the BootCamp icon in the taskbar and go to Preferences-->Keyboard. You can enable/disable there.
Thanks for the keyboard/mouse setting tip.
Topic Resurrection - great. looks like 3 or more of us have needed this info in the last month so seems well justified.
Windows OS - I'm running Parallels and fyi the keyboard/mouse setting change for the fn key fixed the WinOS as well as the MacOS - no need to change anything in Parallels like was needed in BootCamp.
Easier Way - If anyone comes up with an easier way to do this besides changing keyboard/mouse setting in system prefs, please post it here. seems there should be a "Function Lock" where holding the fn key down for a few seconds changes the function keys default from one setting to the other (that just seems too simple of a solution for someone at Apple not to have thought of it)
Topic Resurrection - great. looks like 3 or more of us have needed this info in the last month so seems well justified.
Windows OS - I'm running Parallels and fyi the keyboard/mouse setting change for the fn key fixed the WinOS as well as the MacOS - no need to change anything in Parallels like was needed in BootCamp.
Easier Way - If anyone comes up with an easier way to do this besides changing keyboard/mouse setting in system prefs, please post it here. seems there should be a "Function Lock" where holding the fn key down for a few seconds changes the function keys default from one setting to the other (that just seems too simple of a solution for someone at Apple not to have thought of it)
I would like an F-Lock too.
Otherwise it requires two hands to reach anything higher than F6.
Ergonomically, it would be nice if I could double tap the function key for a lock. Two quick taps in succession, or press and hold fn for 2 seconds without hitting another key locks it too.
If I get around to writing an app for it before anyone else, I'll let you know.
Otherwise it requires two hands to reach anything higher than F6.
Ergonomically, it would be nice if I could double tap the function key for a lock. Two quick taps in succession, or press and hold fn for 2 seconds without hitting another key locks it too.
If I get around to writing an app for it before anyone else, I'll let you know.
Someone beat you to it: http://macsteps.com/blog/tips/how-to-quickly-toggle-your-keyboards-function-keys/, though it does not work with 10.6.7.
I quickly edited the AppleScript to make it work in 10.6.7. Just make sure you check "Enable Access for Assistive Devices" in the Universal Access system preferences.
Then just run this Apple Script (after unzipping) to toggle the behavior of the function keys. You can play around with keyboard shortcuts to activate the Apple Script.
It's working fine for me, but let me know if it doesn't work for you guys.