Mac 101: Reclaim your function keys
There are a handful of things I miss from OS 9, like programmable function keys (and Extension conflicts. I kid.). Just like The Apple Menu and the Happy Mac, fully customizable function keys were killed by Apple's big cats. However, we're not at a loss. The folks at Bitbox have described the simple steps needed to get some of that old flexibility back. First, launch system preferences and click the "Keyboard" tab. Next, select the "Use all F1, F2 etc. keys as standard function keys" option.
Now, you can use your function keys as nature intended. Their specialty functions are still available, too (like volume and brightness); just hold down the "fn" key while hitting the key of your choice.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
hot carl said 8:09PM on 2-24-2008
i love these tips. short, sweet, and tremendously useful!
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Ben said 8:10PM on 2-24-2008
Actually, this has been around for a while. I never liked having other functions take up my F keys, so I turned this on back when I got my iBook with 10.4.
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Xeres said 8:21PM on 2-24-2008
This is news, exciting news? I've had this option checked for ages... It's been there forever.
I mean, I just got a new laptop, and one of the first things I did was check that box so I could play WoW properly.
Good to know about, though.
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Kuy said 9:11PM on 2-24-2008
I personally think f-keys are quite useless on the Mac, and they will eventually disappear with other vestiges of days gone by (print screen, pause, system request, num-lock, etc.)
However, I also think Apple should treat a Cmd+F-key (or Cmd+Opt) stroke as if it was an F-key even when this option is not checked. This idea makes the combinations unambiguous and also useful for Exposé, Spaces and other shortcuts. If not implemented, these valuable key combinations are unreachable when this option is unchecked.
Maybe it's worth putting this functionality into DoubleCommand..?
Or maybe this is how it already works, and I have a broken keyboard?
-Kuy
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mmendoza27 said 9:33PM on 2-24-2008
I had to start using this option when I hated pushing "FN + F9" for expose... and "FN + F8" for spaces. I use those a whole lot more than controlling the brightness on my MacBook Pro keyboard. It's just more practical that way.
I always have to explain to everyone who wants to turn down the volume on my keyboard to hit the function key first though...
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Matt said 9:34PM on 2-24-2008
This is news?
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Benjamin said 12:34AM on 2-25-2008
I asked this question a while back and didn't get an answer, so I'll try again:
I'm wondering if anyone knows of a script or something that would adjust volume and screen brightness when the appropriate F-keys are pressed? I'd like to have one-button access to Exposé/Dashboard *and* volume/screen brightness, since I'm not really using the keys for anything else.
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Brian said 12:53AM on 2-25-2008
EXACTLY! I want this too. I want to be able to be able to do the following things without pressing the FN key: screen brightness, volume control, and expose/dashboard. There must be a way.
matt said 6:56AM on 2-25-2008
Spark!
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/14352
Allows you to set your own shortcuts. Just follow the same steps above (use keyboard for F-keys), and then define brightness to F1/F2 in Spark. No more Fn key.
Brian said 11:30AM on 2-25-2008
Matt: thank you so much! I can't believe I have never heard of Spark before. It's awesome. I even tied one of the function keys to play/pause in iTunes. Neato.
Benjamin said 4:57AM on 2-26-2008
Thanks Matt!
Chris Pallé said 9:41AM on 2-25-2008
To those who dissed this article: actually, yes, this is important. If you use Parallels and a PC app or two - a necessary evil to work in the corporate world – the function keys become extremely important. The need to quickly pull out a function can be grueling if you have to hit the Fn combo over and over.
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C said 10:37AM on 2-25-2008
It was good that I could do this when I got a slim aluminum Apple keyboard last year.
It's still a handy tip, so don't knock it kids.
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MLJ said 11:42AM on 2-25-2008
Note that this tip is laptop-specific; regular keyboards don't have "fn" keys.
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Frank said 12:02PM on 2-25-2008
Actually, they do. At least the new metal keyboards, both wired and wireless. It's in the middle of the keyboard, under the F13 key. See pictures here:
http://www.apple.com/keyboard/
Ron said 2:49PM on 2-26-2008
Is it just me, or does that fn key seem a little too far away? I'm just saying--an fn key on either side of the top row of f keys... I would like that. I could live with that. As it is, I have to use two hands to do one keystroke... and it's different than a simple shift+letter or cmd+whatever.
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