Use for standard or multimedia tasks

Microsoft Windows function keys (the F1 through F12 keys on the top row of your keyboard) can perform multiple tasks, depending on how you use them. You can lock or unlock these keys to make them perform different tasks. We'll show you how to do that in Windows 10 and 11.

By default, the function keys on your keyboard perform the tasks assigned to them. For example, the F2 key on most keyboards lowers the volume of your speakers. You can make these keys perform the tasks assigned to F1, F2, and so on by locking and unlocking them.

Whether you keep your Fn keys locked or unlocked depends on which functions you prefer to use. If you use the printed functions of the keys more often than the actual F1 through F12 functions, it's a good idea to keep the keys unlocked. If you use the F1 through F12 functions more often, lock your function keys so you can access those functions with a single keystroke.