is there a way to change the keyboard fn to be default function keys

Anonymous
2013-02-12T14:11:15+00:00

I use the function keys a lot more that I use the charm keys. Is there a way to switch them?

Surface | Surface Pro | Install and update

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Anonymous
2013-05-25T21:58:17+00:00

Hold the Fn button and press the CapsLock. It works.

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Anonymous
2013-02-13T05:39:50+00:00

Greetings,

*Moderator Update*

You can enable FN Lock by holding FN + CAPS for a few seconds.

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Anonymous
2014-01-03T07:37:53+00:00

you can toogle the functions of the keys by pressing

FN (right of space)

left shift - lock (the key with the "A"  in a square and the lock-symbol)

pressing them together for about 1 second toogles the funktions of the keys from search to F5 and back

Ralf

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Anonymous
2013-06-01T14:41:33+00:00

This has been answered in a couple other threads but apparently the answer doesn't work for everyone.  Still, it's worth trying:

Try key combination CAPLOCK (hold down) + Fn.  You'll hear a click when you first hit the Caplock, but nothing when tapping the Fn key.  That should toggle the top row of keys to now perform the Function as the default, and Fn + (key) will then do the indicated operation.  I just retested mine and for example the search (magnifying glass) will do a browser page reload (F5).

The CAPLOCK+Fn toggle seems to stick around thru a restart as well, but might be reset by removing and reattaching the touch keyboard. 

Hope this helps - if it works for you please mark as an answer for others.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-15T08:41:15+00:00

    Dear Microsoft:

    I think it would be a good idea if you give the Surface users the opportunity to do what the original poster has asked - in other words, give us some kind of control (setting) that enables us to have the Function keys operate as F1 to F12 without the need to press the FN button.

    I believe that this could most easily and most simply be accomplished by adding a toggle type option in the existing "Trackpad Settings" metro app.

    There is some precedent for responding to this type of customer request.  About two years ago, Lenovo reversed the positions of the FN and CTRL keys on their laptops.  Quite a few touch-typists asked Lenovo to provide the ability to (electronically) reverse the positions of the two keys, to revert back to what they were used to.  Lenovo did that, and earned a lot of kudos (and loyalty) from this small group of power users.

    I use my Surface Pro as a laptop replacement, and I am very happy with it.  It is a heck of a lot more powerful device than an iPad, which is just a content consumption device.  The Surface Pro is a true computer.  Precisely because it is a true computer, there are a lot of us out here who need to use function keys within third party applications that were originally written for a full size 101/102 key keyboard.

    I think Microsoft could offer this 'toggle FN key' ability without compromising the design, look, and feel of the Windows 8 OS.  After all, the request is being made by a relatively small number of folks who have very specific needs - we're not asking you to change your OS design or OS philosophy, just to give us the ability to customize our delightful little computers to better meet our needs.

    Michael

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