Windows 10: Top Row of Function Keys Don't Work, Only Work When Holding Down "Fn" Key

Hello! Recently when trying to use my volume and brightness keys, I can't use them without holding down the "Fn" key as well. I haven't done anything that I can think of that would cause this to change. I have already check my keyboard drivers and it says that they are up to date, so I can't think of anything else. Searching online has proved fruitless, they all say to update drivers. Any help regarding this matter? If it helps, I have a 2018 Dell Inspiron 15 3565 running Windows 10 Enterprise.


Thanks in advance!

:)

 

New laptop FN keys not working [Solved]

Exactly what I was used to do, pressing the FN key with an F key but that didn't work....
If I press the FN key I get f1 f2 f3 and so on.

It was just the other way around, but I figured it out now.*Smile

 

New laptop FN keys not working [Solved]

Ummm, that is normal - depending on the function you are doing (assuming I understand what you are saying).

On a notebook, the Fn key is like a shift key that switches in a different set of functions for the F-Keys.

For example, in Windows pressing the F5 key typically refreshes the display. In File Explorer, it will refresh the displayed files. In a browser, it will refresh (reload) the webpage. But pressing Fn + F5 does something different, depending on your notebook. On my Toshiba notebook, if I hold down the Fn key and press F5, it switches the video output of my notebook between the notebook monitor, a connected external monitor, or both.

 

Function keys won't work w/o hitting Fn key also

All the Notebooks/Laptops I've worked with did the same but some were opposite of others. The Fn key works in combination with the Fx keys with markings of the same Color as the Fn. Some will be marked in blue with additional markings in white, holding down the Fn key while pressing an Fx determines the function. Some older units will have markings on different keys such as the arrow keys and PageUp/PageDown keys, Home and End keys, etc. Just have to learn what your Notebook does. A standard desktop keyboard can be used on Notebooks but won't have all the added functions.