Special keys and function keys for Surface type cover and keyboards (2024)

FAQs

What are the function keys on the surface keyboard? ›

The function keys are labeled as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. When you enable the keys, you can use them for functions that are different from the main key functions (like volume or brightness). The functionality of these keys differs from app to app, but can include things like undo, redo, save, and print.

Control keys also include Home, End, Insert, Delete, Page Up, Page Down, Control(Ctrl), Alternate(Alt), Escape(Esc). Keyboard also contains some special purpose keys such as Enter, Shift, Caps Lock, Num Lock, Space bar, Tab, and Print Screen.

If your keyboard has an F Lock key, press it to toggle between the standard commands and alternate commands. When the F Lock light is Off, alternate functions work (Help, Undo, and so on). When the F Lock light is On, standard functions work (F1, F2, and so on).

Special function keys are added to many keyboards to provide shortcuts for widely used tasks. See function key. This Microsoft keyboard includes more than a dozen special function keys. The five silver keys are used to launch applications, while keys such as My Documents and My Pictures open the respective folders.

Use the Number Pad to Create Keyboard Symbols

Using the number pad on a Windows computer lets you use the ANSI code for special characters and symbols. Press Alt + [the number code for the symbol or accented letter]. For example, Alt + 1 inserts ☺, while Alt + 0153 inserts the trademark ™.

Press fn and the left shift key at the same time to enable fn (function) mode. When the fn key light is on, you must press the fn key and a function key to activate the default action.

If your external keyboard doesn't have an fn button then it means that you can't lock or change the fn row. Your keyboard comes with 1 set of commands if it doesn't have an fn key. Unfortunately, there is no workaround for this, since your keyboard doesn't come with the other options of the fn key.

Making F Keys Work without Fn

Use the Fn Lock feature to use function keys without the Fn Key. Find the Fn Lock key on your keyboard—it may say FnLk or have a lock icon. Hold down the Fn key and press Fn Lock. Release your fingers and use the function keys as normal.

F1 – Opens the Help screen for almost every program. F2 – Allows you to rename a selected file or folder. F3 – Opens a search feature for an application that is active at the moment. F4 – Alt + F4 closes the active window. F5 – Allows you to refresh or reload the page or document window.

What is the special function key? ›

A special key, in the context of computing and technology, refers to a keyboard key that performs a specific function beyond the standard alphanumeric input. Examples of these include keys like Control (Ctrl), Alt, Shift, Function (Fn), Escape (Esc), and the Windows key on a Windows-based computer.

F1 – Opens the Help screen for almost every program. F2 – Allows you to rename a selected file or folder. F3 – Opens a search feature for an application that is active at the moment. F4 – Alt + F4 closes the active window.

With a single-color keyboard backlight keyboards, FN+F11 increases the audio volume. With a multiple backlight colors (RGB) keyboard, FN+F11 locks all keys on the keyboard. When keys are locked, the "G" LED (Light-Emitting Diode) indicator light is active.

You can simply look at the lower left side of the keyboard on the device and if "Fn Lock" is currently turned on you will see a green light on the "Fn" key. To turn this off press and hold the "Fn" key and press the "Esc" key at the top left of the keyboard.