Guide “How To Turn Off FN Lock” Windows 10, HP, Lenovo, Dell, and ThinkPad Devices

Function keys (F1 to F12) serve multiple purposes on our keyboards, often offering a host of shortcuts to our most frequently used operations. But what if these keys are locked in their alternate ‘Function’ (FN) mode?

This article will guide you on how to turn off the FN lock on your computer, providing detailed solutions for users of Windows 10, HP, Lenovo, Dell, and ThinkPad.

How To Turn Off FN Lock

Understanding the FN Lock

The FN lock, or function lock, is a feature that changes the role of the function keys (F1-F12). When this lock is enabled, the function keys act as shortcut keys (media control, brightness adjustment, etc.),

Requiring you to press the ‘FN’ key to access their standard roles. If the FN lock is causing inconvenience, there are a few ways to disable it.

Disabling FN Lock on Windows 10

Windows 10 provides an easy way to switch the behavior of your function keys:

  1. Go to ‘Settings’ from the Start Menu.
  2. Select ‘System’ and then click on ‘About’.
  3. On the right side, under ‘Related settings’, click on ‘Advanced system settings’.
  4. In the new window, go to the ‘Hardware’ tab and click ‘Device Installation Settings’.
  5. A dialog box will open – select ‘No’, then ‘Save Changes’.
  6. Restart your computer for changes to take effect.

Turning Off Function Lock on HP Laptops

On HP laptops, you can disable the function lock by accessing the BIOS settings:

  1. Restart your computer.
  2. Press the ‘F10’ key (or ‘ESC’ then ‘F10’) during the startup to enter the BIOS setup.
  3. Navigate to the ‘System Configuration’ tab.
  4. Look for ‘Action Keys Mode’ and set it to ‘Disabled’.
  5. Save and exit the BIOS setup.

Disabling FN Lock on Lenovo Devices

On Lenovo devices, disabling the FN lock can be quite straightforward:

  1. Locate the ‘FN’ key on your keyboard.
  2. Look for the ‘Esc’ key or any key with a ‘padlock’ icon with ‘FN’ or ‘FnLk’ inside. This will be the FN lock key.
  3. Press ‘FN’ and the ‘FN lock’ key together to disable the FN lock.

In some Lenovo models like ThinkPad, you can change this setting through BIOS:

  1. Restart your computer and press ‘F1’ during startup to enter BIOS.
  2. Navigate to the ‘Configuration’ tab.
  3. Change the ‘HotKey Mode’ or ‘Function Key Mode’ to ‘Disabled’.
  4. Save and exit the BIOS setup.

Turning Off FN Lock on Dell Laptops

For Dell laptops, the FN lock can be disabled as follows:

  1. Locate the ‘FN’ key and the ‘Esc’ key (or a key labeled ‘FN Lock’) on your keyboard.
  2. Press these two keys simultaneously to disable the FN lock.

In case this shortcut doesn’t work, you might have to alter the setting in BIOS:

  1. Restart your computer and press ‘F2’ during startup to enter BIOS.
  2. Navigate to the ‘Advanced’ or ‘Function Key Behavior’ tab.
  3. Change the setting to ‘Function Key First’ or ‘Multimedia Key First’, depending on the model.
  4. Save and exit the BIOS setup.

In conclusion

disabling the FN lock across various computers and operating systems can help streamline your workflow, especially if you frequently use function keys for their standard roles.

While the process differs slightly across Windows 10, HP, Lenovo, Dell, and ThinkPad devices, the methods are generally straightforward, often requiring just a simple key combination or a quick foray into the BIOS settings.

Remember, the ability to toggle FN lock depends on your keyboard, and some keyboards may not provide this feature. Moreover, please be careful when making changes in the BIOS setup as incorrect settings can cause system instability.

It’s always good to note down the original settings before making any changes, so you can revert back if necessary. By mastering these methods to control FN lock, you can customize your computer usage to better suit your needs, making tasks easier and boosting productivity. Happy computing!