[FIXED] Function Keys Not Working on Windows 10, 8, 7 & Mac

[FIXED] Function Keys Not Working on Windows 10, 8, 7 & Mac

Functions keys have a vital role in computer keyboards. These 12 alphanumeric keys (from F1 to F12) are quite helpful to perform certain actions assigned by your operating system. However, these special function keys can run into problems sometimes. If your function keys are not working on Windows 10, 8, or 7 or Mac computer then go through this guide to find the best solutions to fix the function keys.

The guide covers the causes and fixes to repair your function keys. If your Mac or HP laptop function keys not working, you can fix them by performing the following methods:

Why My Function Keys Are Not Working?

If you are thinking why won’t my function keys work, this is because sometimes your hardware creates conflicts due to which your keys stop working properly. Other reasons such as outdated Keyboard Drivers, enabled Filter Keys, Hotkeys Drivers, Synaptics Pointing Device drivers may also cause issues on your system.

This is a common problem in laptops from specific manufacturers. It includes HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, and Asus.

If you have any of the aforementioned laptops and your Microsoft keyboard function keys not working on Windows 7, 8, or 10, you can repair these keys easily.

In addition, if your Mac laptop function keys not working then you can change the keyboard settings in order to make things work.

Hence, in this particular blog, we will treat these possible causes in a manner that your key would start working properly. Let’s start off!

How to Fix When Microsoft Keyboard Function Keys Not Working on Windows 7, 8, or 10?

To fix your function keys, we will perform a number of solutions. Based on the causes, you are required to treat the problem. For instance, you can run the hardware troubleshooter if there is a hardware issue.

Besides that, you can update keyboard drivers, delete Hotkey Drivers, disable Filter keys, remove Synaptics Pointing Device Drivers, enable VAIO Event Service, or reset your computer if needed.

Below we are showing these methods with step by step guidance. Let’s learn how to fix when function keys are not working on Windows 10. Also, if you own Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can use the same methods.

Method 1: Run the Troubleshooter

If the function key is not working on Asus laptop, Dell laptop, or Lenovo laptop, this is due to compatibility issues. Issues are likely to occur especially if your laptop is old. To solve this problem, you can run the hardware troubleshooter as this will help you to fix the poor hardware configuration.

  • Launch Windows “Settings” app using the “Windows + I” key combination.
  • Click on the “Update & Security”.
  • Select the “Troubleshoot” option from left.
Troubleshoot - function keys not working
  • Now, click on the “Hardware and Devices” option.
  • Then, hit the “Run the troubleshooter” option.

After following these steps, the affected device such as the Keyboard will be repaired. This should make your function keys work now. In case it does not then there must be some other issues with your drivers.

Method 2: Update the Keyboard Drivers

If a function key is not working in Dell laptops or other laptops then you should make sure that your keyboard drivers are up to date. Especially, if you recently upgraded to Windows 10, it is likely to happen that your keyboard drivers go corrupted or outdated.

As a result, your function keys won’t work efficiently as a few function keys require a new update installation.

If your function keys are not working properly then you can install the latest key drivers from the manufacturer’s website and update drivers on your Windows PC. To know the procedure with step by step guidance, you can go through the following steps:

  • Open “Device Manager” by using the “Windows” + “X” keys on your keyboard.
  • Click on the “Keyboards” section in the “Device Manager” window.
Keyboards - function keys not working windows 10
  • Pick the first driver from the drop-down menu and right-click on it.
  • Click on the “Update Driver” option.
  • When a new window opens, click on “Search Automatically for Updated Driver Software”.

This will check for the new versions of your existing drivers. You can wait until your Windows PC searches for compatible drivers. Thereafter, you can download and install the keyboard drivers on your computer. Once done, you can reboot your PC and try using function keys.

Tip: If you are not willing to download the drivers manually, you can then download Driver Update Software. This makes your tedious task easier and you can automatically update your device drivers.

Method 3: Remove Hotkey Drivers

Another method to fix the function keys is to uninstall the hotkey drivers from your Windows computer. In case, you have a Toshiba laptop and the function keys of Toshiba satellite not working then you can simply remove the hotkey driver from Device Manager. To do so, you can follow these steps:

  • Press the “Windows” + “X” key on your keyboard.
  • Select “Device Manager” from the results.
  • Search for “Toshiba hotkey driver”.

Note: Those who don’t own a Toshiba laptop can search for only Hotkey Driver in the Device Manager.

  • Click right on the driver and select the “Uninstall” option.
  • Then, search for the “HID-Compliant Keyboard” and “HID-Compliant Mouse driver”.
  • Right-click and “Uninstall” them.

After you uninstall these hotkeys, keyboard, and mouse drivers, you can restart your computer and try using function keys if they are working well.

Method 4: Delete Synaptics Pointing Device Drivers

On Windows laptops, there are instances when the default drivers cause issues with your system. Synaptics Pointing Device Driver is one of them. Therefore, it is suggested that you try removing this driver from your system. This can be done via the Control Panel. To do so, you can follow these steps:

  • Press the “Windows” + “R” keys on your keyboard to open “Control Panel”.
  • Click on the “Uninstall Programs” category in “Programs”.
Programs - my function keys are not working
  • Find the “Synaptics Pointing Device” driver from the downloaded programs.
  • Click on the driver and hit the “Uninstall” option.

Once you are done removing the drivers from your system, you can check your function keys. This should solve your problem. Yet your HP laptop function keys are not working, you can use the VAIO service. Continue reading to know more.

Method 5: Start VAIO Event Service

In the method, we will enable the VAIO Event service from the Windows Services. This can be done via a Run dialog box. Follow these steps to understand better.

  • Press the “Windows + R” keys in order to open the “Run” box.
  • Type “services.msc.” in the text field.
  • Click the “Ok” button.
  • Find “VAIO Event Service” from the list of services.
VAIO Event Service - keyboard function keys not working

Note: In case you don’t have a VAIO device, you may find a different service name in the list.

  • Double click on the “VAIO Event” service and mark the “Startup type” to automatic.
  • Mark the “Service Status” option. Also, ensure it is started.
  • Then, click the ”OK” button.
  • Hit the “Apply” button.

If the function keys are not working in Lenovo laptops or other laptops, you can resolve this issue by following the steps mentioned above.

Method 6: Turn Off Filter Keys

Windows Filter Keys helps you to block frequent keystrokes. However, there are instances when it also blocks the function keys on your computer.

If your Gateway function keys are not working then you can simply disable the Filter Keys on your Windows 10 computer. For this, you can do the following:

  • Open “Control Panel” using the “Windows” + “R” keys on your keyboard.
  • Scroll down and choose the “Make the keyboard easier to use” option.
  • Now, scroll down again and find the “Set up Filter Keys” option. Ensure that the box before “Turn on Toggle Keys” is not checked. If it is checked then click again to remove the check.
  • Once disabled, click the Apply” and “OK” button.

If you are Windows 8 or 7 users, you need to visit Ease of Access in order to turn off the filter keys. To not to create any confusion, here are the steps for that.

  • Go to “Settings” and search for the “Ease of Access” in the search bar.

Tip: To directly open the Ease of Access, you can use “Windows” + “U” keys.

  • Once you reach “Ease of Access”, click on the “Make the keyboard easier to use” option. It should be under the “Explore all settings”.
  • Here, go to the “Set up Filter Keys” option. If the “Turn on Toggle Keys” box is checked, you can remove the check.
  • Once disabled, click the Apply” and “OK” button.

This is how you can fix when HP laptop function keys are not working. By disabling the Filter Keys, you can repair the function keys. This process really helps even when your whole keyboard is not working.

Method 7: Reset Your Computer

When no method works effectively then you can reset your PC in the end. By doing so, you can recover a number of problems associated with your keyboard or touchpad.

If the function keys are not working, you can go through the following steps to reset your Windows computer:

  • Click on the “Windows Search bar”.
  • Type in “Reset”.
  • Open “Reset this PC” in the “Recovery” window.
Reset this PC - laptop function keys not working
  • Click on the ”Get Started” option located below.
  • Now choose what files you prefer to discard or keep and then reinstall Windows.

Once you have refreshed your computer, your function keys must work efficiently. This is how you can fix when Logitech g213 function keys are not working.

This is all you can do for your function keys to make them work on Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7. In case, you own a Mac PC or laptop and facing the same issue, we also have provided a few solutions. Read below.

How to Fix When Mac Function Keys Not Working?

Apple Mac does not have a row of function keys on the top of your keyboard. Instead of this, the Mac keyboard has an fn key. When you press this key, you can then access function keys from F1 to F12. All in all, fn can be used as function keys.

However, Mac function keys can also create conflicts due to which you cannot perform certain actions on your PC. If your Mac functions key not working then you can fix it by setting up your keyboard.

Furthermore, you can disable Slow Keys, Mouse Keys, Speak Selected Text key, or use Keyboard Viewer. Let’s go through these methods with step by step guidance.

Method 1: Make Fn Key the Default Display for Certain Apps

The method requires you to make the Fn key the default display for specific applications on Mac computers. By doing so, you will solve your problem. So, if your Apple magic keyboard with numeric keypad function keys not working, you can follow these steps instructed below:

  • Hit the “Apple” icon located on the top left of your screen.
  • Go to “System Preferences”.
  • Click on the “Keyboard”.
  • Select the “Shortcuts” tab.
  • Click on the “Functions Keys” from left.
  • Hit the (+) icon.
Shortcuts - mac function keys not working
  • Now, pick the app that you think should be displayed on the “Touch Bar” by default.
  • Click on the “Add” button.

By following these steps, you will be able to use function keys. This is a helpful method for the app that you use most often.

Method 2: Modify the Keyboard Shortcuts

Another method to fix your Mac function keys is to change the keyboard shortcut keys. For that, you can go through these steps:

  • Click on the “Apple’s icon”.
  • Go to ‘System Preferences”.
  • Click on the “Exposé & Spaces” option.
Exposé & Spaces - mac function keys not working
  • Select the “Exposé” tab.
  • Now, in the “Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts” window, pick some other keyboard shortcut for each one.

In case you prefer to use Spaces then you can go to the Spaces tab and pick some other keyboard shortcuts in the To Activate Spaces menu.

Method 3: Turn Off the Slow Keys

Slow keys make you press the key for a longer time. This can be the reason that you are unable to use function keys on your Mac computer. To fix this, you can follow these steps:

  • Go to “System Preferences”
  • Click on the “Universal Access” pane or “Accessibility” option.
Universal Access -mac function keys not working
  • Click on the “Keyboard” tab.
  • Here, make sure that the “Slow Keys” are disabled.

This will turn off the Slow keys and you can access your function keys normally on your Mac computer.

Method 4: Disable Speak Selected Text Key

In case your Mac function keys are not working, the reason should be that you have enabled the Speak Selected Text key. Therefore, in this method, we will disable this key if enabled.

  • Hit the “Apple” icon located on the top left of your screen.
  • Choose the “Speech” option from the “View” option.
  • Click on the “Text to Speech” option.
  • At this point, you need to check if you have enabled the “Speak selected text when the key is pressed” option. If yes then you can disable it.

Alternatively, you can click on the Set Key and add the key that you use rarely than other keys such as Option, Shift, Control, and Command keys.

Method 5: Disable Mouse Keys

If the Mouse keys are enabled on your Mac computer, you won’t be able to use the Numeric keypad. To deal with this, you can simply disable the Mouse Keys. Let’s do that following these steps:

  • Go to “System Preferences”
  • Click on the “Universal Access” pane or “Accessibility” option.
  • Click on the “Mouse” tab.
  • Here, make sure that the “Mouse Keys” are disabled.

If your Apple magic keyboard with numeric keypad function keys is not working, you can fix it by following the steps discussed above.

Method 6: Use Keyboard Viewer

When no above step works then you can simply use the Keyboard Viewer. This will show your typing text. To understand better, go through these steps:

  • In the “System Preferences” click on the “Language & Text” pane (if you have Mac OS X v10.6). For MAC OS X v10.5.8 or older, you can click on the ”International” pane.
  • Select the “Input Sources” option. For earlier versions, you can click on the “Input” tab.
  • Mark the  “Keyboard & Character Viewer ON” check box. For older versions, you can click on “Keyboard Viewer On” to select it.
  • In the “Input” menu, click on “Show Keyboard Viewer”.

When your keyboard is connected by the OS X, the keys will highlight when you type in the Keyboard Viewer. You can also open other text apps and type using keyboards keys. This is how you can fix the function keys on your Mac computer.

Closure

Function keys are handy enough to quickly perform different actions such as increase/decrease sound, adjust brightness, and more. If the function keys are not working on Windows 10 or earlier version then you can repair your keys using troubleshooting methods.

In this guide, we have provided a number of solutions you can perform. Besides that, we have given solutions to fix function keys on a Mac computer.

Hopefully, this guide helped you.

In case, you are having issues with your webcam or microphone, you can check out the following guide to get some effective solutions:

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