How do I fix my F1-F12 keys?

Question

My volume keys aren't working, whenever i press them, it opens up a small pop up. My brightness doesn't work too, and it just opens tabs. I tried holding Fn key and esc key but it didnt work. My volume works when I hold the Fn key and F3 key but I would like it to just work with me just pressing F3.

Answer 1

1

Windows has no control over the function keys on your keyboard, because the actions associated to the keys vary from PC to PC and it is unusual if pressing Fn + Esc does not toggle the function lock on your keyboard.

Boot your system into BIOS and search each tab for a setting to switch between Function Keys and Action/Media Keys.

If you find that setting, toggle it to the other setting and save that.

2

If you are still unable to resolve the problem, click your Start Button, then just type msinfo and press Enter, please provide a screenshot of the resulting System Information window.

Answer 2

The keyboard is currently set so that F1–F12 act as standard function keys by default, and the special actions (volume, brightness, etc.) only work when Fn is held. To make volume/brightness work directly without holding Fn, the keyboard’s Fn/Fn Lock setting must be toggled.

Use the method that matches the device:

1. Surface Keyboard / Surface Type Cover
   • Press the Fn key once to toggle function mode.
   • When the Fn light is on, the keys act as F1–F12 and special actions require Fn.
   • When the Fn light is off, the top-row keys perform their special actions (volume, brightness, etc.) directly.
2. All-in-One Media Keyboard
   • Press Fn + Caps Lock together to toggle FN Lock.
   • Repeat Fn + Caps Lock to switch back.
3. Other Microsoft keyboards with F Lock
   • Press the F Lock key to toggle between:
     • Standard F1–F12 behavior
     • Alternate commands (volume, brightness, etc.)
   • Use the F Lock indicator light (if present) to see which mode is active.

After switching so that Fn Lock is disabled (or alternate commands are active), pressing the volume key (for example F3) should change volume directly without holding Fn.

If the keyboard is from another manufacturer (HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc.), the same behavior is usually controlled in the laptop’s BIOS/UEFI or with a vendor utility, so the setting must be changed there.

---

References:

• How do I use the Fn key/F Lock key/Alternate command keys?
• Special keys and function keys for Surface Keyboards or Type Covers
• Use the special keys on Surface Keyboard
• Troubleshoot Surface Pro Keyboard or Type Cover