Now I want to use the function keys in IntelliJ as shortcuts without having to press the 'fn' key. So I checked the checkbox 'use F1, F2 etc. Keys as standard function keys' but it's not working. I still have to press the fn key. I guess this setting is only for the internal MacBook keyboard, because there it works. Function Keys in Catalina. To change the settings corresponding to your Function keys, go to System Preferences Keyboard Keyboard. At the bottom is an option to “Use F1, F2, etc as standard.
The Touch Bar of your MacBook Pro changes to show the function keys for you to select, and then it returns to its previous state when you release the Function key.
For some apps, you can make the function keys display permanently in Touch Bar:
- In System Preferences, choose Keyboard.
- Click Shortcuts.
- From the left sidebar, select Function Keys.
- Click the “+” symbol, then navigate to the app and select it.
Now when you open or switch to this app, Touch Bar always displays the function keys.
You can also use an on-screen keyboard to access function keys:
- From System Preferences, select Keyboard.
- Check “Show Keyboard, Emoji and symbol viewers in menu bar”.
- Choose the viewer icon in the menu bar, then choose Show Keyboard Viewer.
An on-screen keyboard appears with function keys that you can click.
Using function keys in Windows
When you use Boot Camp to run Windows on your MacBook Pro, the function keys work the same as they do in macOS. Hold down the Function key on your keyboard, and the function keys appear.
You can also use the Windows on-screen keyboard to access function keys:
- From the Windows menu, select the Windows Ease of Access menu item.
- Click On-Screen Keyboard.
- Click the fn key. The function keys appear in the on-screen keyboard.
You can also make the function keys appear continuously in the Touch Bar while using Windows, without having to hold down the Function key:
- In the Windows System Tray, click the up arrow to show additional icons.
- Click on the dark grey diamond-shaped Boot Camp icon.
- Select Boot Camp Control Panel from the menu that appears.
- Click Yes to allow the Control Panel to run.
- Click the Keyboard tab.
- Select 'Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys' to make the function keys appear continuously in the Touch Bar all the time. Deselect the checkbox to return the function keys to standard behavior.
![F2 Key For Mac F2 Key For Mac](/uploads/1/1/8/9/118943515/494273944.jpg)
Keys with an Fn key or F Lock provide two sets of commands for many keys. This includes the top row of standard function keys (F1–F12).
Standard commands are labeled on the front of the keys (such as F3). Alternate commands are labeled on top of the keys (such as Redo). In some programs, the function of a standard command and an alternate command may be the same (for example, F1 typically displays Help for the active window, and on some keyboards, the alternate command for F1 is also Help).
Use the Fn key
- On keyboards with an Fn key, hold down Fn and press the key to use the alternate commands.
Tips
- You can also press and hold Fn while moving your finger up and down on the navigation pad to scroll within a document.
- You can press and hold Fn while pressing keyboard letters M, J, K, L, U, I, O, P, /, ;, and 0 to match the physical layout of a numeric keypad.
Use the F Lock key
- 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).
F2 Key Not Working
Use alternate command keys
The following table specifies the default key assignments for the alternate command keys. You can reassign many of them using Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center.
Alternate command key | What it does |
Help | Opens the Help system (if any) for the active window. |
Undo | Cancels the previous action. |
Redo | Cancels the previous Undo action. |
New | Creates a new document in programs that support this command. |
Open | Opens a document in programs that support this command. |
Close | Closes the document or file that is in the active window. |
Reply | Replies to the e-mail message that is in the active window. |
Fwd | Forwards the e-mail message that is in the active window. |
Send | Sends the e-mail message that is in the active window. |
Spell | Starts checking the spelling in the active document, if the document's program has a spelling checker. |
Save | Saves the file that is in the active window. |
Print | Prints the file that is in the active window. |
Enabling FN Lock on the All in One Media Keyboard
Excel F2 Mac
To enable FN Lock on the All in One Media Keyboard, press the FN key, and the Caps Lock key at the same time. To disable FN Lock, press the FN key, and the Caps Lock key at the same time again.