How to Turn Fn Lock On or Off on Any Laptop Keyboard

On most laptops you turn Fn key lock on or off by pressing Fn + Esc together. Many models have a small padlock or “FnLk” label on the Esc key and a light that shows when the lock is active. If that shortcut does nothing, the setting usually lives in the BIOS/UEFI or the maker’s own keyboard app instead.

What is Fn lock and what does it change?

Fn lock is a toggle that swaps the default job of your laptop’s top row of keys. With it in one state, pressing F5 refreshes a web page; in the other, the same key might change screen brightness, and you need to hold Fn to get F5. It works like Caps Lock, but for the function row.

Laptop makers print two labels on each top-row key. Lenovo’s documentation describes this neatly: with Fn lock off, a key pressed alone runs its primary function and Fn plus the key runs the secondary one; with Fn lock on, the roles swap.

Which way round is “right” depends on what you do all day:

• Media keys as default suits most home users who adjust volume, brightness and Wi-Fi more often than they press F-keys.
• F1–F12 as default suits anyone who uses Excel (F2 to edit a cell, F4 to fix a reference), coding tools, AutoCAD or keyboard-heavy software.

A common support question we see comes from people who bought a new laptop and suddenly find that F5 turns the volume down. Nothing is broken; the manufacturer simply shipped it with media keys as the default.

How do I lock the Fn key with a keyboard shortcut?

To lock the Fn key, hold Fn and tap Esc, then release both. If your Esc key shows a padlock, “FnLk” or “Fn Lock” label, that is the toggle. Press the same pair again to release the lock. Test by pressing F1 or a volume key to see which action you get.

1. Look at your Esc key, and sometimes Shift or Caps Lock, for a padlock icon or “FnLk” label.
2. Hold Fn, tap the key with that label, then let go of both.
3. Check for an indicator light on Esc or Fn. On many Lenovo and ASUS models the light shows the lock is on.
4. Press F5 in a web browser. If the page refreshes, the top row is sending standard function keys.
5. If nothing changes, try Fn + Shift or Fn + Caps Lock, then move on to the BIOS method below.

The toggle is stored by the keyboard firmware, so it normally survives a restart. Some models reset it at every boot, which is one reason people prefer to set the default in the BIOS instead.

Fn key lock shortcuts by laptop brand

Fn + Esc is the most common keyboard Fn lock shortcut across brands, but HP, Acer and some business models rely on a BIOS setting instead. The table below lists the usual method for each major brand. Exact behaviour varies by model and year, so check your user guide if the shortcut does nothing.

Lenovo

Lenovo’s own user guides describe Fn lock as an electronic switch toggled with Fn + Esc, with an LED on the Esc key. Fn lock only affects the top row; other keys with secondary labels still need Fn held down.

ASUS

ASUS says Fn + Esc switches between hotkey mode and F1–F12 mode on supported models. You can also change it in the MyASUS app under Device Settings, and pressing Fn + Esc updates that setting too.

HP and Dell

On many HP notebooks, the function key behaviour is set in the BIOS rather than by a shortcut. Dell laptops usually respond to Fn + Esc, and Dell’s own external keyboards use the same combination to swap primary and secondary functions.

How to change Fn lock in the BIOS or UEFI

If no shortcut works, set the function key default in the BIOS/UEFI firmware. Restart, press the setup key (often F2, F10, Del or Esc), find an option such as “Action Keys Mode”, “Function Key Behavior” or “Fn Lock Options”, change it, then save with F10. This sets the default for every boot.

If you have never opened the firmware menu before, our guide on how to enter UEFI/BIOS on Windows 11 covers the keys for each brand and the Settings route through Advanced startup.

1. Save your work and shut the laptop down fully (not sleep).
2. Switch it on and tap the setup key repeatedly. On HP, tap Esc for the Startup Menu, then F10 for BIOS Setup. Dell and Acer usually use F2.
3. Open the tab that holds keyboard or system options. On HP it is System Configuration; on Acer it is usually Main.
4. Find the setting. On HP, Action Keys Mode set to Enabled means media actions work without Fn; Disabled means F1–F12 work without Fn.
5. Press F10 (or the key shown on screen) to save and exit. The laptop restarts with the new default.

Only change the one setting you came for. Options such as Secure Boot and TPM matter for Windows 11, as explained in our article on Windows 11 system requirements, TPM and Secure Boot, so leave those alone.

Fn lock on a Mac, Surface and external keyboards

A Mac has no Fn lock key. Instead, Apple provides a setting: System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Function Keys, then turn on “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys”. Surface keyboards toggle by pressing Fn alone, and many desktop keyboards have an F Lock key.

Mac

According to Apple’s Mac User Guide, with that option on you can use F-keys without holding Fn or the Globe key. Turn it off and the top row goes back to brightness, Mission Control and media controls.

Microsoft Surface and Microsoft keyboards

On Surface keyboards, pressing Fn turns on an LED and the top row acts as function keys until you press Fn again. Older Microsoft desktop keyboards use a dedicated F Lock key, and the All-in-One Media Keyboard uses Fn + Caps Lock. Microsoft’s F Lock guide explains the light states.

Logitech and other external keyboards

Many wireless keyboards use Fn + Esc as well. Logitech models are usually configured in the Logi Options+ app, where you can choose whether the top row sends F-keys without Fn.

Why is my Fn lock not working?

Fn lock usually fails for one of four reasons: the model doesn’t support a shortcut, the BIOS setting overrides it, the maker’s hotkey driver or app is missing after a Windows reinstall, or the keyboard needs a firmware update. Work through them in that order before suspecting a hardware fault.

• Your model uses a BIOS setting instead. Many HP and Acer laptops ignore Fn + Esc. Use the BIOS steps above.
• Hotkey software is missing. After a clean install, media keys can stop working until you install the maker’s utility, such as Lenovo Vantage, MyASUS, HP’s support software or Dell’s driver package. Download it from the manufacturer’s support site, never a third-party driver site.
• Outdated BIOS or keyboard driver. HP support staff, for example, suggest updating the BIOS, chipset and keyboard drivers when Fn lock misbehaves.
• Filter Keys or Sticky Keys. These Windows accessibility options don’t control Fn, but they can make key presses feel unresponsive. Check them under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
• A genuinely faulty key. Most makers include a keyboard test in their built-in diagnostics; on HP it is reached by tapping Esc at startup, then F2.

If Windows itself feels sluggish while you troubleshoot, our guide to speeding up Windows 11 covers the usual causes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off Fn lock?

Press the same combination you used to turn it on, usually Fn + Esc. The indicator light on the Esc or Fn key should go out. If there’s no shortcut, open the BIOS/UEFI and change the function key setting, for example Action Keys Mode on HP laptops, then save and restart.

Is there an Fn lock setting in Windows 11?

No. Windows 11 has no built-in switch for Fn lock, because the Fn key is handled by the laptop’s firmware rather than the operating system. You change it with a keyboard shortcut, in the BIOS/UEFI, or through the manufacturer’s app such as MyASUS, Lenovo Vantage or the Surface app.

How do I know if Fn lock is on?

Many laptops have a small LED on the Esc or Fn key that lights up when Fn lock is active. If yours doesn’t, press F5 in a browser. A page refresh means the top row is sending standard function keys; a brightness or volume change means media keys are the default.

Why do my F keys change volume instead of working normally?

Your laptop’s top row is set to media (action) keys by default, which is how many consumer laptops ship. Hold Fn while pressing the F-key to get the standard function, or toggle Fn lock with Fn + Esc or the BIOS setting so F1–F12 work without holding Fn.

Can I lock the Fn key on a Mac?

Not with a key, but you can set it permanently. Go to System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Function Keys and turn on “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys”. Your top row then sends F-keys, and you hold Fn or Globe for brightness and media controls.

Does Fn lock stay on after a restart?

On most laptops, yes, because the setting is stored by the keyboard firmware. Some models reset it at each boot. If yours forgets, set the default in the BIOS/UEFI or the manufacturer’s app instead of relying on the Fn + Esc toggle.

The bottom line

Try Fn + Esc first, look for the indicator light, and use the BIOS or the maker’s app if your laptop ignores the shortcut. Once the keyboard works the way you like, it’s worth confirming the rest of your setup, starting with checking that Windows 11 is activated.

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