Today I was working on a webpage and went to refresh the front-end page with the F5 key, only to find that it turned the volume off instead!
HP laptops have dual-function keys in the top row of the keyboard: Action Keys (brightness, volume, etc.) doubling up as Function Keys.
If you find yourself in this situation where you’re trying to use them as Function Keys but they insist on performing other actions, then you might think that your only option is to hold down the “fn” key (bottom row, left) before pressing the relevant function key.
Solutions
- You can change this behaviour in BIOS: when the laptop is shut down and restarting, pressing F10 repeatedly takes you to BIOS settings. In System Configuration > Advanced you can find Action Keys. Switch this off.
- Alternatively, and much simpler: look for the key that says “fn lock”. Press that key, together with both the “fn” and shift keys. This toggles the function keys on and off. On my EliteBook, a wee light shows on the “fn” key when it’s set to act as a function key.
As Sister Boniface would say, “Bingo!”