Secret Uses of Function Keys on Your Keyboard That You Didn't Know

The function keys F1-F12 on your keyboard are often overlooked by many users, yet they are very resourceful in carrying out most of your everyday duties. This article will help you discover some hidden uses of the function keys that you might not know.

F1: Help

• Open Help Window: The F1 key in most programs opens the help window for that program. This is very useful if you are stuck using the software.

F2: Rename Files

• Rename File: If you have selected a file in Windows, the F2 key will let you rename that file in place, rather than having to right-click over it and then clicking "Rename".

F3: Search

• Open Search Bar: The F3 key opens the search bar in most programs and browsers, so you can find some text or item inside a program or page.

F4: Close Windows

• Close Active Window: Alt + F4 closes the active window. If you are on the desktop, you can shut down the operating system by using this shortcut.

F5: Refresh Page

• Refresh Page: The F5 key refreshes the current page in most, if not all, internet browsers. This hotkey is also used to refresh the folder in Windows File Explorer.

F6: Move Between Elements

• Move Between Elements: In most browsers and many other applications, F6 will cycle through the various elements, like between the address bar and the main content of the page.

F7: Spell and Grammar Check

• Spell and Grammar Check: In some applications like Microsoft Word, F7 toggles the spelling and grammar check utility to quicken the process of text correction.

F8: Boot into Safe Mode

• Boot into Safe Mode: Strike the F8 key at boot time to get the boot options menu, from which you can boot into Safe Mode.

F9: Send/Receive in Mail

• Refresh Email: Some email clients use F9 to refresh the inbox and fetch new emails.

F10: Open Menu Bar

• Open Menu Bar: The F10 key in some applications turns on the menu bar that can be browsed with the keyboard.

F11: Full Screen

• Full-Screen Mode: Some popular browsers use F11 to turn full-screen mode on and off, which is quite useful for an immersive experience, free from distractions.

F12: Open Developer Tools

• Developer Tools: The F12 key opens the developer tools in most browsers where you can inspect and edit web pages directly.

Conclusion

Your keyboard function keys are packed with so much functionality to help you use your computer efficiently and easily. If you learn how to experiment with these shortcuts, you will find new ways to save more of your time and enhance your productivity.