Comments on: Switch your Mac function keys to work as standard function keys

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:06:27 +0000

Hi, I got much the same result as Pat. I have Mac OS X version 10.6.8 and a Unicomp Model M UB4ZPHA keyboard (USB). The “Use all F1…” option does not appear on my System Preferences > Keyboard. I downloaded Function Flip, and it sees no function keys (although in fact I have them all, and they work if I hold Fcn down).

By: Pat

Pat — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:21:17 +0000

Hi – I am having real issues with getting my Function keys to work at all.
I have OS X Lion, and I am using a blue tooth (smaller) keyboard with an iMac. So in theory F1 to F12.
However, F1 to F9 and F11 do nothing.
While F10 launches Mission Control, while F12 launches Dashboard. Not what is written on them. Or is in the keyboard preferences.
Not really what I wanted.
I have installed Function Flip; but it is not showing I have any F buttons at all.
Pressing the fn button or not makes no difference.
The screen shot at the top of this page, showing “Use all F1, F2 buttons etc” – is not what I get on keyboard preferences, that part is completely missing.
Rather frustrating – hope someone can help.

By: Warnaud

Warnaud — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:39:06 +0000

After removing the last bunch of hair I got on my head, on the edge of using the “axe” solution, I went to Preference Pane / Keyboard then in the Keyboard Shortcuts I unchecked F8/F9/F10/F11 in Exposé & Spaces and F12 in Dashboard & Dock, now I can use F1-> F12 as F1-> F12 keys !!!
Of course if you need these shortcuts you’ll have to recreate them and I have no idea how to do that

By: Warnaud

Warnaud — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:52:05 +0000

Same for me whatever I do, no way to use F8-F12 as F8 to F12 keys… I have always the exposé functions.
This is a real pain since FX keys are used in a lot of BIOS (remote control from startup) / Linux|Unix softwares (htop)
Any ways to fix that?

By: Remap F4 to Open LaunchPad on Older Pre-Mac OS X Lion Keyboards

Remap F4 to Open LaunchPad on Older Pre-Mac OS X Lion Keyboards — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:43:31 +0000

[...] Click the checkbox next to “F4: Dashboard” so that it is flipped – this makes it so you no longer have to press Function+F4 to get F4 (yes, we’ve covered switching function keys before) [...]

By: Des

Des — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:20:25 +0000

I just tried checking it and not even the F9 and F10 are working like normal function keys. I’ve double checked that I’ve taken each step in the explanation, re-booted the Mac and tested again – but everything is as it was before.
I’m trying to use the function keys for the samples in Virtual DJ. I’ve overcome the use of F1 – to- F8 by ticking the “use all F1, F2 etc as standard function keys” in system preference, but F9 – to – F12 remains useless to me!

By: Des

Des — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:49:27 +0000

Just installed and tried to use it, but the function keys to be flipped only ranges from F1 – to – F10. What has happened to F11 and F12?

By: madison

madison — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:26:41 +0000

i just wanna say thankyou this information helped alot

By: Kevin Gessner

Kevin Gessner — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:03:12 +0000

Hello – it’s the developer of FunctionFlip here. I’ve recently released version 2.1 of FunctionFlip, which fixes the errant alert sounds. It’s available at http://kevingessner.com/software/functionflip/

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:36:53 +0000

I use hot-corners. It’s way more convenient to me. Macs have had Hot-Corner functionality since way before OSX, and i’ve always found it useful.