How do Fn Lock on Dell Wireless Keyboard so F1 -F12 keys work normally

glnz · 03 Aug 2022

Just got three new Dell PCs - one Precision 3660 Tower and two Optiplex 7000 Towers. Per my orders, all three came with the Dell wireless keyboard and mouse model KM5221W (the box label says KM5221WBKB-US).

On all three, in order to use the normal F1 through F12 keys, I must also hold down the Fn key.

For example, to close a document in Word, hitting only CTRL + F4 does not work. Instead, I need to do Fn + CTRL + F4.

This is way wrong.

How do I reverse this situation?

According to How-To Geek, there should be an "Fn Lock" option that is the same as holding the Fn key down all the time. See How to Choose Whether Your Function Keys are F1-F12 Keys or Special Keys

Will this work on my Dell? How exactly do I try this Fn Lock on my PCs and this model keyboard?

Thanks.

dalchina · 03 Aug 2022

Hi, you might consider asking this in a Dell forum where it might be more likely people have exactly that... here, you need to hope someone has that model.

Further, since these are new, I'd have thought
- your manual/help file
- Dell customer support
might have offered you the fastest response..

MisterEd · 03 Aug 2022

Does this toggle between normal functions keys and special functions?

How do Fn Lock on Dell Wireless Keyboard so F1 -F12 keys work normally-fn-key.jpg

+

How do Fn Lock on Dell Wireless Keyboard so F1 -F12 keys work normally-unlock-key.jpg

Try3 · 03 Aug 2022

Dells should have a Bios setting to control this e.g.

How do Fn Lock on Dell Wireless Keyboard so F1 -F12 keys work normally-09.04-post-behaviour-fn-lock-options-posted-copy.jpg

In addition, the [Dell] Windows mobility centre dialog will show the setting to toggle them during a Windows session.

This dialog can be opened through Control panel if you set it to View by - Small/Large icons [if you set CP to show by Categories then you'll have to dive around to find it].
There's also a keyboard shortcut for the Windows mobility centre - press WinKey-X and then B.
And you can make your own shortcut to it - C:\Windows\System32\control.exe /name Microsoft.MobilityCenter

How do Fn Lock on Dell Wireless Keyboard so F1 -F12 keys work normally-windows-mobility-centre.png

All the best,
Denis

glnz · 03 Aug 2022

Try3 and others - thanks for your interest. Some Qs:

1) Do you know whether changing the BIOS would automatically change the setting in Mobility Centre, or vice versa? If not, which overrules which?

2) Please also see my separate question at the following link - maybe the issues are related?
NUM Lock goes on and off by itself in response to unrelated keystrokes

Try3 · 03 Aug 2022

glnz said:

1) Do you know whether changing the BIOS would automatically change the setting in Mobility Centre ...

Yes.
The setting in the Bios will determine the state when it boots and that state will be shown in the Windows mobility centre dialog where it can be changed for that Windows session only [the Bios setting will be re-imposed at the next boot].

glnz said:

1) ... or vice versa?

No, the Bios setting will be re-imposed at the next boot.

glnz said:

2) Please also see my separate question at the following link - maybe the issues are related?

I do not think the issues are related.
I have never heard of a keyboard shortcut that toggles NumLock on & off.
I suggest you borrow another keyboard to see if the same behaviour takes place. And try your keyboard in another computer. I think you need to do both these tests to try to identify the cause of the behaviour.

All the best,
Denis

Steve C · 05 Aug 2022

Some Dell PCs have a BIOS setting to set the default function key mode

glnz · 07 Aug 2022

Update - Fn + Esc works to toggle Fn Lock on and off, and it is helping on all three PCs.

I took only a cursory look in BIOS and did not find a related switch, but would have to go back more carefully to be sure.

And this may also have helped with my second problem, which is described on this forum here: NUM Lock goes on and off by itself in response to unrelated keystrokes

By the way Mobility Center appears only on laptops, not desktops.

Thanks to all above who provided suggestions. I'll add here if there are more details.

But very frustrated with Dell setting new keyboards so that F1 - F12 don't work normally and not providing any explanation of anything anywhere.