Apple Portables: Key placement and functions

Summary

Over time the layout and placement of special keys on the Apple portables keyboard has changed. Learn about the key placement and functions on Apple portable computers.

Products Affected

Portable Computers

The User Guide for your Apple portable will have more information on the keys specific to your Mac, or you can use the images below. For assistance identifying your Apple product, use the Tech Specs page or these articles for assistance:

Find your keyboard's illustration and information below by using these links:

MacBook Air (Mid 2011)
MacBook Pro (Late 2011), MacBook Pro (Early 2011) with OS X Lion
MacBook Air (Late 2010 )
MacBook (Late 2007 through Mid 2010), MacBook Air (Original through Mid 2009), MacBook Pro (Early 2008 through Early 2011 with Snow Leopard)
MacBook (13-inch Mid 2007), MacBook (13-inch Late 2006), and MacBook (13-inch)
MacBook Pro (17-inch 2.4GHz), MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.4/2.2GHz), MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo), MacBook Pro (15-inch Core 2 Duo), MacBook Pro (17-inch), and MacBook Pro (15-inch)

MacBook Air (Mid 2011)

MacBook Air (Mid 2011) with Lion keyboard

F1 - Reduce display brightness
F2 - Increase display brightness
F3 - Mission Control
F4 - Launchpad
F5 - Reduce keyboard brightness
F6 - Increase keyboard brightness
F7 - Previous track
F8 - Play/Pause
F9 - Next track
F10 - Mute
F11 - Volume down
F12 - Volume up

MacBook Pro (Late 2011), MacBook Pro (Early 2011) with OS X Lion

MacBook Pro (Early 2011) with Lion keyboard

MacBook Air (Late 2010)

Late 2010 MacBook Air keyboard with power button

F1 - Reduce display brightness
F2 - Increase display brightness
F3 - Exposé
F4 - Dashboard
F5 - Reduce keyboard brightness
F6 - Increase keyboard brightness
F7 - Previous track
F8 - Play/Pause
F9 - Next track
F10 - Mute
F11 - Volume down
F12 - Volume up

MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)
MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009)
MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009)
MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)
MacBook (13-inch, Late 2008)
MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)
MacBook (13-inch Late 2007)

MacBook Air (Mid 2009)
MacBook Air (Late 2008)
MacBook Air (Original)

MacBook Pro (Early 2011) with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
MacBook Pro (Mid 2010)
MacBook Pro (Mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)
MacBook Pro (Late 2008)
MacBook Pro (Early 2008)

MacBook Air, MacBook, and MacBook Pro keyboard layout before Lion

MacBook (13-inch Mid 2007), MacBook (13-inch Late 2006), and MacBook (13-inch)

MacBook (Original) keyboard layout

MacBook Pro (17-inch 2.4GHz), MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.4/2.2GHz), MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo), MacBook Pro (15-inch Core 2 Duo), MacBook Pro (17-inch), and MacBook Pro (15-inch)

MacBook Pro keyboards

Additional Information

Additional Exposé functions

Keyboards with the Exposé key on OS X v10.6.8 and earlier have expanded Exposé functions:
- Pressing the Exposé key - Exposé (all windows)
- Pressing Control and Exposé key - Exposé (application windows)
- Pressing Command and Exposé key - Exposé (desktop)
Keyboards with the Exposé key on OS X 10.7 Lion go to Mission Control when the key is pressed.

Additional key behaviors

The Numlock key has been removed on Late 2007 and later Apple portables.
Home key functionality is performed by pressing Fn (Function) and Left Arrow key.
End key functionality is performed by pressing Fn and Right Arrow key.
Page Up key functionality is performed by pressing Fn and Up Arrow key.
Page Down key functionality is performed by pressing Fn and Down Arrow key.

Additional controls for external displays

To toggle between Extended Desktop and Video Mirroring when using an external display, press Command and F1 on Late 2007 Apple portables and later.
To detect displays, press Command and F2 on Late 2007 Apple portables and later.

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