MacBook Air: Key placement and functionality

  • Last Modified: December 03, 2008
  • Article: HT3164

Summary

The keyboard introduced with the MacBook Air computers includes several new features. One of the most noticeable changes is that it includes additional media keys and newly-labeled keys for Exposé and Dashboard.

Products Affected

MacBook Air (Original), MacBook Air (Late 2008)

  • 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

Changes from previous keyboard layouts:

- Dashboard is now accessible from the F4 key.

- The Exposé key is now F3 and has expanded functions:

  • Pressing the Exposé key - Exposé (all windows)
  • Pressing Ctrl+Exposé key - Exposé (application windows)
  • Pressing Command+Exposé key - Exposé (desktop)

- The Command key is now labeled "command."

- The Numlock key has been removed.

- The Eject key is now directly over the delete key.

- To toggle between Extended Desktop and Video Mirroring when using an external display, press Command and F1.

- To detect displays, press Command and F2.

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