Use the function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Press and hold the Fn (Function) key to see F1 to F12 in your Touch Bar.

Show the function keys

Press and hold the Fn (Function) key on your keyboard to see F1 to F12 in the Touch Bar.

You can also make the function keys appear automatically when you use specific apps:

  1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click Keyboard.

    • If you’re using macOS Ventura or later, click Keyboard Shortcuts, then select Function Keys from the list on the left.

    • If you’re using macOS Monterey or earlier, click Shortcuts at the top of the window, then select Function Keys from the list on the left.

  2. Click the add button (+), then select an app from the dialogue that opens. For each app that you add, the function keys will automatically appear in the Touch Bar whenever you're using that app.

Or use the onscreen keyboard

As an alternative to showing the function keys in the Touch Bar, you can use the function keys in the onscreen keyboard.

  1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), then click Keyboard and complete one of these steps:

    • If you’re using macOS Ventura or later, click Edit next to Input Sources, then select “Show Input menu in menu bar”.

    • If you’re using macOS Monterey or Big Sur, select “Show Input menu in menu bar” in the Input Sources pane.

    • If you’re using macOS Catalina or earlier, select ”Show Keyboard and emoji viewers in menu bar”.

  2. Click the viewer icon in the menu bar, then choose Show Keyboard Viewer.

    macos-big-sur-menu-bar-input-show-keyboard-viewer.jpg
  3. Click the Fn key in the onscreen keyboard to make it show all function keys.

Show the function keys when using Microsoft Windows

Press and hold the Fn (Function) key on your keyboard to see F1 to F12 in the Touch Bar.

You can also make the function keys appear continuously in the Touch Bar:

  1. From the notification area on the right-hand side of the Windows taskbar, click the up arrow to show hidden icons.

  2. Click the Boot Camp icon, then choose Boot Camp Control Panel from the menu.

    boot-camp-win-10-control-panel.jpg
  3. If you're asked whether to allow this app to make changes, click Yes.

  4. Click the Keyboard tab.

  5. Select "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys".

Or use the onscreen keyboard

As an alternative to showing the function keys in the Touch Bar, you can use the onscreen keyboard:

  1. From the Windows menu, select Windows Ease of Access.

  2. Click On-Screen Keyboard.

  3. Click the Fn key in the onscreen keyboard to make it show all function keys.

Find out more about the onscreen keyboard in Windows.

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