Home / ubuntu / Questions / 7537
Accepted
MetaGuru
Asked: 2010-10-16 07:19:17 +0800 CST

How can I reverse the 'fn' key on an Apple Keyboard so that F1, F2, F3... are used as default? [duplicate]

  • 772

To be more clear, right now the volume and brightness keys are used and I have to hold Fn in order to execute an F1, F2, F3, F4, F5... command. Can I reverse this so it's function key by default and holding Fn enables the volume and other special controls?

keyboard keyboard-layout

4 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    This is described on the Ubuntu Community Wiki:

    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AppleKeyboard#Change_Function_Key_behavior

    You can try:

    sudo bash -c "echo 2 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode"

    If it works you can change this permanently (per the linked wiki page):

    echo options hid_apple fnmode=2 | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/hid_apple.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u -k all
sudo reboot # optional
    • 128

  2. please try this when editing directly fnmode fails.

    echo 2 | sudo tee /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode

    • 4

  3. On older Apple laptop hardware, this is accomplished by a configuration setting of PBButtonsd. You would need to add this line to the config file /etc/pbbuttonsd.conf:

    KBDMode = fkeysfirst

    PBButtonsd works on iBooks and PowerBooks (PowerPC-based) and MacBooks (Intel-based); the native Ubuntu package seems to have disappeared after Dapper Drake

    • 0

  4. it may also be worthwhile to check your BIOS options for this feature. On my Dell Inspiron, this can be set through the BIOS. Hopefully it'll work for your hardware too.

    • 0