I know this "mode" you're describing: F keys act as multimedia keys when pressed by themselves, but if you're also holding one or more modifer keys (Ctrl/Alt, maybe Shift?), then the F keys automatically work as function keys when pressed. This is indeed a convenient mode since there are relatively few popular uses of F keys being pressed by themselves (which means defaulting to multimedia mode has merit), but NO cases where you would hold a modifier key while pressing a multimedia button. I personally prefer to keep my F keys as function keys since I constantly use F2 for rename (and editing Excel cells) and F5 for Refresh, but I can certainly see the appeal of this "hybrid" mode, and I'm surprised it hasn't become the norm.
Unfortunately, this feature doesn't seem available on the XPS 13 9360, and it would have to be implemented as a firmware feature rather than by the OS or third-party utility.
Hi. I have an XPS 9360. If I just want to press, say, F2, it's easy enough to press Fn+F2. But in combination with alt/ctrl/shift, it's hard to press Fn AND alt/ctrl/shift AND the F-key. Essentially, I'd like ctrl,, alt, and shift to automatically trigger the Fn key. This is what my previous Dell laptop did.
Exactly. And right now, it seems like BIOS updates are coming out every day to keep up with Spectre and Meltdown, so it would be nice if they snuck this in to one of the updates. It makes a big difference in usability.
Alt-Esc will lock the function keys so they work as multimedia keys. I don't know if you can then set the F keys with other functions using Ctrl/Fn/Ctrl.
Thanks DSmiley, that was useful. I had the same problem and a solution close to this worked for me on my new Dell XPS 9370. But it was Fn-Esc as opposed to Alt-Esc.
On the new XPS 13 9380 (not sure if it's the same for earlier models), if you press Fn-Esc (not Alt-Esc) it will lock Fn key on. Then for example F2 will allow you to edit in spreadsheets, and if you press Fn-F2 then it will reduce Volume.
So they should have replied "We have NOT read your request nor do we really understand the question". Those replies just make customers mad (me anyway)!
They should have replied with the Fn-Esc will execute the Function-Lock On.
On the new XPS 13 9380 (not sure if it's the same for earlier models), if you press Fn-Esc (not Alt-Esc) it will lock Fn key on. Then for example F2 will allow you to edit in spreadsheets, and if you press Fn-F2 then it will reduce Volume.
@dr_cornelius that's been around for a while. But the request in this thread is for a single mode whereby:
- Pressing an F key by itself causes the F key to act as a multimedia key. - Pressing an F key while holding down a modifier key like Ctrl, Alt, and/or Shift causes the F key to act as an F key.
The reason this makes sense for some people is that some people want multimedia functionality primarily and might have no need for the functions triggered by pressing individual F keys, but they might still want to use certain keyboard shortcuts like Alt+F4 to close an application. Since there are no multimedia functions that require the user to hold down a "modifier key" before pressing the desired F key, this "hybrid" mode described above would allow users to use some of those keyboard shortcuts that rely on F keys working as F keys without introducing any negative impact on the multimedia functionality.
jphughan
9 Legend
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14K Posts
1
January 12th, 2018 11:00
I know this "mode" you're describing: F keys act as multimedia keys when pressed by themselves, but if you're also holding one or more modifer keys (Ctrl/Alt, maybe Shift?), then the F keys automatically work as function keys when pressed. This is indeed a convenient mode since there are relatively few popular uses of F keys being pressed by themselves (which means defaulting to multimedia mode has merit), but NO cases where you would hold a modifier key while pressing a multimedia button. I personally prefer to keep my F keys as function keys since I constantly use F2 for rename (and editing Excel cells) and F5 for Refresh, but I can certainly see the appeal of this "hybrid" mode, and I'm surprised it hasn't become the norm.
Unfortunately, this feature doesn't seem available on the XPS 13 9360, and it would have to be implemented as a firmware feature rather than by the OS or third-party utility.
Saltgrass
4 Operator
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4.3K Posts
0
January 11th, 2018 21:00
Using the Fn key in combination with the F keys is not sufficient?
You might give the model of your XPS 13 since there are several different versions.
BernieSL
1 Rookie
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3 Posts
0
January 12th, 2018 05:00
Hi. I have an XPS 9360. If I just want to press, say, F2, it's easy enough to press Fn+F2. But in combination with alt/ctrl/shift, it's hard to press Fn AND alt/ctrl/shift AND the F-key. Essentially, I'd like ctrl,, alt, and shift to automatically trigger the Fn key. This is what my previous Dell laptop did.
BernieSL
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
January 12th, 2018 12:00
Exactly. And right now, it seems like BIOS updates are coming out every day to keep up with Spectre and Meltdown, so it would be nice if they snuck this in to one of the updates. It makes a big difference in usability.
dropper
4 Posts
1
December 7th, 2018 03:00
dropper
4 Posts
1
December 7th, 2018 08:00
I logged a ticket for this with Dell support and got the following response:
Perhaps if others do the same we might make some headway?
DSmilee
1 Message
5
December 27th, 2018 05:00
Alt-Esc will lock the function keys so they work as multimedia keys. I don't know if you can then set the F keys with other functions using Ctrl/Fn/Ctrl.
alfredpa
1 Message
4
January 10th, 2019 17:00
Thanks DSmiley, that was useful. I had the same problem and a solution close to this worked for me on my new Dell XPS 9370. But it was Fn-Esc as opposed to Alt-Esc.
dr_cornelius
2 Posts
2
April 6th, 2019 22:00
On the new XPS 13 9380 (not sure if it's the same for earlier models), if you press Fn-Esc (not Alt-Esc) it will lock Fn key on. Then for example F2 will allow you to edit in spreadsheets, and if you press Fn-F2 then it will reduce Volume.
RJ Abe
1 Message
2
June 19th, 2019 10:00
So they should have replied "We have NOT read your request nor do we really understand the question". Those replies just make customers mad (me anyway)!
They should have replied with the Fn-Esc will execute the Function-Lock On.
Several community members suggested it.
jphughan
9 Legend
•
14K Posts
1
June 19th, 2019 11:00
@dr_cornelius that's been around for a while. But the request in this thread is for a single mode whereby:
- Pressing an F key by itself causes the F key to act as a multimedia key.
- Pressing an F key while holding down a modifier key like Ctrl, Alt, and/or Shift causes the F key to act as an F key.
The reason this makes sense for some people is that some people want multimedia functionality primarily and might have no need for the functions triggered by pressing individual F keys, but they might still want to use certain keyboard shortcuts like Alt+F4 to close an application. Since there are no multimedia functions that require the user to hold down a "modifier key" before pressing the desired F key, this "hybrid" mode described above would allow users to use some of those keyboard shortcuts that rely on F keys working as F keys without introducing any negative impact on the multimedia functionality.