How To Use Multimedia and Function Keys on Dell External Keyboards

Affected Products:

• Dell Pro Keyboard KB500
• Dell Pro Plus Keyboard KB700
• Dell Pro Plus Compact Keyboard KB740
• Dell Pro Keyboard and Mouse KM5221W
• Dell Pro Plus Compact Keyboard and Mouse KM7120W
• Dell Pro Plus Keyboard and Mouse KM7321W
• Dell Wired Keyboard KB216
• Dell Wireless Keyboard and Mouse - KM117
• Dell Keyboard and Mouse KM3322W

Dell offers two types of external multimedia keyboards which typically combine the F1.F12 with a multimedia function such as mute, increase volume, lower volume, and so on.

• Type 1: Dell Multimedia Keyboard with media functions as primary and F1 F12 as secondary.
  • Wireless keyboards:
  • Dell Pro Keyboard KB500
  • Dell Pro Plus Keyboard KB700
  • Dell Pro Plus Compact Keyboard KB740
  • Dell Pro Keyboard and Mouse KM5221W
  • Dell Pro Plus Compact Keyboard and Mouse KM7120W
  • Dell Pro Plus Keyboard and Mouse KM7321W
    
  • Type 2: Dell Multimedia Keyboard with F1 F12F12 as primary and media functions as secondary
    • Wired keyboard: KB216
      
    • Wireless keyboards: KM117, KM3322W

  Type 1 Keyboard Usage

  Function Keys:

  • Primary:
    • Pressing F1.F12 activates the multimedia function (Pressing the F1 key, enables Mute).
  • Secondary:
    • Pressing FN + F1.F12 keys activates the traditional F# function (when pressing FN + F1 activates Help).
  • Exception:
    • Any F# keys without media icons (for example on the KM5221W the F4 key behaves as traditional function keys regardless of the primary or secondary mode).

  To Swap:

  • To swap the Primary and Secondary functions, press FN + Esc.
  • To swap it back, press FN+Esc once again.

  For Dell Computers That Need To Enter BIOS Mode:

  Note: Applicable for keyboards using the RF mode only Bluetooth is not supported during the initial bootup.
  • Default Method:
    • When the Dell logo appears, press-and-hold FN + F2 until the BIOS screen appears.
  • Optional Method:
    • At the operating system ready screen, press FN + Esc, reboot, and press-and-hold F2 when the Dell logo appears.

  Alt Functions For Windows:

  Note: We use Close the Application for this example.
  • Default: Press FN + Alt + F4.
  • Optional method: Press FN + Esc to switch between primary and secondary, then press Alt. + F4..

  Type 2 Keyboard Usage:

  Function Keys:

  • Primary:
    • Pressing F1.F12 activates the traditional F# function (KB216: Pressing F1 activates Help).
  • Secondary:
    • Pressing Alt + F1.F12 activates the multimedia function (KB216: Pressing Alt + F1 activates Sleep mode).
  • Exception:
    • Any F# keys with no media icons (that is KB216 F2 key) behave as traditional function keys regardless of the primary or secondary mode.

  To swap:

  • To swap Primary and Secondary functions, press FN + Esc.
  • To swap it back, press FN + Esc again.
  • Exception:
    • On KB216, when pressing FN + Esc multimedia keys (that is F1 for sleep) both primary and secondary modes are enabled.

  For Dell Computers That Need To Enter BIOS Mode:

  • Default method:
    • Press and hold F2.

  Alt Functions For Windows:

  • Default:
    • Press Alt + F4.