How To Enable Function Keys On Toshiba Laptop

If you use your laptop regularly, then you will know that keyboard shortcuts are an absolute lifesaver. Suddenly you can complete actions that would usually take multiple steps with the single click of a button, and it really does save time. The function keys on a laptop play a huge part in most keyboard shortcuts.  

With some laptops, you will be lucky enough for the function keys to be ready enabled.

But most of the time, you will need to do this yourself. You might not have even realized that your function keys weren’t enabled until you went to use them. So how do you enable them? 

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In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at what the function keys are, and more importantly how you enable them on a Toshiba laptop, so that they can be used for shortcuts. So if you want to find out how to do this, keep on reading. 

What Are Function Keys?

Before we go any further, let’s first take a look at what function keys are. Function keys, or F keys as they are also sometimes known, are found across the top of your keyboard.

They are found on stand-alone keyboards, and also on the keyboards that are attached to laptops. Upon the keyboard, they will not be labelled ‘Function’, instead they are simply labelled ‘F’ and they are listed from F1 through to F12.

Every function key has a different function, and these are usually connected to shortcuts. So depending on what ‘F’ button you click on, a different shortcut will happen. 

Depending on the make of your laptop, its operating system, and its set-up, the F keys will have different functions. But, they will usually be shortcuts for the following:

• F1 – Help button, the help menu will open once clicked. 
• F2 – Renames a highlighted folder, file, icon, etc. 
• F3 – Opens a search feature. 
• F4 – Opens the address/find bar. 
• F5 – Refreshes your browser. 
• F6 – Moves the cursor to the address bar in the browser. 
• F7 – Spell/Grammar check on Microsoft Word. 
• F8 – Opens the Windows startup menu. 
• F9 – Refreshes your document in Microsoft Word. 
• F10 – Opens the menu bar on the application you are using. 
• F11 – Enter/exit full-screen mode.
• F12 – Opens the save function on Microsoft Word. 

The function keys will also perform different shortcuts when pressed at the same time as other keys, including the shift key and Ctrl key. Due to this, you can complete lots of different shortcuts while simply using the same few keys.

But, it is worth noting that the F keys might have a different function depending on the make and model of your laptop.

This could include functions such as increasing/decreasing noise and brightness, and even switching off your touchpad. So it might take some trial and error for you to identify all the different uses of the function buttons. 

Why Aren’t My Function Keys Working On My Toshiba Laptop?

When you first use your Toshiba laptop, you might find yourself immediately going to use the function buttons. Especially if you are someone that regularly uses a keyboard.

So, you might be quite surprised to find that nothing happens when you click on the function buttons.

There is no need to worry if this happens, because there is one simple reason why your function buttons are not working. This is because they have not yet been enabled.

So, in order for them to work, you will simply need to enable them yourself. So, let’s take a look at how you do this. 

How To Enable Function Keys On Toshiba Laptop

So, if your function keys are not working on your Toshiba laptop, this is probably because they have not yet been enabled. So, if you want to enable the function keys on your laptop, follow these steps: 

1. Open the start menu on your laptop, select all programs and then select ‘Toshiba’.
2. Under ‘Toshiba’, open ‘utilities’ and then ‘accessibility’. 
3. In the ‘accessibility’ menu, you will find a tick box that is labelled ‘Fn’. This will ensure that the F1 function works every single time that you press the F1 key, and so on for the additional function keys.
4. Select ‘ok’ then back out and press the F1 key. When you press this, the help menu for your laptop should open. But remember, not all function keys are linked to the same shortcuts, so the help menu might not open. If it doesn’t do this, press F1 and Esc at the same time. This will switch the sound on your laptop on and off, so you will easily be able to tell if the function buttons are working. 
5. If this does not work, press the F1 key and ‘Num lock’ key simultaneously, and this should enable the function keys. 

If neither of these methods work, then there is the risk that your function keys are not working because of an issue with the laptop.

So, if your function buttons still aren’t working after doing this, contact the manufacturer or a repair technician, as the issue is likely caused by a problem with the laptop’s hardware. 

How to Disable Function Keys

If you want to disable your function keys, for whatever reason, this is actually pretty easy. This is because most laptops/keyboards will treat the function keys, like they treat the number pad on the keyboard.

By this, we mean that you can simply disable the function keys by pressing a couple of buttons.

All you have to do to lock your function keys is press the ‘Fn’ key and the ‘Esc’ button located alongside the function buttons, and this will lock them.

It will not disable the function keys, but it will stop them from working until you unlock them again in the future. 

Summary

In short, enabling the function keys on your Toshiba laptop is actually pretty easy. All you have to do is open the Toshiba program in the start menu of your laptop, and this will allow you to connect the pre-linked shortcuts with the function buttons.

We have given you a step-by-step guide of how to do this in the guide above, so check it out.