Thebookseer

Q: Function keys not working with screen sharing

Running Sierra on all machines. Up to update, I would use screen sharing on 2014 iMac to access a 2011 Mac Mini. Everything worked great. However, after update, function keys no longer work via screen sharing. I have confirmed screen sharing is the problem, as bluetooth keyboard functions properly with Mini, and also connecting from MacBook Air gives same problem as from iMac. This was not a problem when running El Capitan or even when I was using Sierra Beta on iMac.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions or has encountered this themselves?

Mac mini, macOS Sierra (10.12), OS Sierra 10.12

Posted on Sep 20, 2016 7:28 PM

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Q: Function keys not working with screen sharing

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  • Helpful answers

  • by TeenTitan,Helpful

    TeenTitan TeenTitan Sep 20, 2016 9:35 PM in response to Thebookseer
    Level 4 (2,531 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 9:35 PM in response to Thebookseer

    Have you tried using fn the function keys?

     

    IE: fn+f2

  • by Thebookseer,

    Thebookseer Thebookseer Sep 20, 2016 8:11 PM in response to TeenTitan
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 8:11 PM in response to TeenTitan

    I have tried that, as well as changing the 'Use all F1 etc as standard function keys' option in sys pref/keyboards. Again, the set up worked fine until both machines were running Sierra.

     

    Thanks for your idea, any other thoughts?

  • by TeenTitan,Helpful

    TeenTitan TeenTitan Sep 20, 2016 9:35 PM in response to Thebookseer
    Level 4 (2,531 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 9:35 PM in response to Thebookseer

    in sharing uncheck and recheck the sharing. (to restart ARDAgent on the computer your connecting to)

     

    Open keyboard viewer on both computers. see if the keystroke is being registered on both computers.

     

    check preferences in the "screen sharing" app.

  • by Thebookseer,

    Thebookseer Thebookseer Sep 20, 2016 9:40 PM in response to TeenTitan
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 9:40 PM in response to TeenTitan

    From keyboard viewer, appears keystroke is being registered. I don't know if this might matter, but the keyboard changes when I use a function key, from this (when typing alphanumeric):Untitled.jpg

     

    to this (when F1-F15 key pressed):

    Untitled2.jpg

     

    Further, what might I be looking for in the screen sharing application preferences? I see very few options.

  • by Thebookseer,

    Thebookseer Thebookseer Sep 20, 2016 9:52 PM in response to TeenTitan
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2016 9:52 PM in response to TeenTitan

    Further information, when I press any function key (F1-F15) while on the desktop, my hard disk becomes highlighted. If that helps at all...

  • by mistersquid,

    mistersquid mistersquid Oct 1, 2016 6:57 PM in response to Thebookseer
    Level 3 (810 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 1, 2016 6:57 PM in response to Thebookseer

    I'm having this problem as well with the additional detail that it seems to be a problem with the Screen Sharing service in macOS Sierra.

     

    That is, when I connect to a macOS El Capitan Screen Sharing service from a macOS Sierra machine, I can send function keys (Command-fn F9, in my case).

     

    Here are my preliminary results.

     

    origindestinationsend Command-fn F9
    macOS SierramacOS El CapitanOK
    macOS SierramacOS SierraFAILURE
    macOS El CapitanmacOS SierraFAILURE

     

    I'll follow up once I've reported this bug to Apple.

  • by Thebookseer,

    Thebookseer Thebookseer Oct 2, 2016 9:16 PM in response to mistersquid
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2016 9:16 PM in response to mistersquid

    Hey, tried to mark this as helpful but can't. Appreciate your explanation of what is happening, hopefully something can be done.

  • by Thebookseer,

    Thebookseer Thebookseer Oct 15, 2016 3:16 PM in response to mistersquid
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 15, 2016 3:16 PM in response to mistersquid

    Any traction on this issue?