magic keyboard, macbook pro 2020, top row buttons

1jakk1,

Since you don't experience that behavior with other Mac models, you'll want to reach out to Apple Support: Contact - Official Apple Support They'll be in the best position to look into this further.

Take care.

Hi 1jakk1,

In macOS Monterey or earlier, you want to follow the steps below to ensure your settings are correct to use those keys on your external keyboard:

1. Open System Preferences
2. Select Keyboard
3. Make sure "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys on external keyboards" is checked

If your MacBook Pro is running macOS Ventura, then follow the steps below instead:

1. Open System Settings
2. Scroll down in the left side bar and select Keyboard
3. Check the setting in the drop down menu for "Press f key to"

If that setting looks correct, you could try disconnecting your keyboard and then connecting it again or turning it off and on again. Doing that may help reset the connection between the keyboard and your MacBook Pro, which may help resolve this unexpected issue.

You can also see if restarting your MacBook Pro may help as well, since it can refresh macOS and may also help resolve issues:

"Restart your Mac

• On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > Restart.
• If you don’t want app windows that are open to reopen when your Mac restarts, deselect “Reopen windows when logging back in.”"

Those steps are from this article: Shut down or restart your Mac - Apple Support

Take care.

1jakk1,

Let's use the steps from this resource to boot your Mac into safe mode and see if that behavior persists from there: How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

It can take a few extra minutes to boot into safe mode. Your screen may flash or flicker while in safe mode. Those behaviors are expected. Testing in safe mode runs a check on your disk, removes some cached files, and can help isolate conflicts with startup items. Once you've tested that behavior in safe mode, you can restart to leave safe mode.

Should that still persist, have you had the opportunity to test your keyboard with any other Mac computers?

Let us know, and we'll keep moving forward based on your results.

Thanks for reaching back out 1jakk1,

We want to make sure we understand correctly.

Are you pairing a wireless Magic Keyboard to your MacBook Pro, and because the Function keys are associated with the Touch Bar, the Function keys don't work on your paired Magic Keyboard?

Use the Touch Bar on Mac - Apple Support

We look forward to hearing back from you!