New magic keyboard volume control buttons not working. Please help

just thought id give my 2 cents. I had the same problem the volume keys would show the desktop and do random crap but I went into keyboard shortcuts > Function keys > Use F1, F2, etc... TURN THIS OPTION OFF. then my keyboard finally returned to normal after pulling my hair out for a year. Not sure how this option turned itself on but it works now.

Hey krbender,

First, we'd recommend checking keyboard settings on the Mac to ensure they are set up as expected, this article should help with that: Change Keyboard settings on Mac.

Then, we'd recommend reviewing the information in this article to help view and change any existing keyboard shortcuts that could be causing this to occur: Create keyboard shortcuts for apps on Mac

1. "On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Keyboard  in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then click Keyboard Shortcuts on the right.
2. Select App Shortcuts on the left, click the Add button , click the Application pop-up menu, then choose a specific app or All Applications.
3. For example, to set a shortcut for a TextEdit command, choose TextEdit. If an app isn’t in the list, choose Other, then locate the app using the Open dialog. Some apps may not allow you to set keyboard shortcuts.
4. If you want to set a shortcut for a menu command that appears in many apps, choose All Applications.
5. In the Menu Title field, type the menu command for which you want to create a shortcut, exactly as the command appears in the app, including the > character (type ->), ellipses (type three periods without spaces or press Option-; (semi-colon)), or other punctuation.
6. For example, to set a shortcut for the default ligature command in TextEdit (Format > Font > Ligatures > Use Default), you would type Format->Font->Ligatures->Use Default in the Menu Title field. To set a shortcut for the Export as PDF command (File > Export as PDF…), you would type File->Export as PDF… in the field.
7. Click in the Keyboard Shortcut field, press the key combination that you want to use as the keyboard shortcut, then click Done.
8. For example, press the Control, Option, and Z keys at the same time. You can use a key only once in a key combination."

We'd also suggest reviewing this resource as it explains more about the function and volume keys and how those settings can be changed: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204436

"Change the default behavior of the keys

If you want to change the top row of keys to work as standard function keys without holding the Fn key, follow these steps, depending on the version of macOS you're using:

macOS Ventura

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings.
2. Click Keyboard in the sidebar.
3. Click the Keyboard Shortcuts button on the right.
4. Click Function Keys in the sidebar.
5. Turn on “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys”

Earlier macOS versions

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences.
2. Click Keyboard.
3. Select “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys”"

Thanks!

Hello krbender,

Were you able to sort it out after taking the steps above? It sounded like it in your last reply.

Should it continue to occur, try the following to sort out this issue:

1. Go to System Preferences
2. Select on Keyboard
3. Select on Keyboard Shortcuts
4. Then select on 'Restore Defaults'

This should remove all previously saved keyboard shortcuts and resolve this issue for you.

Let us know how it goes, take care.

krbender,

In order to better help beyond giving you steps to change shortcuts, we want to clarify is he using an Apple keyboard?

Magic Keyboard - US English goes over the layout and has built-in controls.

If you plug that keyboard in for him does it work as expected?

Contact Apple Support if this continues on his device.

We hope this helps.

Cheers.