Using function keys without setting up touch bar to use them

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Using function keys without setting up touch bar to use them

I have a Mac with a touch bar, and hence no physical function keys. Most of the time I don't need to use the function keys, so I've set up the 'fn' key to show emoji and symbols on the touch bar instead of showing the function keys. I'm happy with the way it's set up and don't want to change it.

However, once in a blue moon I use an app that expects me to use the function keys. So I need some way to generate function key presses. Is there any way to do that without having to change the way my touch bar is set up?

Posted on Dec 5, 2022 8:58 PM

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nathanielvirgo Author

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5 points

Dec 8, 2022 6:30 PM in response to nathanielvirgo

I found one way: you can enter function key keypresses using the keyboard viewer. I don't know how you access this if you only have one input source set up, but luckily I have two, so I can select it from the drop-down menu that appears when I click on my input source in the menu bar. This gives a graphical representation of a keyboard with function keys, which I can click on to generate keypresses.

This is very far from ideal though. To press 'F1' I first have to open the keyboard viewer, then click the graphical representation of the 'fn' key and then click on the graphical representation of the 'F1' key. The keyboard viewer stays in front of all windows unless you close it, and if you want to press another function key you have to click on 'fn' again.

So all in all I'd rather just have keyboard shortcuts for the function keys. Does anyone know if these exist or can be created somehow?

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Using function keys without setting up touch bar to use them

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