Magic Keyboard Function Keys not working on Catalina 10.15

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Level 1

12 points

Magic Keyboard Function Keys not working on Catalina 10.15

I am running Catalina 10.15.7 on my iMac, which is the latest O/S version I can install on this hardware. I was excited to finally get an Apple (vs generic) keyboard today, only to find out that the Fn keys don't work. I saw threads like the below that said only to find out that the function keys don't work. There were may replies that said to check the "use Fn keys" box in the Keyboard System Pref menu but that doesn't show up and apparently you have to have macOS 11.3 and up. I can't believe that my Mac version can't make this happen in some way. Is there another way??

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253236960

Posted on Aug 30, 2023 11:45 AM

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Answer 1

rflan444 Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 30, 2023 3:01 PM in response to dialabrain

@Dialabrain, Thank you for the suggestions. I have tried everything you mention and a few other things but the "Use F1,..." option will not show. See attached screenshot. I have tried:

Rebooting with the cable both plugged and unplugged.
Keyboard is on and every key works except the F keys and the "lock" button on top right.
Reset SMC and NVRAM in 2 different reboots.
Clicked through all the other options in the Keyboard menu in sys preferences.
Booted in safe mode and when I try the Fn keys, the screen flashes but nothing works.
Tried the Fn keys with and without pressing the Fn key in lower left.
If I click on "Change Keyboard Type" I get that screen that says "keyboard can not be identified" (see second screen shot). I click through and do what they say but no changes.

Any other ideas? Are there ways to replicate the things the Fn keys do without having the keyboard do it?

Thank you!

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

126,449 points

Aug 30, 2023 1:05 PM in response to rflan444

FWIW, the keyboard function keys should work fine and "Use F1, F2, etc…" should show in System Preferences > Keyboard, despite the Apple website saying 11.3 or later is required. I double checked on a 2012 iMac running Catalina. Try plugging the keyboard in using the supplied charging cable and make sure the keyboard is turned on.

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Answer 3

rflan444 Author

Level 1

12 points

Sep 15, 2023 5:19 AM in response to rflan444

For those that have this same issue:

F1/F2 - brightness: System Pref/Display
F3 - mission control: System Prefs/Desktop & Screen Saver / Hot Corners (bottom right)
F4 - search: Command+F
F5 - microphone: I don't use but seems easy enough
F6 - sleep: use hot corners as in F3
F7-F9 - fast forward, rewind, stop - Apple Music
F10-F12 - volume: System Prefs/Sound - check "display in menu bar"

Thanks to dialabrain!

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Answer 4

rflan444 Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 30, 2023 3:37 PM in response to dialabrain

It's looking more that way. It's hard to believe that there's no way to do this, considering it's a Mac and the product is from Apple. If no one has another answer I guess I can just manually set the volume and brightness using Sys Prefs. The keyboard is just so much more solid than the generic it's worth keeping.

Thanks and LMK any other input.

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