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Top Row of function keys not working

Hi all, I've recently been facing this problem of having my top row of keys (ie the row containing the brightness control, volume control etc) stop working. The only 2 keys that work are the dashboard and expose keys. The rest just won't work. When this happens, i realise that i can't shut down or put my macbook pro to sleep normally as well (ie. clicking the apple logo on the menu bar and selecting the respective options). I have to then press and hold down the main power button just to switch it off... Only upon restarting can my top row keys work again.

Anyone facing this issue recently? Or any advice anyone?

Macbook Pro 15 inch i5 2.4Ghz, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 3, 2011 7:37 AM

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Posted on Feb 9, 2011 6:09 AM

OK I just solved the problem. Go to System Preferences / Keyboard / Keyboard and uncheck the item that says "Use all F1, F2, etc. as standard function keys."
34 replies

Jun 18, 2015 12:39 AM in response to Barry Chng

I experience similar but only with the contrast keys, which get deactivated at some point during a session. At first they work, then suddenly they produce a darkened contrast (sunset symbol icon) with a circle and a diagonal line crossing through it (like a stop sign or no entry sign) in black below it which pops up on the screen when i press a contrast key. Restarting my Macbook fixes it for a while, but the problem always returns. I like to use the contrast keys because my Macbook Air (being non retina), does make my eyes blurry after a few days consecutive use. I have to then return to use iMac for some days when that happens because the truth is, non retina screens on Macbooks are very very bad for my eyes with prolonged use. Also i get electric current in my hand and skin peels off my fingers from the trackpad and slim blade like front edge in front of the trackpad, and have a stucky plaster on the front edge and have to wear a plaster on my thumb too to avoid scarring. There seems to be some kind of damaging currrent or wireless waves which are passed into my hands when using the macbook air. Currently wishing to sell both of my Macbook Airs (11 and 13 Inch), because i have found during the last 3 years that they damage both my hands and my eyes. Still waiting for Apple to make touchscreen Macbooks, as the iPad i have doesnt work for true desktop style browsing and editing my websites, the safari browser and others just refresh page all the time when editing, and wont allow me to use things like tiny mce text editors in my online store product editors etc, so the only way to webmaster is in a desktop browser. We need a mac thats a tablet Mac.. but Apple seem to be too focused on selling multiple devices than to integrate touchscreen into a fully functional Mac

Aug 26, 2015 9:46 AM in response to Barry Chng

Anyone still having this issue? I've been having this issue for a few weeks.


The "Use all F1... as standard function keys" has always been unchecked on my system and it doesn't help to check and uncheck.


But the weirdest thing is that I just made a CLEAN install of OS X Yosemite (read: I wiped the previous drive before installing), and this issue still persists! I have no idea what to try now.

Aug 26, 2015 9:47 AM in response to Barry Chng

Anyone still having this issue? I've been having this issue for a few weeks.


The "Use all F1... as standard function keys" has always been unchecked on my system and it doesn't help to check and uncheck.


But the weirdest thing is that I just made a CLEAN install of OS X Yosemite (read: I wiped the previous drive before installing), and this issue still persists! I have no idea what to try now.

Oct 17, 2015 4:02 AM in response to tomaskb

@tomaskb: My wife has the exact same problem on her MacBook Air 11". I simply can't figure out what's wrong – and like you, even after a clean install of OS X 10.10.5 the issue still persists... I thought it was a hardware problem (maybe after having her trackpad fixed by Apple) but I am able to assign mission control functions to the F-keys in System Preferences... But still the volume, brightness, keyboard backlight etc. are not working - just making "clonk" alert sounds when pressed. That says to me it can't be hardware related either...

I have another thread started: Re: F-keys (Screen Brightness, Mission Control, Volume etc.) are not working.


There aren't any geniuses that can figure this one out?

Top Row of function keys not working

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