My volume keys are now showing and hiding the desktop. How do I change them back?

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Level 1

17 points

My volume keys are now showing and hiding the desktop. How do I change them back?

I'm not sure if this is part of the recent update to Mojave or not but all of a sudden my volume keys aren't changing volume. Volume down shows/hides desktop. Volume up doesn't seem to do anything. I managed to turn off the show/hide desktop function in system preferences but can't restore the volume control.

I am using an apple rechargeable wireless, keyboard model a1644 with a 2017 15" Macbook pro and an external display.

MacOS Mojave 10.14.1

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)

3.1 GHz Intel Core i7

16 GB 2133 MHz LPDDR3

Radeon RX Vega 64 8176 MB (EGPU)

Intel HD Graphics 630 1536 MB

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS High Sierra (10.13.3)

Posted on Nov 11, 2018 3:39 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

116,782 points

Nov 12, 2018 7:01 AM in response to m00p00

It appears the keys are only acting as Function keys. I don't know why you do not have the meta-functions on the external. Do they work on the laptop keyboard?

You could try an SMC reset, but I'm not sure if it will help: How to reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

116,782 points

Nov 12, 2018 6:34 AM in response to m00p00

Check Keyboard System Preferences and see if you have use all F1, F2, etc. as Function keys. If set, uncheck it.

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Answer 3

m00p00 Author

Level 1

17 points

Nov 12, 2018 6:30 AM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks!, this setting was turned off. Toggling it on and off seems to have no effect at all on the function of the volume keys. F11 still shows and hides the desktop and F12 still does nothing. I tried it with the F11 and F12 mappings under System Preferences, keyboard, shortcuts, mission control both activated and deactivated. There was no change in behavior regardless.

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