Function keys on a computer keyboard labeled F1 with F12, buttons with a special function defined by the currently operating system or application. They can be combined with Ctrl or Alt keys. Here’s the answer to the mystery of those function keys. You’ll be surprised by how much they can do.


F1

window + F1       = Opens help menu 

Ctrl + F1            =Hides/displays ribbon menu

                           in Excel and Word 


F2

  1. Alt + Ctrl + F2. = opens Document Library in Microsoft Office
  2. Allows you to edit the selected folder or file name in Windows Explorer
  3. Edits the active cell in Microsoft Excel
  4. Ctrl + F2 displays a print preview in Microsoft Word

F3

  1. Opens search feature in Windows Explorer
  2. Shift + F3 lets you change from lowercase to uppercase to all caps in Word
  3. Opens find feature in Firefox and Chrome
  4. Opens Mission Control on an Apple computer running macOS X

F4

  1. Alt + F4 closes window
  2. Places the cursor in the address bar in Explorer

F5

  1. Starts slideshow in PowerPoint
  2. Refreshes Internet browser pages
  3. Ctrl + F5 will completely refresh a web page, clearing the cache and downloads all content again
  4. Opens Find and Replace in Microsoft Office

F6

  1. Goes to the next page in a split screen in Microsoft Word
  2. Ctrl + Shift + F6 lets you easily switch between Word documents


F7

  1. Alt + F7 does a spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word
  2. Shift + F7 open Thesaurus in Microsoft Word


F8

  1. In Excel, enables extend mode for arrow keys
  2. Enables safe mode in Windows
  3. Displays a thumbnail image for all workspaces in macOS

F9

  1. Refreshes document in Microsoft Word
  2. Sends and receives emails in Outlook
  3. Ctrl + F9 inserts empty fields into Word
  4. Displays a thumbnail for each window in a single workspace in macOS 10.3 or later


F10

  1. Opens menu bar
  2. Ctrl + F10 maximizes window in Word
  3. Shift + F10 does the same thing as a right-click


F11

  1. Exits and enter full-screen mode in browsers
  2. Shift + F11 adds a new spreadsheet in Excel
  3. Hides all open windows and shows the desktop in macOS 10.4 or later


F12

  1. Opens Save As in Word
  2. Shift + F12 saves Word document
  3. Ctrl + F12 opens Word document
  4. Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints Word document