Function keys in Apple Keyboard don't work as expected

Question

I am using an Apple keyboard. To get the default functionality of the function keys, I need to press fn+Function key.

This is quite annoying since I frequently use the function keys for debugging.

Is there any way I can get the default functionality out of the function keys, i.e., get the effect of pressing the Fn key without having to actually press it?

Answer 1

The article there should help you.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AppleKeyboard

I inserted the two echo linesin /etc/rc.local:

echo 2 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode
echo 2 > /sys/module/apple/parameters/fnmode

Those are inserted just before the "exit 0" line.

I only use Apple keyboards and I found they are easier to manage and configure under Linux than Windows. Also, that's the ONLY hardware I have from Apple.

Answer 2

From the Ubuntu community wiki on Apple Keyboards... Open this file with root permissions in terminal:

gksudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/hid_apple.conf

Then add to the end of the file:

options hid_apple fnmode=2

And then finally in terminal...

sudo update-initramfs -u

Reboot your computer.

This will change the default keys to being the Function keys, E.g F8 is F8 instead of Play/Pause song. Hope this helps! ^.^