How to invert fn keys on Dell Laptop?

Question

My Dell laptop (XPS 15z) has special keys on the F1 to F12 keys. If I want to disable keyboard backlight, for example, I must type Fn + F6.

• Is it possible to invert it?

In fact, I don't often use the F* keys.

• How can I only hit F6 to disable the backlight and Fn + F6 to type F6?

• Is it possible?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I am not sure if it works for all models, but on mine if you press Fn+Esc it changes the Fn lock so that F1+F12 work as normal and when you hold Fn+(lets say F11) it will change the brightness or whatever that keys secondary function is. Pressing Fn+Esc again reverts it back to default. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

It should be possible to do it in the BIOS. Quoting the XPS 15z manual:

1. Press F2 during POST (Power On Self Test) to enter the System Setup (BIOS) utility.

2. In the Function Key Behavior, select Multimedia Key First or Function Key First.

   • Function Key First — This is the default option. Press any function key to perform the associated function. For multimedia action, press Fn + the required multimedia key.
   • Multimedia Key First — Press any multimedia key to perform the associated multimedia action. For function, press Fn + the required function key.

Answer 3

On mine, the problem was that the NumLk key had been pressed. Pressing it again holding the Fn key reverted the Fn key back.