Your laptop will reboot, and your function keys will now be "locked" to their standard F-key functions.
This is the quickest and most common method.
That’s normal on many Dells. Press an F-key (like F2 for volume) to test if it’s locked. how to lock function key on dell laptop
Once locked, your F-keys behave consistently, speeding up daily use whether you’re adjusting volume or debugging code with function keys.
Dell laptops rely on the "Dell QuickSet" or "Dell Function Keys" driver to manage these features. Your laptop will reboot, and your function keys
Note: This method applies to Dell XPS, Inspiron, G Series, and Vostro laptops.
| You want… | Choose this mode | | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | | Press F1 for help, F5 to refresh browser | | | Press F1 to mute, F2/F3 for volume | Multimedia / Hotkey Mode | Press an F-key (like F2 for volume) to test if it’s locked
Fn + Esc only works on built-in laptop keyboards. For external Dell keyboards, use BIOS or dedicated software.
Note: If you do not see this tile, your specific model does not support this feature via Windows Mobility Center. Please use Method 1 or Method 2 instead.