What do the F1 thru F12 keys on my computer keyboard mean?

Question

I have never known what these keys are used for.

Answer 1

these are function keys that have different uses depending on the application you are running:

F1

If you are in an application and you press this key, you will get its help file. Suppose you are not in windows explorer or desktop, you press this key you will get Windows Help file. Suppose you are in an application, and you want windows help file, press windows key + F1, you will get windows help file. F1 + in combination with other keys:

SHIFT + F1 = Start context-sensitive help or reveal formatting (What is this? help)
ALT + F1 = Go to the next field
ALT + SHIFT + F1 = Go to the previous field
CTRL + ALT + F1 = Display Microsoft system information
For formatting characters and paragraphs:
CTRL + SHIFT + F1 = Change the font

F2

You select a program on your desktop (icon) and press this key. You will be allowed to rename that program. The same function you can also perform by right clicking the mouse and in the resultant memo you will have the option to rename the program.

SHIFT + F2 = Copy Text
CTRL + F2 = Choose the print preview command (file menu)
ALT + SHIFT + F2 = Choose the save command (file menu)
CTRL + ALT + F2 = Choose the open command (file menu)

F3

While you are working in windows explorer or on desktop, you press this key you will get the ‘Find Files’ window. You need not go to start > find.
While you are working in MS Word (make your selection) and press
ALT + F3 = Create an auto text entry box appears.
SHIFT + F3 = Change the case of the letters.

F4

While you are in Internet Explorer and you will press this key the address bar will open.
If you want to close the selected window, press ALT + F4.
When no windows are open if you press ALT + F4, you will see the shut down screen. When no windows are open if you press ALT + F4, you will see the shut down screen.
When you are in MS Word, press
F4 = Repeat the last action
SHIFT + F4 = Repeat a Find or Go To action
CTRL + F4 = Close the Window
ALT + F4 = Quit the word program

F5

To refresh the active window in IE or WE, press F5.
When you are in MS Word and you press this key, you will have the Find and replace window > Go To (Edit menu)
SHIFT + F5 = Move to previous revision
CTRL + F5 = Restore the document window size
CTRL + SHIFT + F5 = Edit a bookmark
ALT + F5 = Quit the word program

F6

To move the cursor in the structure of IE or WE you can use this key.
When you are in MS Word, press this key, you will go to the next pane or frame.
SHIFT + F6 = Go to the previous pane or frame.
CTRL + F6 = Go to the next window.
CTRL + SHIFT + F6 = Go to the previous window

F7

Users have no use of this key in Windows. But in MS Word if you press this key, you will get spelling command (Tools menu),
SHIFT + F7 = Choose the Thesaurus command (Tools > Language menu),
CTRL + F7 = Choose the move command (Control menu),
CTRL + SHIFT + F7 = Update linked information in a word source document.
ALT + F7 = Find the next misspelling or grammatical error. The ‘Check Spelling as you
Type check box must be selected. ( Tools menu, options dialog box, spelling and grammar tab)

F8

When you press this key while booting the system, you will get the start up menu. You may enter safe mode. While installing windows, you press this key to accept Linux. Suppose some additional information is being available at the push pin, you can press this key to see the information or you can hide the same.
When you are in MS Word, to extend the selection, press this key.
SHIFT + F8 = Shrink the selection
CTRL + F8 = Choose the size command (document control menu)
CTRL + SHIFT + F8 = Extend a selection or block (then press an arrow key)
ALT + F8 = Run a macro

F9

Users have no use of this key in Windows, but if you press this key in MS Word you will update the selected fields.
SHIFT + F9 = Switch between a field code and its result.
CTRL + F9 = Insert an empty field.
CTRL + SHIFT + F9 = Unlink a field
ALT + F9 = Switch between all field codes and their results
ALT + SHIFT + F9 = Run GoButton or Macrobutton from the field that displays the field results.

F10

Users have no use of this key in Windows, but if you press this key in MS Word you can activate the menu bar.
SHIFT + F10 = Display a short cut menu.
CTRL + F10 = Maximize the document window.
CTRL + SHIFT + F10 = Activate the ruler.
ALT + F10 = Maximize the program window

F11

If you press this key, you will enter the ‘Full Screen’ mode in IE. This mode is otherwise called ‘KIOSK’ mode.
In MS Word, if you press this key you will go to the next field.
SHIFT + F11 = Go to the previous field.
CTRL + F11 = Lock a field
CTRL + SHIFT + F11 = Unlock a field
ALT + F11 = Display Microsoft Visual Basic Code.
ALT + SHIFT + F11 = Display Microsoft Visual Studio Code.

F12

Users have no use of this key in Windows. But if you press this key in MS Word you can choose the Save as command (File menu).
SHIFT + F12 = Choose the Save command (File menu).
CTRL + F12 = Choose the Open command (File menu).
CTRL + SHIFT +F12 = Choose the print command (File menu)

You will observe that F7, F9, F10 and F12 have no use in Windows. We can assign some tasks to these keys. You find out which program you are regularly visiting.
1. Locate the shortcut of that program. If it doesn’t have one create one.
2. Hold the mouse pointer on the shortcut and right click the mouse and select the properties from the resultant menu.
3. Select the shortcut tab.
4. In the window click the mouse pointer in the short cut, and press the function key to which you want to assign this program.
5. You will find the function key name in the box.
6. Click on apply and close the box.
Whenever you want to open this program you press this function key.

Answer 2

They are basic Function Keys - you can map the to do what you want IE - Short Cuts to options - Some applications will scrll through pages of the software by using the Function Keys PS - There are F1 to F24 - after F12 you press shift for F1 for 13 Shift + F2 - 14 Shift F3 -15 etc -

Answer 3

They are called "Function Keys". Many programs will use them for controlling what the program does. Each program can give any function key any special thing to do. But most things can be done with the mouse also.

A lot of programs use F1 for the help screen, for example.

Windows also uses them. You can look for references to what the keys do by reading the help files that come with each program.

Answer 4

F basically stands for Function. In olden days used by IBM for assigning specific tasks. In today's computers, they are still in use.

For example, F1 key is generally used for calling Help. However, it depends on application that what is assigned to such keys. You can always try to learn yourself, there is no harm.

Hope that helps!

Answer 5

f means functions and it works many functional in many of times.