Raise your hand if you’ve ever looked at the top row of your keyboard and thought:
“I know those keys are there… but I literally never use them.”
You’re not alone.
The F1 through F12 keys — often called the function keys — live in the top row like forgotten royalty.
But here’s the secret:
These keys are some of the most powerful tools in your keyboard arsenal.
Once you learn how to use them, they can save you minutes every hour — and turn you into a keyboard ninja of efficiency.
Let’s explore how to use the F1 to F12 keys in Windows , Mac , and common programs — and why you should stop ignoring them.
Because sometimes, the best way to speed up your workflow…
Isn’t with a mouse.
It’s with a single tap of your finger.
🧠 What Are the F1–F12 Keys Anyway?
These keys were originally designed to give quick access to common commands — and while many programs have moved those functions into menus and ribbons…
They’re still hiding in the top row — just waiting for you to press them.
And depending on your operating system and the program you're using , these keys can do very different things.
Let’s break them down.
💻 Windows F-Keys: What Each One Does:
