Windows F-Keys: What Each One Does
F1
Opens help menu in most programs
F2
Rename selected file or folder
F3
Opens search in File Explorer or web browser
F4
Opens address bar in File Explorer or closes windows with Alt + F4
F5
Refreshes the page or updates a document
F6
Cycles through screen elements in a window or browser
F7
Often used for spell check in Microsoft Word
F8
Opens boot options (used during startup, not in modern Windows 10/11 by default)
F9
Refreshes fields in Word, or sends/receives in Outlook
F10
Activates the menu bar in apps
F11
Opens full-screen mode in browsers
F12
Opens Save As in Word, or dev tools in browsers
These keys alone can cut out clicks and mouse moves — especially if you're navigating fast or working in a program like Word or Excel.
🍏 Mac F-Keys: Different by Design
On Macs, the F1–F12 keys often double as media and system controls — but you can still use them for shortcuts.
Hold Fn + F-key to use their original function.
F1 / F2
Adjust screen brightness
F3
Show desktop or Spotlight search
F4
Launchpad or Notification Center
F7–F9
Media controls (play/pause, next, back)
F10
Mute all apps
F11
Lower volume
F12
Raise volume
But if you want to use the classic F-key shortcuts (like F5 for refresh), hold Fn + the key — or adjust your Mac settings to use F1–F12 by default .
🧮 F-Keys in Common Programs – Your New Best Friends
Microsoft Word:
F7
Spell check
F12
Save As
Excel:
F2
Edit cell
F4
Repeats the last action
F11
Instant chart creation
Web Browsers:
F5
Refresh the page
F6
Move between address bar and page
F12
Open Developer Tools
File Explorer (Windows):
F2
Rename selected file
F3
Search bar
F4
Open address bar
These shortcuts might seem small — but over the course of a day, they add up to serious time savings .
🖱️ Bonus: Time-Saving Tips for Keyboard Lovers
F1
in any app
Opens help — great for troubleshooting
Alt + F4
Closes the current window quickly
F5
Refreshes documents, web pages, and even email inboxes
F12 + Enter
In Word, creates a new page fast
F10 + Alt
Opens the menu bar — no mouse needed
Also, in Photoshop , F12 reverts to the last saved version — and in PowerPoint , F5 starts your slideshow.
These keys are hidden time machines in your workday.
🧑💻 Final Thoughts: Sometimes the Fastest Way to Work Is by Not Touching the Mouse
We spend so much time reaching for the mouse or trackpad…
But the truth is:
The fastest way to work is often by keeping your hands on the keyboard.
And the F1–F12 keys are your secret allies.
From quick edits to refreshes , searches , and renames — these keys can cut your click-count in half .
So next time you're stuck in a loop of menu hunting and mouse scrolling…
Pause.
Think.
Tap.
Try an F-key.
Because sometimes, the difference between a slow day and a fast one…
Isn’t in the software.
It’s in the keys you’ve been ignoring all along.
And once you start using them?
You’ll wonder how you ever worked without them.