Are They are called hotkeys or special functions, and when you know what they are for, they can help you make using the computer easier and more practical., since they have shortcuts to various functions, both of the computer in general, and of some programs of common use, such as the word processor; for this reason, these keys are also a good accessibility option for users with different abilities and needs.
F1
On Windows, open the help menu. In Excel and Word and the Windows strip, you need to press it together with the Control key (Ctrl + F1) to show or hide the options menu on. And if you press F1 + Shift, the “show formatting” task pane will appear.
In the case of Apple, F1 is used to reduce the brightness of the screen. And when using Word on a Mac, you can press F1 and Fn at the same time to undo the previous action.
F2
In Windows Explorer, it allows you to rename a folder or file. In Microsoft Office, press Alt + Ctrl + F2 to open the document library. In Word, with the shortcut Ctrl + F2 you will have a print preview of the file you are working on. And if you’re using Excel, pressing it will allow you to edit the active cell.
If you use Apple, F2 complements the function of F1 and is used to increase the brightness of the screen.
F3
It is used to open the search function in Windows Explorer, Firefox and Chrome. If you press it at the same time as the Shift key, it changes the text to uppercase or lowercase in Word.
In Apple’s case, this key turns “Mission Control” on or off, which gives you a view of all open windows. If you use Word on a Mac, with F3 you can copy the selected content to the clipboard.
F4
F4 allows you to place the cursor in the browser’s address bar, and if you combine it with Alt, it closes the window you are in.
If you’re using Apple, you can use F4 to turn the Launchpad on and off, which is an easy way to find and open apps on your Mac. Also, pressing this key in Word pastes the contents of the clipboard.
F5
It is used to update the current browser window or the folder you have open. Combining Ctrl + F5 clears the cache (data that is temporarily stored on the computer). When using Powerpoint, press it to start the presentation. In Microsoft Office, it is used to open “Find and Replace”.
In the case of Apple, it is used to reduce the intensity of the light of the keys, while when using Word on a Mac, F5 allows to show the “Go To” dialog box.
F6
In Windows, it is used to turn pages in a split screen in Word. By combining Ctrl + Shift + F6 you can easily switch between Word documents.
On the Mac, it is a complement to the previous key and is used to increase the intensity of the light of the keys. When using Word on Mac, its function is to switch between the document, task pane, status bar, and menu bar, as well as to include the various panes in a split screen.
F7
On Windows, pressing Alt + F7, and on Mac Fn + F7 activates spelling and grammar checking in your Word document. On Windows, pressing Shift + F7 will give you access to the thesaurus. And in Apple it also serves to go back to the previous song in iTunes.
F8
In Windows, this key enables safe mode. In Excel, turn on extended mode.
On Apple, it is used to pause songs in iTunes. Also, when using Word on a Mac, this key expands a selection; for example, if you selected a word, pressing it expands the size of the selection to the entire sentence.
F9
This key allows you to send and receive emails in some applications. If you’re using Word on Windows, pressing Ctrl + F9 inserts empty fields.
On Apple, updates the selected fields. Also, on Macs it allows you to skip to the next song in iTunes.
F10
In Windows, this key allows you to mark elements of the active window. It is also used to switch to a different tab and use the access keys or the cursors. Pressing Ctrl + F10 in Word maximizes the window. Next to the Shift key, it opens the context menu (the one that appears when you right-click); This function applies for Apple, when you press fn + F10. On a Mac, F10 turns audio on or off.
F11
In Windows, it allows you to quickly exit and enter full screen mode. When combined with the Shift key in Excel, a new worksheet is automatically activated.
On Apple, it is used to lower the audio volume. And your shortcut in Word for Mac is to move to the next field.
F12
In Word for Windows, open the “Save As” function. You can also directly save the document by pressing it next to Shift or open a document if you use it next to Control. If you press Ctrl + Shift + F12 at the same time, the print function will open.
In the case of Apple, you can use F12 to increase the volume of the audio.