What are the Function Keys: F1 - F12 keys

Commonly known as "function keys", F1 through F12 may have a variety of different uses or no use at all. Depending on the installed operating system and the software program currently open will change how each of these keys operate. A program is capable of not only using each of the function keys, but also combining the function keys with the ALT and/or CTRL keys, for example, Microsoft Windows users can press ALT F4 to close the program currently active. 

Below is a short-listing of some of the common functions of the functions keys on computers running Microsoft Windows. As mentioned above not all programs support function keys and/or may perform different tasks then those mentioned below.

F1 

Almost always used as the help key, almost every program will open the help screen when this key is pressed. 

Windows Key F1 would open the Microsoft Windows help and support center. 

Open the Task Pane. 

F2

In Windows commonly used to rename a highlighted icon or file. 

Alt Ctrl F2 opens a new document in Microsoft Word. 

Ctrl F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word. 

F3

Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft Windows. 

Shift F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case or a capital letter at the beginning of every word. 

F4

Open find window. 

Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000 ) 

Alt F4 will close the program currently active in Microsoft Windows. 

Ctrl F4 will close the open window within the current active window in Microsoft Windows. 

F5

In all modern Internet browsers pressing F5 will refresh or reload the page or document window. 

Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word. 

Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint. 

F6

Move the cursor to the Address bar in Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. 

Ctrl Shift F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document. 

F7

Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc. 

Shift F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted. 

Turns on Caret browsing in Mozilla Firefox. 

F8

Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly use to get into Windows Safe Mode. 

F9

Opens the Measurements toolbar in Quark 5.0. 

F10

In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application. 

Shift F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or Internet link. 

F11

Full-screen mode in all modern Internet browsers. 

F12

Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word. 

Shift F12 save the Microsoft Word document. 

Ctrl Shift F12 prints a document in Microsoft Word.