How to Disable FN Key on HP Laptop Windows 11: Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve just bought an HP laptop running Windows 11, you’ve probably noticed the Function (FN) key playing a big role in how your keyboard behaves. Maybe you’re trying to press F1–F12 for shortcuts in software, but instead, you end up adjusting brightness, volume, or enabling airplane mode. Frustrating, right?

The good news is—you don’t have to live with it! Disabling or customizing the FN key on your HP laptop is easier than you think. In this guide, we’ll walk through step-by-step methods to disable the FN key on HP laptops with Windows 11.

Table of Contents

What is the FN Key on HP Laptops?

The FN key (short for Function) is located at the bottom-left of your keyboard. It works as a modifier key—when you press it with one of the function keys (F1–F12), it triggers secondary actions like adjusting screen brightness, muting sound, or enabling Wi-Fi.

Think of it like a shift key for multimedia functions. While this is handy for many users, it can be annoying if you often use the function keys for work or gaming.

Why Would You Want to Disable the FN Key?

Here are a few reasons people look to disable or tweak the FN key:

Productivity: If you’re a developer, designer, or gamer, you need the F1–F12 keys more than volume or brightness controls.
Convenience: Pressing FN + F5 every time you want to refresh a page gets old fast.
Customization: You might prefer controlling brightness and volume via dedicated buttons or Windows settings instead.

Can You Disable the FN Key Completely?

Not exactly. You can’t remove it entirely, but you can reverse its function. By changing settings, the F1–F12 keys will work like standard function keys without holding down FN. The multimedia shortcuts (brightness, sound, etc.) will then require FN.

Basically, you flip the default behavior.

Methods to Disable FN Key on HP Laptop (Windows 11)

There are several ways to disable or modify the FN key functionality on an HP laptop. Let’s go through them step by step.

Method 1: Use BIOS Settings

The most reliable way to change FN key behavior is directly through the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).

Steps to Disable FN Key in BIOS:

Restart your HP laptop.
As the screen powers on, repeatedly press the Esc key until the Startup Menu appears.
Press F10 to enter the BIOS setup.
Navigate to the System Configuration tab.
Find Action Keys Mode.
Set it to Disabled.
Press F10 again to save and exit BIOS.

Now, your function keys (F1–F12) will work as standard keys without pressing FN.

Method 2: Use HP BIOS Hotkey Support

Some HP models have a specific option called Hotkey Support in BIOS.

If you disable Hotkey Support, you’ll need to press FN + F1–F12 for special functions.
If you enable Hotkey Support, F1–F12 act as shortcuts (volume, brightness) by default.

Just toggle this setting based on your preference.

Method 3: Using Windows Mobility Center

Windows 11 offers a quick way to tweak function key behavior through Windows Mobility Center.

Steps:

Right-click the Start Menu and select Mobility Center.
Look for a section called Function Key Row.
Choose between:
- Function key – Makes F1–F12 primary.
- Multimedia key – Makes volume, brightness, etc., primary.

Note: This option may not appear on all HP laptops—it depends on the model.

Method 4: Use HP Support Assistant

HP provides a built-in tool called HP Support Assistant that sometimes allows you to change keyboard behavior.

Download or open HP Support Assistant from the Start Menu.
Check for a keyboard or input device setting.
If available, toggle the FN key functionality.

Method 5: Update Keyboard Drivers

Outdated or incorrect drivers can mess with how the FN key works.

Open Device Manager (press Win + X, then select Device Manager).
Expand Keyboards.
Right-click and select Update driver.
Restart your laptop after updating.

Sometimes, a driver update automatically fixes FN key issues.

Method 6: Use Keyboard Shortcuts (If Available)

On some HP models, you can quickly switch FN behavior with a keyboard shortcut. For example:

FN + Esc often toggles FN lock on HP laptops.
If enabled, you won’t need to hold FN for F1–F12.

How to Know if FN Key is Disabled

After changing settings, test it:

Press F5 – If the page refreshes instead of lowering brightness, the FN key is successfully disabled.
Press F1 – If it opens Help instead of muting sound, you’ve flipped the default.

Troubleshooting FN Key Issues

Sometimes, even after following the steps, things don’t work as expected. Here are quick fixes:

Check BIOS again – Make sure changes were saved properly.
Reset BIOS to Default – Sometimes conflicts cause issues.
Update BIOS – Go to HP’s official website and update BIOS firmware.
Reinstall Keyboard Drivers – Uninstall them in Device Manager, then restart.

Should You Disable FN Key Permanently?

It depends on your workflow. If you:

Use F1–F12 keys often → Yes, disable FN.
Prefer adjusting brightness/volume quickly → Keep FN enabled.

The best part? You can always go back and re-enable FN with the same steps.

Extra Tip: External Keyboards

If you don’t want to mess with BIOS or settings, an external keyboard can be a quick fix. Most external keyboards don’t have FN keys, so your F1–F12 work normally out of the box.

Conclusion

The FN key on HP laptops can be both a blessing and a curse. On Windows 11, it defaults to controlling multimedia functions, which isn’t ideal for everyone. Luckily, with BIOS tweaks, Mobility Center, or simple keyboard shortcuts, you can easily disable or customize the FN key behavior to fit your needs.

So whether you’re coding, gaming, or just refreshing a webpage, now you can do it without the extra hassle of pressing FN every single time.

FAQs

1. How do I permanently disable the FN key on my HP laptop?

You can’t completely disable it, but you can reverse its behavior via BIOS by disabling Action Keys Mode.

2. What is the difference between FN key enabled and disabled?

Enabled: F1–F12 act as multimedia keys (volume, brightness).
Disabled: F1–F12 act as standard function keys.

3. Does Windows 11 have a built-in FN key setting?

Yes, in some laptops, you can adjust it via Windows Mobility Center. But not all HP models support it.

4. Can I disable the FN key without BIOS?

Yes, if your laptop supports FN + Esc toggle or offers the setting in Mobility Center.

5. Why doesn’t my HP laptop show Function Key settings?

It depends on your model. Some HP laptops only allow changes through BIOS, while others support Windows or shortcut methods.