How to keep the function key locked on Lenovo E431?

For the Lenovo e431, how do you keep the function key locked?

Right now pressing F1-F12 activates the multimedia controls by default. To get to the standard F1-F12, you have to hold down Fn+the function key. This used to be adjustable in the BIOS, but for this laptop model, it no longer is available.

You can press Fn+esc, and it locks it for that session, but when the computer reboots, this is reset back to the default.

Is there a way so that the default is not the multimedia function keys, but just the standard, legacy function keys?

Bob

Posted 2013-07-06T01:52:24.050

Reputation: 471

Do you have the keyboard drivers installed? Apparently you can change some settings in the control panel http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-Edge-S-series/Disable-Fn-Keys-E420/td-p/803609

– ta.speot.is – 2013-07-06T02:21:53.260

Thank you for the response, but the E series (E431) does not have that particular setting in the keyboard control panel setting. I tried looking for specific updated drivers for this keyboard, but none were found. – Bob – 2013-07-06T18:09:13.847

Answers

'Fn + Esc' Should lock it, but you'll need bios version 1.25+ to keep this config after reboot, since it had an issue fixed on 1.25:

<1.25>
- (New) Modified Power off USB timing.
- (New) Added New Panel Support.
- (Fix) Fixed an issue related to post hang up issue with special input KB/Mouse on docking
- (Fix) Fixed an issue related to unsupported resolution appeared during VGA/HDMI first plug in.
- (Fix) Fixed an issue that Fn lock can't be kept after reboot.

You can download it (and anything related to ThinkPad Edge E431) here: ThinkPad Edge E431 Download Page en-us

Btw you can also switch Fn and Left Ctrl on BIOS :)

I hate e431 keyboard layout

Posted 2013-07-06T01:52:24.050

Reputation: 559

1It's not, check the version history on the first link I provided. I edited the aswer to reflect it... Yeah I should've picked other name to avoid this confusion, but I stand by it XD – I hate e431 keyboard layout – 2015-05-07T21:24:09.740

This also works on a Lenovo T440 – Stevoisiak – 2017-08-31T15:36:06.587

I was searching like a man possessed to find how to return to F1-12 legacy mode (Lenovo Ideapad 110) because the FN hot keys were driving me nuts, especially while gaming.
I FINALLY found one post where the suggestion worked, after having tried 1000 different things from different posts:

While holding shift restart your PC and continue holding shift until a menu pops up.
Select Troubleshoot
Advanced Options
UEFI Firmware Settings
Restart.
You will now boot into BIOS.
Then go to Configuration
Hotkey Mode and disable.
Save your settings,
boot to your OS and you're good to go!

Anonymous

Posted 2013-07-06T01:52:24.050

Reputation: 71

I have a Lenovo Ideapad, model 80XM.

I was able to change this setting by going into the Lenovo settings app called "Lenovo Vantage" that came installed with my model.

Go into the app, click "Hardware Settings" > "More" > "Function Keys" > then select "F1-F12" instead of "Hot Keys".

Edit:

My app has been updated and changed, now you go to:

Lenovo Vantage App
Hardware Settings
Input
Click on F1-F12 to use those settings instead

Kyle B

Posted 2013-07-06T01:52:24.050

Reputation: 91

1This should be the accepted answer – bluelurker – 2019-06-14T13:18:18.530

1Just in case someone encounters this issue: For some reason Fn sticky keys was enabled in my case, which caused fn+lock not to work properly, thus Lenovo Vantage didn't even allow changing the setting until I turned that off. It's right under it in the advanced settings or something. – David Mulder – 2020-01-27T11:00:42.590

Press and hold and the Fn key for about 20 to 30 seconds. There would be a menu that pops up that asks whether you want to switch back to legacy mode. Just select the legacy option and you would be back to the old keyboard F1-F12 function that you always wanted.

sanket patel

Posted 2013-07-06T01:52:24.050

Reputation: 1

My IT guy found it: you have to press Fn+Esc simultaneously, this will turn Function lock on or off and thus enable the function keys with or without the Fn-key.

user270455

Posted 2013-07-06T01:52:24.050

Reputation: 29

2OP stated that in the question. ("You can press Fn+esc, and it locks it for that session") The question was hot to turn it on permanently. – gronostaj – 2013-11-08T08:34:40.857

While I don't have this specific model (I have the W540), I have an option to make it permanent in the BIOS

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-Edge-S-series/Keeping-quot-Fn-quot-key-on/td-p/449937

Nick Devereaux

Posted 2013-07-06T01:52:24.050

Reputation: 398