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Fn key to lock on Dell Latitude 7480

Astrid -  
jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   -
Hello,
I've been looking for a while for how to lock the "Fn" mode on my Dell Latitude 7480 laptop. This PC is used for professional purposes, and I need to enter a lot of numbers, but I don't have a numeric keypad, and it wouldn't be practical at all to add a USB one.
So, I'd like to use the blue numeric keypad function of the Fn key without having to hold the key down, which is not very convenient.
Thank you in advance for your help, I'm not a computer expert, I thought I would find an answer somewhere but nothing is working at the moment.
Have a great day,
Astrid

Configuration: Windows / Chrome 76.0.3809.100

5 answers

  1.
    jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 979
     
    Hello,

    I have a Dell 7586, and the fn key is no longer blue, and there's no virtual numeric keypad on the keyboard. But on the models where it exists, you can toggle the numeric keypad with fn+key(num lock)

    Best regards
    --
            a foreigner is a friend we haven't met yet.
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    1. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      Hello,
      Thank you for your response, however, I don't have the Num Lock key actually... I'm sending you a photo of my keyboard to show you
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    2. Judge_DT Posted messages 27651 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   10 013 > freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      Hi,

      For your keyboard, you have the Fn keys above the numeric keys. So, there’s no lock for the numeric keys, other than the shift which activates the numeric keys at the top...

      Your needs are not clear to me, here...
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    3. jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 979 > Judge_DT Posted messages 27651 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
       
      Your need is not clear to me, there... when we want to enter (only) numbers, it is convenient for the blue numeric keypad to be locked.
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    4. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member > Judge_DT Posted messages 27651 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
       
      Hello,
      Actually, to enter my values, it's just simpler to be able to type like on a numeric keypad (with a 3*3 layout instead of all in line: lab work with input of weights, volumes, etc.) and that's why I want to lock the blue keys, so I can do this via the blue numeric keypad (avoiding having to press the Fn key all the time). Is it clearer this way? Thank you!
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    5. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member > jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
       
      Yes, that's it!
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  2. jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 979
     
    It's indeed F5, but it is indicated: Fn + F5 Num Lock toggles on/off, requires activation in the BIOS (for Embedded keys)

    ref : https://www.dell.com/support/article/cd/en/cdbsdt1/sln305131/dell-latitude-7480-keyboard-guide?lang=en

    --
    a stranger is a friend we haven't met yet.
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    1. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      Sure, just ... can you tell me how to do that? I don't know anything about it ... :)
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    2. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      I think I've found how to do it here:
      https://www.dell.com/support/article/fr/fr/frdhs1/sln305029/guide-d-utilisation-et-de-d%C3%A9pannage-du-clavier?lang=fr
      However, I tried, and I need the administrator password (office PC, of course) so I'm stuck again, but I'll see if the hotline will allow us to do that. I'll come back here to let you know if it worked if I give it a try! Thanks already for guiding me this far!
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    3. jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 979 > freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      At least one reliable thing about a Dell for the past 20 years: the BIOS call is F2 right after starting the PC. If Windows launches, it's too late, you'll need to restart.

      The content of the BIOS will be specific to each model. I don’t have a blue Fn key, so I don’t have the option. Among all the options, you’ll need to look for something like "activate embedded key," check that, and then exit the BIOS while saving. Don’t touch anything else ;-)
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    4. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member > jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
       
      Well, I managed to get into the BIOS... and... it's still not working.
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    5. jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 979 > freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      unless everything is retested and verified, I have no other suggestions.
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  3. baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 387
     
    Hello,
    On laptops, you can find the Num Lock key on the on-screen keyboard.
    Type "On-screen keyboard" in the search area.
    -- 
    Very difficult to catch a black cat in a dark room.
                                  Especially when it's not there...
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    1. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      Thank you, but it doesn't work...
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      1. baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 387 > freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
         
        Fn + Num Lock on the virtual keyboard does not activate the "numpad" on the keyboard?
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    2. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      I just tried again... it doesn't work. It allows the numeric keypad to show up on the on-screen keyboard, but the goal isn't to click on the numbers since that's slower. And when I press something like the k to type the 2 on the blue numeric keypad... it types a k.
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  4. baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 387
     
    On your keyboard, at the top left, the "Escape" key has a blue printed lock icon.
    Try pressing Fn+Escape to see if it locks the Fn key as if it were pressed down permanently.

    -- 
     It's very difficult to catch a black cat in a dark room.
                                  Especially when it's not there...
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    1. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      I've already tried this but it doesn't work.
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    2. baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 387 > freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      Nothing in the notice indicates the use of this blue lock?
      Not having the serial number, I cannot access it
      https://www.dell.com/support/article/fr/fr/frbsdt1/sln305331/guide-du-syst%C3%A8me-dell-latitude-7480?lang=fr
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    3. jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 979 > baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
       
      The esc/fn lock/unlock key does indeed allow you to lock/unlock the functions of the keys associated with Fn. This is the case on my PC (Dell 7583), but it does not have this "virtual" numeric keyboard

      However, the use of this function key is also controlled by a BIOS option: Esc Fn Lock, which allows you to enable or disable it, and to choose whether it is on or off at startup when it is enabled.
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    4. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member > baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
       
      I will take a closer look at your link. Thank you!
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    5. baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 387 > jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
       
      Hi Jee Pee
      This is what I found here
      https://www.dell.com/community/Ordinateurs-portables-Mat%C3%A9riel/Comment-modifier-l-acc%C3%A8s-aux-fonctions-F1-F12-sans-passer-par-Fn/td-p/5358118
      But the story says that we can block the actions performed by Fn + F1 to F12 keys, but nothing about the numeric keypad.
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  6. baladur13 Posted messages 47322 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 387
     

    Fn + F5 Num Lock Toggle on/off, requires activation in the BIOS (for Embedded keys)

    -- 
     It's very hard to catch a black cat in a dark room.
                                  Especially when it's not there...
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    1. freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
       
      So now I'm going back into the BIOS. I'll tell you what I see checked and what I change. I go to
      POST Behavior.
      Fn Lock Options.
      Fn Lock is checked.
      and Lock Mode Enable/secondary is checked.

      I admit I understand English but I'm unsure if I should change something about this or not.
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      1. jee pee Posted messages 31883 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   9 979 > freewritting Posted messages 18 Status Member
         
        Is there not another option such as "Embedded Keys"? Because that one is specifically written on F5, while the Fn Lock Option seems to be associated with Esc.
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