Brightness and project hotkeys not working.

[Xavier16]

Hello! My keyboard has special hotkeys in the F1 to F12 row. However, out of nowhere the special  hotkeys f1, f2, f3, and f4 which correspond to f1= windows help, f2= lower brightness, f3= higher brightness, f4= project arent working. When i press those keys, they just respond to a normal f2 key, when they should be responding to a lower brightness screen. It happens on all the above keys mentioned. All other keys (volume, next song, pause, airplane mode) work as expected, it is just those keys.

I ray the HP PC Hardware diagnostic tool and didnt detetct any problems, i also ran windows troubleshooter and didnt detect problems.

Thanks! 

[A4Apollo · Accepted solution]

Hi! @Xavier16,

You can use the function keys on the keyboard without holding any keys on the keyboard. 

However, if you like to use the multimedia keys on the keyboard. You have to Press the Fn key + the multimedia key.

Eg: Fn Key + F3 key to increase the volume.

Try the steps recommended below.

Click the "Start" button and select "Control Panel." Once the Control Panel loads select "Devices," and then "Keyboard."

Select your multimedia keyboard as the default keyboard from the list at the top of the screen. Check to "enable" multimedia keyboard buttons. You may be asked what functions specific buttons should have. Here you can either leave them with the default settings or select a different task for the buttons in question.

Click "Apply" to save the changes. You can now begin using the multimedia keys on your keyboard.

Go to the BIOS page on your PC and enable the action keys. 

1.    Turn off the computer and wait five seconds.
2.    Press the Power button to start the computer and repeatedly press the F10 key to enter the BIOS setup menu.
3.    Go to the system configuration tab.

4.    Select Action keys mode from the list and select Enable.

5.    Press F9 on the keyboard to save changes and exit.

Lastly, Please try the steps recommended below.

Go in the device manager, 

select keyboard 

select the keyboard you are using 

Right-click Update Driver software 

Browse my Computer for driver software  

Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer 

then find the one that with the same name as the one you are currently updating and update! 

Refer this article to further troubleshoot keyboard issues with the PC. Click Here

Hope this answers your query!
Have a great day ahead! 🙂

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[Xavier16]

Going to the BIOS setup and disabling and enabling again special keys worked for me. Thanks!

[A4Apollo]

@Xavier16,

You're welcome thanks for the update. And I'm happy to know your issue is resolved now.

If you have any queries in future related to any HP products, you can always reach out to us.

We will try our best to help you out.

Take care,
Have a great day! 🙂