How do I access the blue keys on my keyboard?

[doctrout]

I have noticed that some of the keys on my keyboard have blue numbers and icons in additon to the white ones but, I cannot figure out how to access them. FYI, I have attempted to find an owner's manual for my laptop that will explain this to me but, so far, I have not been able to do so.

[banhien]

@doctrout

There is one special key labelled Fn on your keyboard (it is blue). Normally it sits next to Win key. Please hold down Fn key to use Blue keys.

Regards.

[doctrout]

Hello,

     Thanks for the help but, I have alread tried that and it does not work or, at least it will not insert the blue key figures into a Word document.

[banhien]

@doctrout

Sorry I don't know how it has to insert key to Word document. All I know: they are function keys and they will exercute a function when we use them.

Regards.

[Dragon-Fur]

@doctrout

Apologies for jumping in unannounced.

I am way out of my depth here -- please forgive any blundering about...

It sounds like you might have a multi-national keyboard, perhaps French Canadian / English. 

In general, this use of multi-national keyboards is not something with which I am familiar.

I can offer the following...

Keyboards

I found these images a long time ago (during the first time I tried to answer a similar question here on the forum):

 '

 

Add symbols of various kinds to a Word document

Open document in Word

category Insert > (way over on the right side of the ribbon) Symbols >

(Opens the Symbol menu)

Select a Font

Drag the lower right corner of the menu down and out to provide a larger view of the symbol choices

OR

Use the scroll bar on the right of the menu to scroll through the choices

Use "arrow keys" on the keyboard or mouse to move around and highlight the different symbols >

When you "land on a symbol" you want to use, click Insert 

NOTE:  If the arrow keys seem to "flop" around and do not let you drop away from the font selector and highlight the different symbols, click the mouse on the scroll and manipulate it a bit > try the arrow(s) again or your mouse again.

 

Once you use a symbol, it becomes available in your "recently used" list.

Speical characters / Symbols - Numlock + Alt + key value

Interestingly (and I've not delved into the reason), the Alt key definition shown in the Word symbols definition does not match the key values used in this method.  ??

Symbols

Special Characters — Alt Keyboard Sequences

Engage NumLock plus the ALT key plus enter “some number” on the keyboard’s numeric keypad

Examples:  

Numlock on  + ALT key + 172

Enters ¼

Numlock on  + ALT key + 171

½

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[TheRareOutlaw]

That doesn't work for me I just got a laptop for my B day and have been trying to access th eblue keys for work but it never works. PLS help me

[Tiddlybush]

I have an HP Pavilion and I want to access the blue keys in particular the £ sign

[zubi1]

OKAY here is how you do it.

Press SHIFT and fn together on left of the spacebar on your keyboard along with desired symbol for example £ sign on key '3'

[laurynd]

RE: Shift+Fn+3 results in a # on my HP Spectre.

[laurynd]

If you are using Windows 10, try the Windows Key+; (Semicolon) key at the same time. You might need to wait a moment for a window to pop-up. At first I thought it didn't work, but then the window appeared to the right of my screen. Then there were various menu options at the bottom. This is how you access emojis and other symbols. This is a function of Windows, not HP.