Special keys and function keys for Surface type cover and keyboards

Type Covers or keyboards have shortcut keys for common tasks like searching, playing audio or video, and more. The keys that appear on your Type Cover or keyboard vary and depend on what model you have.

The keys on the top row of the Type Cover or keyboard double as function keys when you hold down the Fn key while pressing a top-row key. The Fn keys also work in combination with other keys to do certain things.

Special keys and function keys

Here are special keyboard shortcuts that use Fn keys:

Key icon	What it does
	Decreases or increases keyboard backlighting—cycles through the levels of keyboard backlight brightness, including off. Note: Not all devices have the keyboard backlight feature (button).
	Toggles audio muting on/off.
	Decreases the volume.
	Increases the volume.
	Plays or pauses audio or video.
	Dims the screen.
	Brightens the screen.
	Opens Search or Cortana.
	Opens Start.
	Opens a contextual menu.
Fn+Del	Increases screen brightness.
Fn+Backspace	Decreases screen brightness.
Fn+Spacebar	Places a screenshot of the entire screen or screens onto your Windows clipboard.
Fn+Alt+Spacebar	Places a screenshot of your active window onto your Windows clipboard.
Function keys	The function keys are used to perform specific tasks. They’re labeled as F1, F2, F3, and so on, up to F12. The functionality of these keys differs from app to app.
Fn	Enables the function keys. A light appears on the Fn key when you’ve locked the keys into function mode. See below for more info about how to lock Fn keys into function mode.

Lock keys into function mode

If you’re using an app that uses function keys a lot, you can lock the top row of keys temporarily so the function keys are locked.

To lock and unlock the function keys on most Type Covers or keyboards, press the Fn key to lock the function keys. Press the Fn key again to unlock them. A light appears on the Fn keys when the keys are locked into function mode.

Note: If you have Type Cover, Type Cover 2, or Type Cover for Surface Pro 3, hold down the Fn key and press the Caps key to lock the function keys. Hold down the Fn key and press the Caps key again to unlock them.

Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in Windows

Special keys and function keys for Surface type cover and keyboards