How to keep the function key locked on Lenovo E431?

Question

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?

Solution 1

'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 :)

Solution 2

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!

Solution 3

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

Comments

[ta.speot.is]

Do you have the keyboard drivers installed? Apparently you can change some settings in the control panel forums.lenovo.com/t5/ThinkPad-Edge-S-series/…

[Bob]

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.

[gronostaj]

OP 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.

[I hate e431 keyboard layout]

It'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

[Stevoisiak]

This also works on a Lenovo T440

[bluelurker]

This should be the accepted answer

[David Mulder]

Just 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.

[Scott Ord]

I installed the "Lenovo Vantage" app through the Microsoft store, via Chrome. The menu is different now, it's "Device" > "My Device Settings" > "Input & Accessories" under a header titled (somewhat ironically) "Intelligent Keyboard". Thanks for the tip on the Lenovo Vantage app, you helped me fix a very aggravating issue.