How do I activate Function Keys without pressing the fn button in the mac keyboard? [duplicate]

everyone!

I had to change keyboards at work and they gave me a mac keyboard that wasn't in use. I configured most of it to the point where I can use it, but I noticed that I need to press the fn key to activate the Functions F1~F19 and I was wondering if there is anyway I could flip that.

So what I want to do is have the Function keys as default, and need to hit fn whenever I want the other function of the key, such as Volume Up or Eject Disc

2 Answers

Typing this in terminal:

sudo su -c "echo -n 0x02 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode"

enables F keys without needing FN.

To restore, change 0x02 to 0x01.

Must be run after each reboot.

To make it permanent, you can add the command echo -n 0x02 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode to the file /etc/rc.local above the line exit 0. Or you can use sysfsutils (check that it's installed with sudo apt install sysfsutils) - edit /etc/sysfs.conf to include the line

module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode = 0x02

This is covered in some depth at the Ubuntu Community Wiki, including various ways to do it permanently, systemwide.