Daniel Dehaan

Mac Function Keys Quick Toggle

one-sheetdaw-pro-toolsmac-productivity

Pro Tools uses F1–F10 for edit modes and tools. By default, Macs use these keys for system functions (brightness, volume, etc.). Here’s how to switch quickly.

Option 1: Hold the fn Key

The simplest approach—hold fn while pressing any function key to temporarily invert the behavior. No setup required.

Option 2: Spotlight

No setup required—Spotlight can open the Function Keys setting directly.

Usage

  1. Press ⌘ Space to open Spotlight
  2. Type “Function Keys”
  3. Select Function Keys under System Settings
  4. Press Enter — System Settings opens to the Keyboard pane
  5. Toggle “Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys”

Limitation: Spotlight can’t run scripts or assign hotkeys, so you’ll type the search each time.

Option 3: Apple Shortcuts

Create a native shortcut that opens the Function Keys setting — no third-party apps required. Can be triggered via keyboard shortcut, menu bar, or Spotlight.

Setup

  1. Open the Shortcuts app
  2. Click + to create a new shortcut
  3. Name it “Function Keys Setting”
  4. Add the Open URL action
  5. Enter: x-apple.systempreferences:com.apple.Keyboard-Settings.extension
  6. (Optional) Click the shortcut’s info button (i) → Add Keyboard Shortcut → assign a hotkey

Usage

  • Keyboard shortcut: Press your assigned hotkey
  • Spotlight: Type the shortcut name (“Function Keys Setting”)
  • Menu bar: Enable “Show in Menu Bar” in shortcut settings

Option 4: Fluor

For frequent Pro Tools use, Fluor is the best solution—it automatically switches to standard function keys when Pro Tools is active.

Setup

  1. Download Fluor: https://github.com/Pyroh/Fluor
  2. Install and grant accessibility permissions
  3. Add Pro Tools to the app list
  4. Set Pro Tools to use “Function Keys” mode

Once configured, your function keys automatically work correctly in Pro Tools without any manual toggling.

Summary

MethodBest For
Hold fnOccasional use, no setup
SpotlightQuick access, no setup
Apple ShortcutsHotkey access, no third-party apps
Raycast scriptPower users already using Raycast
FluorDaily Pro Tools users (set and forget)

Related: Pro Tools Quick Reference