On HP notebooks, F9 sits on the top row between F8 and F10; it may share a backlight or media icon and can require Fn or Fn Lock.
You want the answer fast and clear. Look to the top row above the number keys. The ninth function key lives between F8 and F10. On many HP keyboards the F9 legend appears above a small symbol, such as a lit keyboard or a forward arrow. That symbol means the key can do two jobs depending on a mode toggle.
Finding The F9 Key On HP Laptops: Layout Basics
HP follows a standard layout used across Windows laptops. The top row runs F1 through F12. F9 always sits between F8 and F10. On compact 13-inch designs the key cap can be slightly narrower, yet the position stays fixed. If you use a full-size external HP board, you’ll see the same placement.
Many models print “F9” in a light type above a pictogram. That pictogram marks an action such as keyboard lighting or a media step. Tap behavior depends on a firmware setting called Action Key mode. With one setting, tapping F9 triggers the pictured action. With the other setting, tapping F9 sends the standard F-key signal and the pictured action moves to Fn+F9.
What F9 Usually Controls On HP Models
Top-row actions vary by series. Ultrabooks and consumer lines often put a keyboard-light toggle on F5 or F4, though some lines assign it to F9 or F11. If your F9 bears a tiny backlit-keyboard icon, it controls the keyboard LEDs. Press once to turn them on, press again to cycle brightness if your unit offers steps. Other lines place a media “next track” icon on the same spot. Business models may leave the cap blank so apps get an unmodified F9.
These differences come down to model design. That’s why the printed icon on your own keyboard matters. If the cap shows a light symbol, F9 can manage the keyboard LEDs when action mode is active. If the cap shows a media arrow, F9 can skip tracks. If it’s blank, apps decide what F9 does.
When The Label Shows An Icon
The small symbol on the cap isn’t decoration. It’s a hint that the key can run a hardware or OS action. Tap F9 and watch for the result. If the icon action doesn’t trigger, try holding Fn and tapping F9. If that works, your laptop is set to send plain F-keys by default. If neither works, switch the mode as shown below.
Action Keys Vs Standard F-Keys
HP laptops ship with a mode toggle that sets the default for the top row. Action mode favors shortcuts like volume, brightness, and lighting. Standard mode favors F-keys for software. You can flip this without changing your workflow each time. Pick the mode you use most, then hold Fn for the other behavior when needed.
Turn Fn Mode On Or Off
There are two fast ways to change how the row behaves:
- Keyboard toggle: On many units, press Fn + Left Shift to switch modes. Some models light the Fn key to show the state.
- BIOS setting: Restart, press Esc to open the Startup Menu, then tap F10 for BIOS. Find “Action Key mode,” change it, save, and exit.
When the Fn light is on, you press Fn plus an F-key to trigger the icon on that key. When the light is off, tapping the key runs the icon directly, and you hold Fn to send the plain F-key to apps. HP’s official page on keyboard shortcuts and special keys walks through these behaviors in plain terms.
Windows And App Shortcuts Tied To F9
Apart from any hardware action, the ninth function key serves handy roles in software. In Microsoft Outlook, pressing F9 runs a Send/Receive. Spreadsheet tools and code editors often assign F9 to tasks such as evaluate or build. These are software choices, not HP choices. They’re useful for testing. Open an app that uses the shortcut and press F9. If nothing happens, try Fn+F9. If that works, switch the mode so your default matches how you work. Microsoft’s page on Send/Receive settings confirms the Outlook shortcut.
Chromebooks And External Keyboards
HP Chromebooks show icons on the top row instead of F-labels. You still have two ways to send function keys. Hold the Launcher key and press a top-row key to send an F-key for that press. Or go to Settings → Device → Keyboard and enable “Treat top-row keys as function keys.” After that, the ninth position acts as F9 at all times, even though the cap shows a ChromeOS icon. This makes web apps and developer tools that expect F-keys behave like they do on Windows.
Using an external keyboard? The hardware F-labels appear as expected. Many HP external boards also offer a mode toggle. Some place a tiny padlock on Esc to flip Fn Lock. Others mirror the same Fn-plus-key behavior used on the laptop. If your external board sends media actions when you expect F-keys, look for the lock and flip it.
Troubleshooting: F9 Seems Missing Or Dead
Run through these checks and you’ll solve nine out of ten cases.
1) Confirm The Physical Location
Scan the top row for the small “F9” legend. It often sits high on the cap above the icon. If you see a keyboard-light symbol or a right-pointing arrow, that key still occupies the F9 position when standard mode is active.
2) Try Both Modes
Press Fn + Left Shift once and test again. If that doesn’t flip behavior, restart and change Action Key mode in BIOS. Some units apply the keyboard toggle live. Others require the BIOS switch.
3) Test In A Known App
Open Outlook and press F9 to trigger Send/Receive. If the shortcut works, the key is fine. Your previous app might not assign anything to F9. If the shortcut only works with Fn held down, change modes.
4) Update Drivers And HP Utilities
Install the latest chipset and input drivers from HP for your exact model. Certain series use a “Hotkey” or “System Event Utility” package to translate top-row taps. An outdated package can block icon actions or keep keyboard lighting from cycling.
5) Backlight Icon But No Light
Owners sometimes see a backlight icon on the cap even when the unit shipped without a lit keyboard. Trim differences can reuse caps across models. If the icon doesn’t do anything and you can’t find a backlight option in BIOS, your configuration may not include keyboard LEDs.
6) Mechanical Issues
If the cap feels sticky or dead, power down, unplug the charger, and use short puffs of compressed air around the edges. Avoid prying the cap unless you know the clip style. If the switch still feels off, the board may need service.
HP Top-Row Quick Reference
The table below shows a compact snapshot of common icons and actions around the ninth function key. Models vary, yet the position rule stays consistent.
| F-Key | Common Icon | Typical Action |
|---|---|---|
| F8 | Rewind/Previous | Media back or previous track |
| F9 | Keyboard light or Next | Toggle keyboard backlight or skip to next track |
| F10 | Play/Pause | Media play or pause |
Model Examples: What You Might See
HP Spectre And Envy
Thin-and-light lines tend to favor clean caps with small symbols. Many units keep the backlight control on F5, yet a few runs move it to F9. If the cap shows the light icon at F9, try a single tap, then Fn+F9 if nothing happens, then cycle modes.
HP Pavilion
Consumer models often ship with action mode on by default. That means tapping the icon runs the shortcut and apps get plain F-keys only when you hold Fn. If your media keys get in the way of software shortcuts, flip the mode or use Fn as needed.
HP ProBook And EliteBook
Business lines sometimes leave F9 unmarked, letting software own it. If you don’t see a symbol, the key still sits between F8 and F10 and sends an F-key by default in many builds. You can still turn on action mode if you prefer one-tap media steps.
HP OMEN And Victus
Gaming boards can route lighting to a vendor app and keep media on the row. If your cap shows a media arrow at F9, expect track control there. If you want app shortcuts first, switch modes so the F-key wins by default and use your app to bind actions.
Quick Ways To Spot It At A Glance
- Find F8, then look one key to the right.
- Look for a small “F9” legend above any icon.
- If the cap shows a lit-keyboard symbol, that key likely toggles the keyboard LEDs in action mode.
- If the cap shows a right-pointing arrow, that key usually skips to the next track in action mode.
Step-By-Step: Make F9 Do What You Want
- Identify the cap marking on the ninth function key.
- Press the key. Watch for a light change or a media step.
- Hold Fn and press the key again. If your app reacts, you’re in action mode.
- Toggle modes with Fn + Left Shift or switch Action Key mode in BIOS.
- Open an app that uses the shortcut (Outlook works well) and press F9 to confirm.
- If lighting doesn’t change on a cap with a light icon, install the proper HP hotkey package or check BIOS features for your exact model.
Helpful References From HP And Microsoft
For a full tour of top-row behavior and the Action Key concept, read HP’s page on keyboard shortcuts and special keys. To verify the Windows shortcut side, Microsoft’s guide to Send/Receive settings confirms that F9 triggers mail sync in Outlook.
Practical Wrap-Up
The ninth function key lives on the top row between F8 and F10 on every HP laptop keyboard. The cap may show a light or media icon. That icon can run on a tap, or it can live behind Fn, based on the mode you pick. Flip Action Key mode to match your habits, test with an app shortcut, and you’re done. Once you know the row’s mode and the printed symbol, finding and using F9 takes seconds.