On Lenovo laptops, the Fn key is at the bottom-left near Ctrl, labeled “Fn”; many ThinkPads place it to the left of Ctrl.
If you just need to spot the Function modifier, look to the bottom row. On most Lenovo keyboards the small “Fn” sits in the corner next to Ctrl. On many ThinkPad models, the brand swaps Ctrl and Fn, so the little Fn square may live at the very edge with Ctrl one key in. Either way, it’s in that lower left cluster, built for your pinky.
Quick Answer: Fn Sits In The Lower Left Cluster
The Function modifier lives on the bottom row. On IdeaPad and most Legion laptops, it usually sits between Ctrl and the Windows logo. On ThinkPads, it often sits left of Ctrl. If your keyboard has a backlight, the small “Fn” text may glow; if not, the letters are printed softly in white or gray.
Find The Fn Key On Lenovo Models: Visual Guide
Different families keep the same rule: the modifier stays near Ctrl on the bottom row. Here’s how to spot it fast across popular lines:
IdeaPad And Everyday Layouts
Look at the bottom-left group. The order is usually Ctrl, Fn, Windows, Alt. The Fn legend is plain and smaller than letter keys. On some models the legend sits at the top-left of the keycap; on others it sits centered. A few colorways print legends in light gray, which can hide in low light, so tilt the deck toward a lamp to catch the ink.
ThinkPad Layouts
Many ThinkPads ship with Fn in the far corner and Ctrl next to it. The tiny “Fn” is white, while Ctrl is bold. A small lock light on Esc tells you when Fn Lock is active on lots of models. The top row carries icons—speaker, mic, sun, projector—that pair with the modifier.
Legion And Gaming Layouts
Legion units may mirror the IdeaPad order or match ThinkPad’s corner placement, based on the generation. Gaming boards sometimes stretch the spacebar and shift Alt or the Menu key. The Function modifier still nests in that same cluster near Ctrl.
What The Fn Key Actually Does
Fn doesn’t do anything alone. It’s a helper that changes what the top-row F1–F12 keys do, and sometimes what other keys do. Pressing Fn with an F-key may change volume, toggle mute, bump brightness, switch display outputs, turn the mic on or off, or bring up a system tool. Some models add extras like airplane mode or a camera shutter toggle.
Lenovo ships many laptops with “hotkey mode” turned on. That means your top row does the printed actions by default. Want classic F1–F12 without holding Fn? Toggle “Fn Lock” with Fn+Esc, or flip hotkey mode in firmware or Lenovo software, based on model. Lenovo’s how-to covers the Fn+Esc toggle and hotkey mode details: use the function keys without pressing Fn.
Can’t Find It? Follow This Checklist
Check The Bottom Row Slowly
Scan from the spacebar to the left edge. Look for a small “Fn” printed in white or gray. If your deck is bilingual, the label still reads “Fn.” If the keys are worn, shine light across the deck at an angle to reveal the print.
Try Fn+Esc
Tap the two keys together. Lots of models show a tiny lock on Esc that lights up, or the screen shows a “Fn Lock” toast. That feedback confirms the modifier is present even if the legend is faint.
Open Lenovo Vantage Or BIOS
Lenovo Vantage (or Commercial Vantage) includes a Hotkeys page on many models. There you can flip hotkey mode or see a layout diagram. If Vantage isn’t installed, enter firmware and look under Config > Keyboard or a Hotkey menu. Names differ by model, but the toggle lives there.
How To Change Top-Row Behavior
Some folks want one-tap media keys. Others need F1–F12 on tap for dev tools, games, or spreadsheets. Use one of these paths to switch behavior:
Toggle With Fn+Esc
Press and release Fn+Esc to enable or disable Fn Lock. When Fn Lock is on, the top row acts as standard F1–F12; hold the modifier for the printed actions. When Fn Lock is off, the top row triggers the printed actions; hold Fn for F1–F12. Lenovo’s guide linked above shows this toggle and model notes.
Change Hotkey Mode In Firmware
- Reboot and tap the setup key shown on the splash screen (often F1 or F2).
- Open Config > Keyboard or a Hotkey/Action Keys page.
- Set Hotkey Mode to your preference.
- Save and exit.
Flip It In Lenovo Software
On select units, Lenovo Keyboard Manager inside Vantage offers a switch for the top row. Turn it on or off without a reboot. Not all models show this page.
Fn, Ctrl, And Muscle Memory
If you moved from a brand that puts Ctrl in the corner, your pinky may miss shortcuts like Ctrl+C. ThinkPads let you trade roles between the two keys, so Ctrl lives in the corner while Fn shifts right one slot. The printed labels stay the same, but the firmware remaps the signals. Lenovo documents the swap in its help notes for changing the two keys in BIOS.
Shortcuts You’ll Use Daily
Once you switch the top row to classic F1–F12, Windows unlocks handy actions. A few that come up a lot: F1 opens help in many apps, F2 renames a file, F3 searches in File Explorer, F5 refreshes a page, and F11 toggles full screen in many browsers. Microsoft lists the defaults on its master page: keyboard shortcuts in Windows.
When Fn+Esc Doesn’t Toggle
If the lock combo seems dead, try these checks before assuming the deck is faulty:
- Switch The Setting In Firmware: Open the setup menu and change Hotkey/Action Keys mode there, then test the combo again.
- Update Vantage And Drivers: Install or update Lenovo Vantage. Many models rely on a small background package for top-row events.
- Reset Defaults In BIOS: Load defaults, save, then set Hotkey mode again. This fixes oddities after updates.
- Test With An External Board: Plug in a USB keyboard. If F1–F12 work there but not on the laptop, the built-in deck may need service.
Model-By-Model Patterns (Quick Table)
The table below lists common patterns by family. Models vary, but these patterns hold on most units from recent years. Use it to narrow where to look and what to expect from the top row.
| Family | Typical Fn Position | Top-Row Default |
|---|---|---|
| ThinkPad | Far bottom-left corner, to the left of Ctrl | Hotkeys by default; Fn+Esc toggles Fn Lock |
| IdeaPad | Between Ctrl and Windows logo | Hotkeys by default; BIOS offers Action Keys Mode |
| Legion | Bottom-left cluster near Ctrl (varies by gen) | Hotkeys by default; Fn+Space for backlight |
Extra Tips Pros Like
- Press Fn+K on some ThinkPads to swap the microphone pickup pattern if your model supports it.
- Tap Fn+Space twice quickly for a bright keyboard backlight that helps in a dark room on many units.
- On docks and external boards from Lenovo, the same corner placement applies: look for the tiny legend near Ctrl.
Why Lenovo Puts It There
The corner or near-corner slot keeps the modifier under your pinky without stretching your hand. That makes top-row combos easy while you keep your home row. The placement also leaves room for a full-size left Shift, which many users prefer.
Bottom Line: Where To Look And What To Press
Scan the lower left of the deck. Spot the small “Fn” near Ctrl. Use Fn+Esc to switch top-row behavior. For ThinkPads that feel odd, use the swap setting to trade roles with Ctrl. When in doubt, open firmware or Lenovo Vantage and find the Hotkeys page. With those two tweaks—Fn Lock and the swap setting—you’ll get the layout and behavior that fits your workflow.