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

Solution 1:

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

Solution 2:

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