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Function keys F1-F12

⏱ 4 min read🧩 5 question types🎯 18 practice Q

The idea in one minute

The F1 to F12 keys have fixed jobs, but some change with the program. F1 is Help, F2 renames, F5 refreshes or starts a slide show, F7 checks spelling and F12 is Save As. Read the program named in the question.

The F1 to F12 row

Key	Windows	Office	Other
F1	Help	Help	none
F2	Rename a file	Edit a cell in Excel	none
F3	Search in Explorer	Shift+F3 changes case in Word	none
F4	Address bar list	Repeats the last action. Cycles references in Excel	Alt+F4 closes a program
F5	Refresh	Slide show (PowerPoint), Go To (Word)	Ctrl+F5 hard reload
F6	Moves between screen parts	none	none
F7	none	Spelling and grammar	Caret browsing in browsers
F8	Safe Mode at start-up (older Windows)	Extend selection	none
F9	none	Update fields (Word), recalculate (Excel)	Send/Receive (Outlook)
F10	Activate the menu bar	none	Shift+F10 is right-click
F11	Full screen in browsers	Chart sheet (Excel)	none
F12	Developer tools in browsers	Save As	none

Memory hooks

One is help on demand. Two is the second name, a rename. Five is fresh, a refresh. Seven is for spelling.
Twelve saves your work under a new name, Save As.
Shift+F10 gives the right-click menu. F10 opens the menu bar, and Shift makes it act at your cursor.
Alt+F4 closes the program. Ctrl+F4 closes only the document or tab.

Tip: Say the ladder aloud: help, rename, search, refresh. Stop when you reach the match.

Same key, different program

Key	Windows	Word	Excel	PowerPoint	Browser
F5	Refresh	Go To	Go To	Slide show	Reload
F2	Rename	none	Edit cell	none	none
F7	none	Spelling	Spelling	Spelling	Caret browsing
F12	none	Save As	Save As	Save As	Developer tools
F11	none	none	Chart sheet	none	Full screen

Watch: F5 in PowerPoint runs the show. F5 on the desktop refreshes.

Modifier plus F key

Shift+F3 cycles the case in Word.
Shift+F5 starts the show from the current slide.
Shift+F7 opens the thesaurus in Word.
Shift+F11 adds a worksheet in Excel.
Ctrl+F4 closes a document. Alt+F4 closes a program.
Ctrl+F5 reloads a browser page and skips the cache.

A quick ladder to say aloud

F1 help. F2 rename. F3 search. F4 repeat. F5 refresh. F6 next pane. F7 spelling. F8 select or Safe Mode. F9 update. F10 menu. F11 full screen. F12 Save As.

Note: The same ladder works for most exam questions. Then check which program the question names.

Everyday examples

You want to...	Press
Learn what a button does	F1
Rename a file	F2
Reload a misbehaving page	F5
Fix red underlines	F7
Save with a different name	F12
Open the menu without the mouse	F10

Question types you will see

Each type: how to recognise it, the method step by step, and one question to try.

Type 1very common6 practice Q

Core F-key identification

How to spot it:

The question describes a job and asks for its F key.

Method

Say the ladder: help, rename, search, refresh.
Stop at the job described.
Check that the app matches.

Why it works:

Each F key has a well-known main job.

Try this

Which function key opens Help in most programs?

Show solution

Help is the first job.
The first key is F1.

Answer

Type 2very common4 practice Q

F-keys inside Office apps

How to spot it:

The question names an Office app and asks for a job.

Method

F7 is spelling and grammar.
F12 is Save As.
F2 edits a cell in Excel.
F5 starts the show in PowerPoint.

Why it works:

Office gives F keys special jobs.

Try this

Which function key opens Save As in MS Office?

Show solution

Save As makes a copy under a new name.
The key is F12.

Answer

F12

Type 3common4 practice Q

Modifier plus F-key combinations

How to spot it:

The question adds Shift, Ctrl or Alt to an F key.

Method

Alt+F4 closes a program.
Ctrl+F4 closes a document.
Shift+F10 is right-click.
Shift+F3 changes case.

Why it works:

A modifier changes the F key's job.

Try this

Which combination gives the right-click menu from the keyboard?

Show solution

The F10 key opens menus.
Shift makes it act at the cursor.

Answer

Shift+F10

Type 4very common4 practice Q

One key, many apps

How to spot it:

The question names an app and a single F key with many jobs.

Method

Note the app.
F5 is refresh in Windows, show in PowerPoint and Go To in Word.
F12 is Save As in Office and developer tools in browsers.

Why it works:

The app decides the answer.

Try this

In MS PowerPoint, the F5 key:

Show solution

The app is PowerPoint.
There F5 begins the show.

Answer

Starts the slide show

Type 5occasional

Reload and refresh keys

How to spot it:

The question asks the difference between reload keys.

Method

F5 reloads.
Ctrl+F5 reloads and skips the cache.
F11 is full screen.

Why it works:

The cache-free reload is a small favourite.

Try this

Which key combination reloads a page and ignores the cache?

Show solution

A plain reload is F5.
Ignoring the cache adds Ctrl.

Answer

Ctrl+F5

Shortcuts that save time

⚡ Alt closes programs

Alt+F4 closes the whole program. Ctrl+F4 closes only the current document or tab.

Example

Which key closes only the current document, leaving the program open?

Show solution

Alt+F4 closes the program.
The document-only key uses Ctrl.

Answer

Ctrl+F4

⚡ Twelve is Save As

F12 opens Save As in Office. In a browser the same key opens developer tools.

Mistakes to avoid

Where most students lose marks on this subtopic.

Mistake 01

Using F2 to open Help.

F1 opens Help. F2 renames or edits.

Mistake 02

Thinking F5 always refreshes.

In PowerPoint F5 starts the slide show.

Mistake 03

Reading Alt+F4 as Close Document.

Alt+F4 closes the whole program. Ctrl+F4 closes the document.

Mistake 04

Using F10 for the right-click menu.

Shift+F10 gives the right-click menu.

Mistake 05

Assuming F7 always means spelling.

In browsers F7 turns on caret browsing.

Quick revision

Read this the night before the exam.

F1 Help. F2 rename or edit cell. F3 search. F5 refresh or slide show. F7 spelling. F12 Save As or developer tools.
Alt+F4 closes a program. Ctrl+F4 closes a document. Shift+F10 is right-click. F10 opens the menu bar.
F4 repeats the last action in Office and cycles references in Excel.
F8 is Safe Mode at boot in older Windows.
Shift+F3 case in Word. Shift+F11 new worksheet in Excel. Ctrl+F5 reloads without cache.
F11 is full screen in a browser and a chart sheet in Excel.

Practice: 18 questions

Sets of 10, mixed across the question types above. Every answer has a step-by-step explanation.

Topic test · 10 questions

Suggested time 4 min · wrong answers go to your mistake notebook automatically.

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