Tip Linux KDE in Notebooks,strange Like FN Key was Pressed directly. How to Solve it easily!

Notebook keyboard on Linux is strange as if the FN key was pressed directly. Is it a Bug? How to solve this easily.

FNis a Special Function key available only on Notebooks or special keyboards. Normally common Desktop Computer keyboards do not have this key. On some Notebook models the FN key is also responsible for activating the numeric keypad function (Num Lock) and with that, in some newly installed Linux operating systems users may encounter a very common problem. Typing on the keyboard and seeing that instead of letters, numbers are coming out, completely confusing the user.

Many people even try to adjust the Keyboard Layout in the Linux settings, but without success. That's exactly what will happen, because this is not the correct way to solve the problem!

So what can I solve? Is this a bug in my Linux? Should I install the system again?

Don't do this! The issue is not about a bug or defect in your Linux, the problem is that the Notebook must be configured for the numeric keypad (Num Lock) by default when the KDE session or others is being loaded!

The blame lies partly with the many Notebook manufacturers who still do not include the famous light bulbs in their keyboards LED

to indicate whether the Num Lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock functions are activated on the keyboard!

Desktop keyboards always have LEDs to indicate when these functions are activated, so the user remembers to turn off the functions when they are no longer needed. The same goes for Caps Lock (which always writes in uppercase letters). 

In the special case of Num Lock, the layout of the Notebook keyboard is usually differentand, except for some more expensive manufacturers, the Notebook keyboard does not have the right part of the numeric keypad, and therefore there is no space to embed the LED signaling lamps.

So we will show you how to easily solve the problem for the Notebook that is using Linux, and also "adapt" a reminder of the Num Lock and Caps Lock keys directly in Linux. Check it out:

1) Turning off the Num Lock function at the beginning of the KDE session or others, avoiding problems with wrong keys.

To temporarily solve the problem, the user can press the FN + NumLock key on their Notebook keyboard to turn OFF the NumLock function. NumLock is usually printed on the key with another function, so the FN key must be used to activate the NumLock function.

    As we can see, some letter keys also share numbers, J=1, K=2, L=3, U=4, etc. and with that, if the NumLock function is on, when we press the keys in their place the corresponding numbers will be printed on the screen, generating confusion.

To turn off the NumLock function at the beginning of the KDE session or others, access the Linux system settings and go to "Keyboard".

Click "Disable" on the Num Lock function at the start of Plasma. For those who use Gnome, XFCE, LXDE or other proscure the same option in the system settings (usually in Keyboard).

This way, every time we start Linux and enter KDE, it will automatically turn off Num Lock for us, avoiding the confusion we mentioned.

2) Installing an Aplet for simulate the Num Lock and Capslock LED

Even if our Notebook does not have the NumLock and CapsLock LEDs like a common Desktop keyboard, we can use other alternatives to do this.

In Linux using KDE and others it is possible to install an "Aplet" that reminds us about when the function is activated NumLock or CapsLock are on, showing messages near the clock bar.

To install in KDE you need to access the "Add Widgets" function

The procedure in detail can be seen in the video below, it works in KDE 4 or KDE 5 (Plasma 5). For other graphics managers, try installing them via the application or package center.

This way, your problem with typing letters and numbers will be solved, and the FN can still be used to turn on the NumLock function at any time you want, just remember to turn off the NumLock function to be able to type normally.

For Notebook manufacturers, the time has passed that even models with the most advanced keyboards compact, have at least 2 LEDs to indicate the NumLock/CapsLock function. The Scroll Lock function does not cause many problems so its LED can even be suppressed.

See you next time

JMJG

Eng Electronic/Desktop Linux Instructor.