Historically, the standard behavior required the user to press the Fn key to activate the multimedia icons. For example, one would press "Fn + F8" to mute the volume. However, on most modern HP laptops running Windows 10 and Windows 11, the default setting has been inverted. By default, the keys perform the multimedia action illustrated by the icon. Pressing F8 alone mutes the audio. To perform the traditional F8 command—such as entering Safe Mode during boot or executing a specific shortcut in a video editor—the user must press "Fn + F8." This shift in default behavior was implemented to make common adjustments faster, but it often frustrates users who rely heavily on traditional F-key shortcuts for professional software.
HP laptops typically operate in one of two ways. Check your keyboard icons to see which applies. how to use function keys in hp laptop
HP Notebook PCs - How to lock or unlock the fn (function) key Historically, the standard behavior required the user to