Kevin Gessner
FunctionFlip
Reclaim your Mac's function keys
I like the media keys on my MacBook keyboard - just not all of them. Fat-fingered that I am, I regularly skip tracks when I just want to pause or mute. Disabling all of the keys just won't do, because I use the brightness and volume keys every day.
FunctionFlip individually controls your MacBook or MacBook Pro's function keys, turning special keys back to regular F-keys, or vice-versa. FunctionFlip is a preference pane; you'll find it in the "Other" category in System Preferences.
How To Use FunctionFlip

FunctionFlip's purpose is simply to disable the special features — rewind, play, mute, etc. — on the function keys. For example, if you "flip" F7, F8, and F9, those keys — only those keys — will revert back to normal F keys. Press the fn key with the special key to get the special function back. That is, the "special" and "normal" functions are flipped.
To assign a custom shortcuts to your reclaimed keys, use a program like Quicksilver or Keyboard Maestro.
FunctionFlip supports all MacBooks and MacBook Pros and most Apple external keyboards, iBooks, and PowerBooks.
Reviews
Known Bugs
- FunctionFlip requires that "Enable access for assistive devices" be checked on the Universal Access pane in System Preferences.
- On OS X 10.9 Mavericks, flipped keys do not repeat when the key is held down.
Having trouble with FunctionFlip on OS X Yosemite? Check out this excellent video guide from Friend-of-the-'Flip Charlie Wilkinson.
FunctionFlip is free and open source. Source code available on Github and Kiln.
Like FunctionFlip?
Show your appreciation with a donation. It's certainly not required, but helps support development.
Problems?
Using OS X 10.7 Lion or newer? Read these helpful tips from TUAW
Changes
Upgrading from version 1.0 or 1.1? You'll want to read this important information.
1.0 (9 July 2008): First release
1.1 (20 August 2008): Support for more keyboard layouts, plus new icons by Lorenzo Orlandi
1.2 (13 September 2008): FunctionFlip is now a System Preferences pane.
1.3 (13 October 2008): Expose and Dashboard keys can now be flipped. Modifier keys (Command, Alt, etc.) are passed for flipped keys. Added an About box.
2.0 (27 December 2008): Multiple keyboard support. Fixed F1 and F2 keys on external keyboards.
2.0.1 (27 September 2009): Snow Leopard support.
2.0.2 (28 September 2009): Fix an issue where FunctionFlip may stop working on 10.6.
2.1 (22 May 2010): Stop alert sounds with flipped keys.
2.2 (15 August 2011): Launchpad key support; Bluetooth connection fixes; bug fixes.
2.2.2 (25 June 2013): Mavericks support.
2.2.3 (23 July 2015): Support Yosemite and newer Mac keyboards.

