The F4 key is a function key found at the top of almost all computer keyboards. The key is used with the Alt and Ctrl keys to close open windows and tabs. As mentioned below, F4 also has other uses depending on the computer and program.
- How to use the F4 key.
- Where is the F4 key used?
- The secondary function of the F4.
- Where is the F4 key on my smartphone or tablet?
- Related keyboard shortcuts and keys.
- Related information.
- Computer keyboard shortcuts.
How to use the F4 key
Open the program that uses the key and press F4. If the F4 key also has an icon on the key, it indicates the key has a secondary function. To use the secondary function, press and hold down the Fn key, and while continuing to hold the key, press F4.
If when pressing the F4 key, the secondary function is performed (e.g., mutes audio), the function keys are the secondary function. For example, on an Apple computer, to press F4, hold down fn, and press F4.
Note
If the FnLk (function lock) is enabled, the keyboard acts as if the Fn key is being pressed until it is unlocked.
Information about the secondary function is found in the below secondary function of the F4 section.
Where is the F4 key used?
The following list is all the locations where the F4 key can be used with information about its use.
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft Excel
While in the Excel formula box, pressing F4 switches between an absolute and relative cell reference.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Repeat the last action performed in Microsoft PowerPoint.
Microsoft Windows
When used with the Alt and Ctrl key, the F4 closes a program or window in a program. Alt+F4 closes the program window currently active in Microsoft Windows. Ctrl+F4 closes the open window or tab in the active window in Microsoft Windows.
With earlier versions of Windows (e.g., Windows 95 to XP), the F4 key was used to open the find window.
Microsoft Word
In Microsoft Word 2000 and above, F4 repeats the last action performed. For example, if you highlighted text and changed its font and color. If you highlight other text and press F4, your last changes are repeated.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Open the address bar in Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.
The secondary function of the F4
Each function key has two functions for a laptop and desktop computer keyboard with the Fn key. Unfortunately, there's no standard to what each key uses as its secondary function, so every keyboard is different. Below are keyboards and their secondary function for the F4 key.
- Apple keyboard F4 key
- Cooler Master keyboard F4 key
- Dell keyboard F4 key
- HP (Hewlett-Packard) keyboard F4 key
- Lenovo ThinkPad F4 key
- Logitech keyboard F4 key
- Microsoft Surface F4 key
Apple keyboard F4 key
The default F4 key primary function on Apple keyboards displays the available apps on the computer. Pressing fn+F4 for the secondary function is F4.
Cooler Master keyboard F4 key
On Cooler Master desktop keyboards, the F4 secondary function is one of the following options depending on the model.
- With single-color keyboard backlight keyboards, FN+F4 changes the keyboard backlight mode from all keys to no keys or WASD and arrow keys.
- With multiple backlight colors (RGB) keyboard, FN+F4 adjusts the blue color levels.
Dell keyboard F4 key
The F4 key secondary function on Dell laptop keyboards is to mute and unmute the volume.
HP (Hewlett-Packard) keyboard F4 key
On Hewlett-Packard laptop keyboards with a screen or box symbol on the F4 key, the secondary F4 function switches between the laptop display and the external monitor.
Lenovo ThinkPad F4 key
On the IBM and Lenovo ThinkPad keyboards with a line through a microphone, the F4 key secondary function mutes the microphone.
Logitech keyboard F4 key
On Logitech keyboards with an arrow pointing to the left on the key, the F4 key secondary function goes back into an Internet browser.
Microsoft Surface F4 key
On the Microsoft Surface laptops, the F4 key secondary function is to mute and unmute the volume.
Where is the F4 key on my smartphone or tablet?
Smartphones and tablets don't have keyboards like you'd find on a desktop and laptop and therefore don't have an F4 key.
Below are links to related keyboard shortcuts and individual key pages.
Fn, Function keys, Keyboard, Keyboard terms
FAQs
If you're mostly outdoors during the day, the f4 will be more than adequate. I see many people talking about allowing for more light and thus a faster shutter. This is true, but another thing to consider is image quality. The image quality of a lens is typically reduced when it is wide open.
Is F4 fast enough for sports? ›
use f4 for indoor volleyball and definitely not for night field sports unless you're shooting in a professional arena. You can shoot f4 for basketball in professional arenas which are generally twice the light of a college arena.
Is F4 good enough for astrophotography? ›
Camera settings
In general any camera with a lens that is capable of shooting wide at 14-24mm and as low as f2. 8-f4 will give you great results with the right settings.
Is f 2.8 better than F4? ›
An f/2.8 lens will give you twice the shutter speed of an f/4 lens when shooting with the aperture wide open. If you find yourself photographing moving people or other moving subjects, where fast shutter speeds are critical, then the f/2.8 is probably the right way to go.
Is F4 enough for indoor? ›
an F4 lens is certainly not too dark to compose indoors. I use the 17-40 a lot indoors. But obviously a 2.8 lens is faster and will allow you faster shutter speeds.
Is f 4 good enough for portraits? ›
If you're shooting two people, use f/4. For more than two people, shoot at f/5.6. These aren't the only apertures you can use, and there are certainly other elements to consider. But if you want great results, you can't go wrong with these rules of thumb.
Is F4 enough for night photography? ›
When working in low light conditions every extra stop can have a big impact. Using a lens with a maximum aperture of F4 rather than F2. 8 means either using a slower shutter speed or a higher ISO. While it's always better to have an F2.
What is the lowest f-stop lens? ›
What is the Lowest and Larges f-stop? The lowest f-stop available is f/0.7. It belongs to Zeiss Planar 50mm, a lens used by NASA to film the moon, and Stanley Kubrick to make a film at candlelight. However, most photo lenses go as low as f/2, fewer go to f/1.2, and only a few reach f/0.95.
Is F4 a fast lens? ›
f/4 lenses are often overlooked because they are thought to be too slow, and while a decade or two again, that extra stop of aperture might have been more crucial, the autofocus and high-ISO capabilities of many modern camera bodies have made it easier to work with narrower apertures.
Is f4 enough for Milky Way? ›
To capture an image of the Milky Way, you'll want to use a DSLR or Mirrorless camera and a lens in the 15-24mm range. Using the camera in 'manual mode', take a 30-second exposure with the ISO set to 1600. Use the widest aperture of your lens (F/4 or lower) to allow as much starlight onto the sensor as possible.
The truth is that I often find myself shooting at narrower apertures like f/4 or f/5.6 deliberately, even when I have an f/2.8 lens, because the background blur is too much at the maximum aperture! With wildlife photography, it's easy to get a shallow depth of field much of the time.
Is 2.8 enough for Astro? ›
Ideally, astrophotographers should be looking for an aperture of f/2.8 or lower and a focal length of 20mm or less to capture the best shots. This means that these lenses tend to be bigger and heavier, as well as more costly, than standard lenses due to the size and quality of the glass.
Is f4 a small aperture? ›
Suppose we are using a 100mm lens on our camera and shooting at 'f/4', the aperture size is 100/4, which is 25mm. At f/8, the aperture size will be 100/8 or 12.5mm. Hence, the bigger the 'f' number the smaller is the aperture.
Is f4 a low aperture? ›
A lower f-stop (such as f/2.8 or f/4) will result in a brighter image by letting more light through. However, when you open up the aperture like this (f/2.8 or f/4), you're going to get a much shallower depth of field.
Is 2.8 fast enough for low light? ›
Yes, a 2.8 aperture is good for low light because it allows more light to enter the camera. This is beneficial for low light photography because it allows you to take photos with a lower ISO and/or with a longer shutter speed, which will result in less noise and motion blur in your photos.
Is F4 good for night photography? ›
When working in low light conditions every extra stop can have a big impact. Using a lens with a maximum aperture of F4 rather than F2. 8 means either using a slower shutter speed or a higher ISO. While it's always better to have an F2.
Is an F4 lens fast? ›
f/4 lenses are often overlooked because they are thought to be too slow, and while a decade or two again, that extra stop of aperture might have been more crucial, the autofocus and high-ISO capabilities of many modern camera bodies have made it easier to work with narrower apertures.
Is F4 good for basketball? ›
Any lens in the focal length of 70–200mm with a maximum aperture f2. 8 or f4 is good enough to cover basketball photography. Optionally, If you want to cover a stadium from a vantage point, you may need a wide-angle lens for example 24–70mm.
Is F4 good for wildlife photography? ›
The truth is that I often find myself shooting at narrower apertures like f/4 or f/5.6 deliberately, even when I have an f/2.8 lens, because the background blur is too much at the maximum aperture! With wildlife photography, it's easy to get a shallow depth of field much of the time.
