Can't use (cmd|shift|option|ctrl) + Fn with MacBook Pro 2016 with Touch Bar

[we11adam]

For example, when pressing Shift + F6, my app (WebStorm) acts as if only F6 were pressed and Shift is ignored completely.

Below is my only configuration:

[vjpr]

I am seeing this behaviour with other modifiers too such as cmd. It breaks a lot of keyboard shortcuts in IntelliJ for me.

On the Function Keys tab, I tried mapping each fn key to fn1-12 and it didn't work. Toggling the Use standard function keys didn't work either.

[keithhan-nsuslab]

I have same problem. When will be this fixed?

[dstandish]

Checking the 'use all F keys as standard function keys' option seems to allow shift + F to work in programs like intellij. But touchbar functionality is in general broken when you try to use the standard function buttons like expose, brightness after expanding the standard touchbar.

[geoHeil]

Same here. But https://medium.com/@geapi/permanent-function-keys-intellij-macbook-pro-w-touchbar-d6fc78781b90 worked for me.

[chopachom]

Having the same issue as OP with exactly the same configuration. Modifier keys don't work with function keys. Karabiner-Elements version is 0.91.8 macOS Sierra 10.12.5 (16F73) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)

[kasecato]

Karabiner-Elements 0.91.8
macOS Sierra 10.12.5
Touch bar

• Cmd + f7
  • Karabiner-Elements ON
    • f7 + Fn
  • Karabiner-Elements OFF
    • f7 + Cmd + Fn

[lindsaymarkward]

Same. I tried the link @geoHeil provided, but it just showed the Fn 'keys', and their behaviour was the same, e.g. Shift+F6 causes the action F6 causes... Shift has no effect. Also tried what @dstandish said, but didn't change this.
Any solutions? I only use Karabiner to map my caps lock to back space.

[viniciusmo]

Same problem here :(

[subicura]

👍

[Kxrr]

Same issue here, shortcuts like Command + F1 acting like F1 when Karabiner-Elements is up.

[mohammedri]

Following, cause I have the same issue. Modifiers don't work.

[gAmUssA]

@tekezo do you have any ETA to look at this?

[KaHa6uc]

Same here. I have to go to Menu -> Edit -> Fill... in Photoshop instead of pressing Shift+F5. Most irritating. I had already done what @geoHeil suggested so it's not a fix - it only defines for which applications to show the function keys in the TouchBar by default.

[lindsaymarkward]

I searched (again) for an alternative solution and found a blog post about remapping keys with the hidutil. Since I only want to remap caps lock to delete/backspace for Colemak, I now have this working without additional software 👍
http://homeowmorphism.com/articles/17/Remap-CapsLock-Backspace-Sierra

[kurguzov]

Thank you very much! Now I don't need to choose between touchbar and Karabiner-Elements!

[KaHa6uc]

+1 - hidutil fixed my problem as well. Thank you, @lindsaymarkward

[lindsaymarkward]

I might add that you should not use macOS keyboard settings to change caps lock to do nothing, or this hidutil solution stops working. I guess the OS doesn't receive the key event or something.

[mbarczak]

👍 for hidutil, also solved my problem. Btw, here : https://opensource.apple.com/source/IOHIDFamily/IOHIDFamily-247/IOHIDFamily/IOHIDUsageTables.h , in section KeyboardOrKeypad Page (0x07) can be found all valid usage ID’s. Helped me with kHIDUsage_KeyboardNonUSBackslash

[KaHa6uc]

Yes, it took me some time debugging event to realise that I can't understand how § and ± qualify as 0x64, /* Non-US \ or | */
Not to mention that Karabiner's keylogger reported this key as 0xa ...

[mutantcornholio]

I think, I've got this 'fixed' by enabling this keyboard in settings:

It's probably the touchbar "keyboard" which sends keys to Mac OS.
Can someone verify this?

[kasecato]

@mutantcornholio Plus, setting the function keys to the default Touch Bar display and use all Fn keys as as standard, it worked on my IntelliJ.

[gAmUssA]

@kasecato @mutantcornholio doesn't work for me

[kasecato]

@gAmUssA You can check Karabiner EventViewer like below images.

• No Product Name ON 👍 (Shift + Cmd + F7)

• No Product Name OFF 👎 (Shift + Cmd + F7)

[zbstof]

Here's a gist that does what I want in hidutil:
https://gist.github.com/zbstof/6cba7d54e105cc5148c8a943d1581cad

[j-martin]

Confirming @mutantcornholio suggestion worked great! Thanks! Have some TP.

[dan-kez]

confirming @mutantcornholio's solution works as well

[we11adam]

Guys, I just found that @mutantcornholio's solution has a drawback: the two screen brightness buttons now don't work without pressing the Fn button. Are you guys experiencing the same problem?

Thanks!

[mutantcornholio]

Yep, nothing's appear at EventViewer when pressing those is Karabiner-Elements is launched. Otherwise, works okay.

[j-martin]

@welladamm actually yes, I just assumed it was broken for another reason. My workaround is to use the brightness slider instead.

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it has not had recent activity. It will be closed if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions.

[roryokane]

After enabling modification of the untitled keyboard as @mutantcornholio suggests, I had to do one more change for F1 to work as normal instead of lowering the brightness. I had to uncheck the “Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys” checkbox at the bottom of the Function Keys tab (the opposite of @kasecato’s setting). This is with my “Touch Bar shows” setting at “App Controls with Control Strip”, so that the F1 key only shows when I am already holding Fn.

[bosschaert]

While the hidutil approach works for some situations, I'm not sure it works for all. For example, I tend to remap the capslock key to a mouseclick. This is something I can do with Karabiner, but not with hidutil I think. Additionally, using hidutil is nowhere near as user-friendly as Karabiner.

In the not too distant future nearly all Macbook Pro users will have a touch bar. If Karabiner doesn't work with the touchbar and key modifiers, then nearly all users won't be able to use it any more...?

I would suggest to fix this issue in Karabiner, not just close it because of inactivity.

[studgeek]

I filed #1700 as a feature request to have that keyboard enabled by default.

[GalphaXie]

@mutantcornholio Plus, setting the function keys to the default Touch Bar display and use all Fn keys as as standard, it worked on my IntelliJ.

Thx, it‘s helpful for me!

[martinmts]

I think, I've got this 'fixed' by enabling this keyboard in settings:

It's probably the touchbar "keyboard" which sends keys to Mac OS. Can someone verify this?

Thanks a lot. I confirm that it works.
It's been a few years later now. On my Mac, it now shows as Touchbar:

I checked this option and all modifier combinations started to work!