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How can I configure a key to "Start Dictation" with a Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard?

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I have a Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard paired to my MacBook Pro over Bluetooth. Microsoft Surface Ergonomic Keyboard macOS has detected the keyboard as an "Ergonomic Keyboard." When I go to the keyboard settings and click "Modifier Keys...", it thinks I have a 🌐 instead of Fn. But this keyboard doesn't have a 🌐 (as far as I'm aware), and it does have an Fn. Pressing Fn toggles a light on and off on the key. #### Here are the "Modifier Keys..." options: Ergonomic Keyboard Modifier Keys options #### Keyboard settings: Keyboard settings with Globe key for Start Dictation The problem is that pressing Fn twice does not start dictation. Instead, it just toggles Fn light on and off. I'm not 100% sure how this works, but maybe this is actually just toggling an internal state inside the keyboard. Maybe it doesn't send a keypress event until you actually press one of the function keys (e.g. F1, F2), and the Fn state just determines if it sends a plain F1 key, or one of the special functions (e.g. mute, play/pause, etc.) Is it possible to configure Fn to start dictation? Is it possible to change a setting on the keyboard to disable the Fn light turning on and off, and send a Fn / 🌐 keypress event instead? I installed [Karabiner-Elements](https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/) and played around with it, but I couldn't figure out how to change the behavior of Fn or remap it. I was able to remap the right Windows as Fn, so I'm able to start dictation by pressing this key twice. But I would still be interested to know if it's possible to use the Fn. Karabiner-Elements configuration
Asked by ndbroadbent (283 rep)
Jul 26, 2022, 12:16 AM
Last activity: May 26, 2025, 09:07 AM