How to Use a 60 Percent Keyboard | Fn Layer Basics

A 60 percent keyboard works by holding its Fn key and pressing other keys to trigger the missing function row, arrows, and navigation cluster.

Most 60 percent keyboards ship with 61 keys on an ANSI layout, though some designs range from 61 to 64 keys. They drop the F1–F12 row, dedicated arrow keys, Insert/Delete/Home/End/Page Up/Page Down, and the numpad to keep the footprint compact. The tradeoff is a learning curve: every missing key lives on a secondary layer you reach with the Fn key, and the exact mapping depends on the board’s firmware.

What Actually Gets Removed

A 60 percent board keeps the main typing area — letters, numbers, modifiers, and the space bar — but strips away several clusters. On the base layer, you lose the function row (F1–F12), the arrow keys, the six-key navigation cluster (Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, Page Down), and the numeric keypad.

That’s the whole point of the layout: a smaller footprint that frees up desk space and puts your mouse closer to the keyboard. The cost is that anything those keys do now requires a two-key combination.

How the Fn Layer Works

Hold the Fn key with one finger and press another key to trigger the function that key hides. The Fn key on a 60 percent board typically sits near the bottom-right corner, often where the right Ctrl key would normally be, though its precise position varies by model.

While holding Fn, the number row usually becomes your function row: Fn + 1 outputs F1, Fn + 2 outputs F2, and so on through Fn + = for F12. Arrow keys commonly map to WASD or IJKL, depending on the firmware. Common navigation mappings you’ll see on many 60 percent boards include:

• Fn + Q for Home
• Fn + E for End
• Fn + U for Page Up
• Fn + D for Page Down
• Fn + P for Print Screen
• Fn + M for Mute
• Alt + Fn + 4 for Alt+F4
• Fn + Backspace for Delete

These shortcuts come from the keyboard’s firmware, not from your operating system. That means they work in any program, but it also means the exact positions vary between brands and even between models from the same brand. Das Keyboard’s 60 percent guide notes that while these are common hardware conventions, you must check your board’s manual for the actual layer map before you rely on a specific combination.

Setting Up Your Board the Right Way

Once you know the Fn key’s location, the setup is straightforward. First, read the manual or the manufacturer’s layout guide to learn where each missing key sits on your specific board — the ANSI and ISO versions differ in key count and placement, so a shortcut on one keyboard may not exist on another. Second, practice the combos you use most, like arrows and Delete, until they feel natural. Third, if your board supports it — usually through VIA, QMK, or a brand-specific configuration tool — remap keys to match your habits.

The caveat is real: with no dedicated arrow cluster or function row, a 60 percent keyboard is less convenient for spreadsheet work, gaming, video editing, and system navigation unless you are comfortable holding Fn constantly. For heavy arrow-key users, many boards let you hold Fn and use the right-hand cluster (often I, J, K, L) as arrows, or even lock the layer so arrows stay active until you switch back. If your workflow depends on arrows all day, factor that into the decision.

When you’re ready to buy, our tested roundup of the best 60 percent keyboards breaks down which models offer the smoothest remapping tools and the most sensible default layers.

FAQs

Can I remap keys on a 60 percent keyboard?
Yes, if the board supports QMK, VIA, or a proprietary configuration app. These tools let you reassign any key, including the Fn layer, to match your workflow. Budget boards without software support are locked to their factory layout, so check compatibility before buying.

Are 60 percent keyboards good for gaming?
They work well for gamers who bind actions to keys near the left hand, since the compact layout shortens mouse travel. Titles that rely heavily on arrow keys or the function row will feel cramped until you remap or learn the Fn combinations.

Is a 60 percent keyboard harder to type on?
The typing experience is identical to a full-size keyboard for letters, numbers, and modifiers, since the main cluster is unchanged. The difficulty comes from remembering Fn combos for navigation, which most users adapt to within a week.