What is the F8 key on Mac?

Answered by Tom Adger

The F8 key on a Mac keyboard is typically used as a function key for controlling audio playback. When pressed, it functions as a pause/play button for audio content. This means that if you are listening to music or any other audio file on your Mac, pressing the F8 key will pause or resume the playback.

This feature is particularly useful when you want to quickly pause or resume audio without having to navigate to the media player application or use the mouse. For example, if you are working on a project and have some background music playing, you can simply press the F8 key to halt the music temporarily and then press it again to continue playing.

It’s worth noting that the specific functionality of the F8 key can vary depending on the software or media player you are using. In some applications, it may be used for other purposes, such as activating a specific feature or shortcut. However, on most Mac systems, the default behavior of the F8 key is to control audio playback.

If you prefer to customize the functionality of the F8 key or any other function key on your Mac, you can do so through the Keyboard preferences in System Preferences. From there, you can assign different actions or shortcuts to the function keys based on your personal preferences or specific software requirements.

The F8 key on a Mac keyboard is primarily used for controlling audio playback, functioning as a pause/play button for audio content. Its convenience lies in its ability to quickly pause or resume audio without the need to navigate to the media player or use the mouse.