How to Do F3 With a Mouse on a Mac

You don’t have to touch the Mac’s keyboard to use the "F3" key.

If you are using an application on your Mac and want to activate the keyboard’s “F3” key to accomplish a task, you might prefer to use your mouse to press the “F3” key instead of using your finger. For example, if you are already using the mouse and don’t want to let go of it to press a key on the keyboard. Apple includes a virtual keyboard that you can click with the mouse.

Instructions

1. Click the Apple logo at the top left of the screen.

2. Click “Keyboard.”

3. Click the “Keyboard” tab, then click the “Show Keyboard and Character Viewer in Menu Bar” check box.

4. Click the keyboard icon on the top right of the screen.

5. Click “Show Keyboard Viewer.” The virtual keyboard appears. Its keys corresponds to the keys of the Mac's physical keyboard.

6. Hover the mouse above the “F3” key on the virtual keyboard, then click the virtual “F3” key.

References

• vApple: Physical and Motor Skills - Onscreen Keyboard

Resources

• Apple: Support