RK61 Keyboard Shortcuts: The Complete Fn Key Guide
The Royal Kludge RK61 packs a full keyboard’s worth of keys into a 60 percent frame. That means arrow keys, F1 through F12, navigation keys, Bluetooth controls, backlight settings, and reset options are all hidden behind the Fn key instead of sitting on their own row. Once you know the combinations, none of that functionality is actually missing, it is just one keystroke away.
This guide covers every core RK61 shortcut, explains what each one does and why it sometimes seems to misbehave, and includes a troubleshooting section built directly from the problems RK61 owners run into most.
A quick note on versions: the RK61 has shipped in several revisions over the years, including wired-only, Bluetooth dual-mode, tri-mode (Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless, and USB-C), single-color backlit, and full RGB. A few shortcuts, most notably the Delete key and the arrow-key toggle, are mapped slightly differently depending on which version and firmware you have. Where that’s the case, this guide lists both options. If a shortcut listed here doesn’t match your board, check your printed key legends or the included manual, since those should always take priority over a general guide.
RK61 Shortcuts at a Glance
| Shortcut | What It Does |
| Fn + Left Ctrl | Swaps primary and secondary functions on the layered keys (Y, U, I, H, J, K, N, M, and the comma key) |
| Fn + Right Shift or Fn + Enter | Toggles the arrow-key layer on or off, depending on your revision |
| Fn + 1 through Fn + 0, Fn + -, Fn + = | F1 through F12 |
| Fn + Esc | Types a backtick (`) |
| Shift + Fn + Esc | Types a tilde (~) |
| Fn + Lock (or Fn + Win) | Locks or unlocks the Windows key |
| Fn + \ | Cycles backlight modes |
| Fn + [ | Decreases backlight brightness |
| Fn + ] | Increases backlight brightness |
| Fn + ; | Decreases backlight animation speed |
| Fn + ‘ | Increases backlight animation speed |
| Fn + Tab | Switches between wired and Bluetooth mode (older/dual-mode units) |
| Fn + Q / W / E | Selects Bluetooth device slot 1, 2, or 3 |
| Fn + P | Hold 3 seconds to enter Bluetooth pairing mode (older units) |
| Fn + Space | Resets the keyboard (hold about 3 seconds) |
Arrow Keys and Navigation Shortcuts
The RK61 doesn’t have a dedicated arrow cluster, so movement keys share space with letters and punctuation in the bottom-right area of the board.
There are two ways to use them:
- Temporary arrows: hold Fn and press the key with the arrow legend printed on it, for a quick one-off cursor move.
- Locked arrows: press the toggle combo once (Fn + Right Shift on many units, Fn + Enter on others) to keep the arrow layer active for extended navigation, then press it again to return to normal typing.
While arrow lock is active, some punctuation in that same area can behave unexpectedly. If your question mark or slash key seems to be acting like an arrow key, check whether arrow lock is turned on before assuming anything is broken.
The navigation block that a full-size keyboard has on its own row is also folded into this same area:
| Key Function | RK61 Shortcut |
| Print Screen | Fn + Y |
| Scroll Lock | Fn + U |
| Pause | Fn + I |
| Insert | Fn + H |
| Home | Fn + J |
| Page Up | Fn + K |
| Delete | Fn + N (some units use Fn + Backspace instead) |
| End | Fn + M |
| Page Down | Fn + , (comma) |
If Delete is the only shortcut here that doesn’t match your keyboard, that’s normal. Different keycap sets and firmware builds place it differently. Try both Fn + N and Fn + Backspace before assuming anything is wrong.
Function Row Shortcuts (F1 to F12)
Since the RK61 has no dedicated function row, F1 through F12 live on the number row and the two keys to its right:
| Function Key | RK61 Shortcut |
| F1 | Fn + 1 |
| F2 | Fn + 2 |
| F3 | Fn + 3 |
| F4 | Fn + 4 |
| F5 | Fn + 5 |
| F6 | Fn + 6 |
| F7 | Fn + 7 |
| F8 | Fn + 8 |
| F9 | Fn + 9 |
| F10 | Fn + 0 |
| F11 | Fn + – |
| F12 | Fn + = |
This matters most in games, BIOS or UEFI screens, spreadsheet formulas, browser developer tools, and remote desktop sessions, all of which often expect a real function key press rather than a media key. Fn + Left Ctrl can also swap which layer is “default,” which is useful if you use F-keys constantly and want fewer keystrokes, but remember to swap it back before typing normally, since the same combo affects several other keys at once.
Backlight and RGB Shortcuts
| Action | RK61 Shortcut |
| Switch backlight mode | Fn + \ |
| Increase brightness | Fn + ] |
| Decrease brightness | Fn + [ |
| Increase animation speed | Fn + ‘ |
| Decrease animation speed | Fn + ; |
| Change RGB color (RGB models only) | Fn + . |
If Fn + . doesn’t seem to do anything, the most likely explanation is that you have the single-color backlit version rather than the full RGB model. That version can still change effects, speed, and brightness, just not color, since the hardware itself only lights up in one color.
If the backlight looks completely dead, try Fn + ] a few times first. It’s often just set to the lowest brightness level rather than actually broken.
Bluetooth Pairing and Device Switching
Most RK61 wireless models can remember up to three paired devices at once, assigned to the Q, W, and E keys.
To pair a new device:
- Make sure the keyboard is charged and the physical mode switch (if your unit has one) is set to Bluetooth.
- Short press Fn + Q, Fn + W, or Fn + E to choose which slot you want to use.
- Hold that same combination for about 3 seconds until the key starts flashing, which puts it into pairing mode.
- Open Bluetooth settings on your computer, phone, or tablet, select the RK61 in the list, and connect.
Once paired, a short press of Fn + Q, Fn + W, or Fn + E switches between your saved devices. A practical setup is to put your main computer on Q, a laptop on W, and a phone or tablet on E, so switching stays predictable.
Some older RK61 units and manuals instead reference Fn + Tab to switch between wired and Bluetooth mode, or Fn + P to enter pairing mode. If the Q/W/E hold method doesn’t do anything on your board, check the label on the underside of the keyboard to confirm which connection method your specific unit uses.
Windows and Mac Mode
Some RK61 revisions include a mode switch, activated with Fn + A for Windows mode and Fn + S for Mac mode. This adjusts how the keyboard presents its modifier keys so that Ctrl, Alt, Windows, and Command behave the way each operating system expects.
If you’re on macOS and the Command and Option positions still feel off compared to an Apple keyboard, that’s a known quirk. Pairing Mac mode with the modifier-key settings inside macOS system settings usually resolves it. On Windows, staying in Windows mode is the safer default, especially before troubleshooting anything else.
Fn Key Lock and the Windows Key
To stop an accidental Windows key press from minimizing a game mid-match, use Fn + Lock (labeled Fn + Win on some units) to disable the Windows key entirely. Press the same combination again to turn it back on.
Separately, Fn + Left Ctrl controls a different kind of lock: it swaps which function is “primary” on the shared keys (Y, U, I, H, J, K, N, M, and the comma key). Press it once to activate the secondary functions, press it again to restore the original letter functions for those specific keys, and on some units a third press cycles back to the very first state. These are two different locks controlling two different things, and mixing them up is one of the most common sources of confusion with this keyboard.
Battery, Charging, and Reset Shortcuts
On many RK61 wireless units, holding Fn + Backspace shows a rough battery level using the lit-up number keys. If keys 1 through 7 light up, for example, that’s roughly 70 percent charge remaining. Not every firmware version supports this indicator, so if nothing happens, that alone doesn’t mean anything is wrong.
A blinking light near the spacebar usually signals low battery. Plug in a USB-C cable to charge; the light typically turns solid while charging and returns to normal once the battery is full.
If the keyboard ends up in a confusing state, such as multiple layers seeming to overlap or lighting behaving strangely, hold Fn + Space for about 3 seconds to reset it. This can clear layer mix-ups and some Bluetooth or lighting glitches, though you may need to re-pair your Bluetooth devices afterward.
Troubleshooting Common RK61 Shortcut Problems
- Numbers are acting like function keys. Press Fn + Left Ctrl once, then test in a plain text box. This combo swaps which layer is active by default.
- The Windows and Alt keys seem switched. This is almost always the Fn + Left Ctrl layer swap affecting nearby keys, not an actual hardware fault. Toggle it and retest.
- Arrow keys won’t turn off, or normal keys are acting like arrows. Arrow lock is active. Toggle it with Fn + Right Shift or Fn + Enter, depending on your revision.
- The question mark or slash key isn’t typing correctly. This usually happens when arrow lock is on and has taken over that area of the board. Turn off arrow lock and use Shift + / as normal.
- Delete doesn’t do anything. Try the other Delete mapping. Some units use Fn + N, others use Fn + Backspace.
- Bluetooth won’t reconnect. Remove the old RK61 entry from your device’s Bluetooth settings, hold the Q, W, or E combo again to re-enter pairing mode, and reconnect from a clean state.
- Backlight color won’t change. Confirm you have an RGB model rather than a single-color model, and rule out low brightness with Fn + ] before assuming a fault.
- The keyboard feels completely stuck or unresponsive to shortcuts. Hold Fn + Space for about 3 seconds to reset it, then re-pair any Bluetooth devices.
RK61 Shortcuts FAQ
How do I lock the Windows key on the RK61?
Press Fn + Lock, labeled Fn + Win on some units, to disable the Windows key. Press the same combination again to re-enable it.
How do I fix the Windows and Alt keys being switched on my RK61?
This is usually caused by the Fn + Left Ctrl layer swap rather than a hardware issue. Press Fn + Left Ctrl again and test in a text editor to confirm the keys are back to their expected positions.
How do I switch my RK61 between Windows and Mac mode?
Press Fn + A for Windows mode or Fn + S for Mac mode, if your revision supports it. This changes how the modifier keys behave to match each operating system’s conventions.
How do I turn on or off the arrow keys on my RK61?
Press Fn + Right Shift or Fn + Enter, depending on your revision, to toggle the arrow-key layer. While it’s off, hold Fn and press the arrow-labeled keys for a temporary cursor move instead.
How do I use the Delete key on the RK61?
Try Fn + N first. If that doesn’t work, try Fn + Backspace instead, since this varies by keycap set and firmware.
How do I access the F1 through F12 keys on the RK61?
Press Fn along with the number row: Fn + 1 through Fn + 9, then Fn + 0 for F10, Fn + – for F11, and Fn + = for F12.
How do I pair a new Bluetooth device with the RK61?
Switch the keyboard to Bluetooth mode, then hold Fn + Q, Fn + W, or Fn + E for about 3 seconds until that key flashes, then select the RK61 in your device’s Bluetooth settings.
How do I check the RK61’s battery level?
Hold Fn + Backspace on supported units to see a rough charge level shown across the lit-up number keys.
How do I reset my RK61 keyboard?
Hold Fn + Space for about 3 seconds. This clears most layer and connection glitches, but you’ll likely need to re-pair Bluetooth devices afterward.
Why do some of these shortcuts not match my RK61?
The RK61 has shipped in several hardware and firmware revisions. If a combo listed here doesn’t behave as described, check your printed key legends or included manual first, since those reflect your specific unit.
Final Thoughts
Almost everything that feels confusing about the RK61 traces back to two layers: the Fn + Left Ctrl key swap and the arrow-lock toggle. Once those two are second nature, the rest of the shortcuts, F-keys, backlight, Bluetooth, mode switching, and reset, fall into place quickly. Keep this guide handy while you build muscle memory, and download the full PDF cheat sheet above for quick reference away from your desk.
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