[hackcrafter]

I've been wondering about this.

Does the 'fn' key force-change the touchbar to display F1-F12?

If so, then I don't understand the folks bemoaning the lack of physical "function keys" from their apps, which I assume they mean that they use the F(n) keys, since the mechanics of this are the same.

I'm a fast touch typist, but have never have hit F(n) keys accurately without glancing at the keyboard when I do use them, so I assume I would have no problem with the TouchBar based F keys.

[kfinley]

> Does the 'fn' key force-change the touchbar to display F1-F12?

Yes it does

[vszakats]

Is it possible to set it [1] to display F keys by default (and switch to alternate functionality only on pressing Fn key)?

[1] System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard > "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" option on El Cap.

[eridius]

No. You can set the Touch Bar to show, by default, "App Controls with Control Strip", "Expanded Control Strip", or "App Controls". And you can change Fn so it shows "Expanded Control Strip" instead of the F-keys (e.g. if you never need F-keys). But you can't set the Touch Bar to default to F-keys and require Fn to do something else.