---
name: "akbd"
section: "4"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/akbd"
---

# akbd(4)

ADB Keyboard Driver

## NAME

**akbd** – ADB Keyboard Driver

## SYNOPSIS

To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device adb**

## DESCRIPTION

The **akbd** driver provides support for all keyboards attached to the Apple Desktop Bus (ADB).

## HARDWARE

Devices supported by the **akbd** driver include:

- Apple Extended Keyboard

- Apple Keyboard II

- Apple iBook Keyboard

- Apple PowerBook Keyboard

## EVENTS

The **akbd** driver sends events to [devd(8)](/devd/8.md) for the following events under the **PMU** system:

- Power button - **Button** subsystem, **pressed** type.

## SYSCTL VARIABLES

The **akbd** driver supports the following sysctl variable for configuring the Fn keys:

- *dev.akbd.%d.fn\_keys\_function\_as\_primary*

  Set the Fn keys to be their F-key type as default.  A value of 0 causes the F-keys keys to work as special keys by default ( [abtn(4)](/abtn/4.md)) and a value of 1 sets them to behave as F-keys by default.

## SEE ALSO

[abtn(4)](/abtn/4.md), [adb(4)](/adb/4.md), [cuda(4)](/cuda/4.md), [pmu(4)](/pmu/4.md)

## HISTORY

The **akbd** device driver appeared in FreeBSD 8.0.

## AUTHORS

The **akbd** driver was written by Nathan Whitehorn ⟨*nwhitehorn@FreeBSD.org*⟩.