Sorry Beginner question F411 USB PINS

[Tardishead]

My first venture with F411 board
Amazed to find that PA11 and PA12 are unusable as digital inputs and outputs and are only for USB.
Is this so always?
is it possible to use them as either input or output under any conditions?

[GonzoG]

They are not only for USB.
But you cannot connect board with USB data cable (only power, no data wires) or connect it to power source that does not have data wires connected.
And do not enable USB in board settings.

[Tardishead]

They are not only for USB.
But you cannot connect board with USB data cable (only power, no data wires) or connect it to power source that does not have data wires connected.
And do not enable USB in board settings.

but even when I disconnect the USB from computer and connect external 5v power to the 5v pin - the board still acts the same.
Do I need to disable "USB Support" in the board settings?

Also are the digital pins all interrupt capable?

[GonzoG]

Yes, you need to disable USB support.

Yes, all pins are interrupt capable but you can use only 16 interrupts, so only one pin with same number can be used (eg. you cannot use interrupts on PA1 and PB1, only on one of them)

[Tardishead]

Yes, you need to disable USB support.

Yes, all pins are interrupt capable but you can use only 16 interrupts, so only one pin with same number can be used (eg. you cannot use interrupts on PA1 and PB1, only on one of them)

awesome much appreciated