When I originally learned the F chord, it was not the barre shape. It used the index only on the B & e strings, middle on the G, 2nd fret, ring on the D string, 3rd fret. That was the one I used in the beginning because it used the least amount of fingers. You need to strum on those 4 strings, so you can still get F as the root note.
After a while it was easy to just add my pinky for a 5 string version (Now my ring finger would be A string, 3rd fret, and pinky is doing D string 3rd fret.)
In either case, don't play the unfretted strings and remember your F-root is on the D string.
Eventually the barre version was easier to do as I gained finger strength and facility. In the meantime, though, I found those reduced versions perfectly adequate. I still use them depending on the need at the time.
...so ever since then, I always hang on to the buckle.