How to disable the Windows key

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How to disable the Windows key

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Many gamers want to know how to disable the Windows key on their keyboard. Pressing it accidentally while playing a game on your PC tin open the Start carte or trigger a "hotkey" keyboard shortcut that snaps you right out of what you're doing.

These hotkeys include "Windows fundamental + R" for opening the Run box, "Windows cardinal + D" for showing (and hiding) the desktop, and "Windows key + L" for locking your screen. Sometimes these shortcuts can be very useful, but when yous're involved in something of import, be information technology a game, video call, or intensive work, they can prove very abrasive. Worst of all, there are two Windows keys on your keyboard, which doubles your chance of hitting one at an inconvenient moment.

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Dedicated gaming keyboards solve this problem by automatically disabling the Windows key when you switch to "Gaming mode," but on standard keyboards, the key can be a real nuisance.

Fortunately, at that place are several ways to tweak the Windows key so that it doesn't interrupt your gaming and other activities. You can either toggle it on or off as required, conciliate hotkeys but continue the Start carte du jour-opening function, or disable information technology altogether.

In our guide below, nosotros'll explain three means to disable the Windows key, and then yous tin can use the 1 that all-time suits your needs,

How to disable the Windows key using WinKill

The easiest way to disable the Windows key in Windows x is to utilise a tiny gratuitous program called WinKill. This has the advantage over other methods of letting you toggle the Windows key on and off as required. Hither'southward how to use it.

one. Download WinKill from Major Geeks . The program hasn't been updated for several years, and was originally designed for Windows XP, Vista, and 7, only information technology works only fine in Windows ten.

Excerpt the contents of the cipher file, and so double-click the WinKill executable file to run the program.

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

2. WinKill doesn't require installation and you might think null has happened, but you should see its icon appear in the system tray on your taskbar.

If not, click the up pointer in the arrangement tray and look for a Windows logo with a ruddy cross through it. Drag this icon onto your taskbar for like shooting fish in a barrel access.

(Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

3. Printing your Window key and you'll now discover that information technology doesn't respond because WinKill has disabled it. To activate the key once more, either click the WinKill icon to remove the ruby cantankerous, or right-click information technology and choose "Toggle."

Alternatively, you lot tin close WinKill and restore the Windows key by selecting "Exit." The program doesn't run on Windows startup, so yous'll need to run it manually each fourth dimension you need it.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

How to disable the Windows central past editing the Registry

If you never utilize whatsoever Windows key hotkeys, yous can tweak the cardinal then you don't have to worry almost triggering them accidentally. You can do this in Windows 10 by editing the registry. This volition still let y'all press the Windows primal to open the Commencement menu.

1. Type "regedit" in the Windows search box and click "Run as administrator" next to the Registry Editor upshot.

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2. When the Registry Editor opens, navigate to the post-obit fundamental, or just copy and paste information technology into the Registry Editor address bar and press Enter:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

3. You should run into a value in the right-hand pane of the window called "NoWinkeys." If not, correct-click an empty space in that pane and cull "New," and then "DWORD (32-bit) Value." Call the value "NoWinkeys."

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4. Double-click the NoWinkeys value and modify its value data from "0" to "one." Click OK to confirm.

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5. Restart your PC and press the Windows key. This will still open the Starting time menu, but information technology won't trigger any hotkeys that interrupt your gameplay and other activities.

To re-enable hotkeys, go back to the aforementioned registry key and either modify the NoWinkeys value data back to "0" or delete that value.

How to disable the Windows key using PowerToys

If you'd prefer to disable the Windows key completely, so that it doesn't practise anything when pressed, you can "remap" information technology using Microsoft PowerToys. This ready of tools for tweaking Windows 10 is free to download and packed with useful options. Here'southward how to employ its Keyboard Director.

1. Visit the GitHub page for Microsoft PowerToys and download the PowerToysSetup executable file. You'll discover the link at the lesser of the folio.

Install the program on your PC and launch it from the First menu.

(Epitome credit: Tom's Guide)

ii. When PowerToys opens, click the "Keyboard Managing director" option in the left-hand carte and choose Settings.

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three. Ensure that "Enable Keyboard Managing director" is switched on and click the "Remap a key" button to open the "Remap keys" window.

(Image credit: Tom'due south Guide)

4. Click the plus push button, then click the "Primal" drib-down menu. Scroll down to "Win" and select that option. Now click the "Mapped To" drop-down menu and choose Disable. Click OK to confirm.

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five. Windows will warn you that you won't be able to employ the Win key anymore. Every bit this is what you want, click "Continue Anyway."

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Both Windows keys on your keyboard volition be instantly disabled, with no need to restart your PC.

To re-enable the Windows fundamental, simply close PowerTools: correct-click its icon in the system tray and choose "Exit."

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Robert Irvine is How-To Editor at Tom's Guide. He has been writing tutorials most software, hardware, websites and other tech topics since the days of dial-up modems, and was previously the editor of Web User magazine. Robert enjoys cooking, and makes a mean sausage goulash, but is definitely not the glory chef of the same proper noun.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/how-to/how-to-disable-the-windows-key

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