Windows 7 - Windows Key Shortcuts - Enable or Disable

**Brink**

How to Enable or Disable Windows Key Shortcuts in Windows 7

Information

This will allow you to enable or disable all Windows Key + key shortcut hotkeys for all users in Windows. Windows key shortcut hotkeys are enabled by default on Windows 7.

Note

Pressing the Windows Key by itself will still open the Start menu even when Windows key shortcut hotkeys are set to disabled.

OPTION ONE

Using a REG File Download

1. To Enable Windows Key Hotkeys
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Enable_Windows_Key_Hotkeys.zip

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Windows Key Hotkeys
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Disable_Windows_Key_Hotkeys.zip

3. Click on Save, and save the .zip file to the desktop.

4. Open the downloaded .zip file and extract the .reg file to the desktop.

5. Right click on the extracted .reg file and click on Merge.

6. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg and .zip files on the desktop if you like.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

OPTION TWO

Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer. (see screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Turn off Windows + X hotkeys and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)

4. To Enable Windows Key Hotkeys
A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Windows Key Hotkeys
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**b0dhi** · 03-30-2010

Hi I have an alienware laptop with windows 7 home premium 64. Neither of these options work for me.

Any ideas?

**Brink** · 03-30-2010

Hello b0dhi, and welcome to Seven Forums.

If Alienware has some proprietary program that comes preinstalled on their systems that uses the Windows Key, then it may not work with on that program since it may override this.

This doesn't disable the Windows Key completely, only the Windows Key + key keyboard shortcuts used by Windows 7.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Azure Prower · 05-26-2010

Wish there was a way to disable the windows key itself from popping up the start menu.

**Brink** · 05-26-2010

Hello Azure,

You could completely disable the Windows Key if that would work for you.

Windows Key - Enable or Disable

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Azure Prower · 05-27-2010

Thanks Shawn.

That's exactly what I'm looking for. How ever the link for the Disable_Windows_Key.reg file is broken.

**Brink** · 05-27-2010

Umm, strange. It's fixed now.

Azure Prower · 05-28-2010

Thanks again. Working as intended.

**Brink** · 05-28-2010

You're welcome Azure.

alexandra · 07-18-2010

Hey Brink, I'm here for the same reason as everyone else, and I'd love to use your method. However, the link for Disable_Windows_Hotkey is broken. Enable_ works though.

Can you fix it, or send the file to my account's associated email address? I keep alt-tabbing out of games and its awfullll.

Edit: Also, I would simply use your Method#2, but I unfortunately listened to the computer shop guys and bought Home Premium, so I don't have the gpedit.msc function.