Windows Key Shortcuts - Enable or Disable

How to Enable or Disable Windows Key Shortcuts in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial will allow you to enable or disable all Windows Key + key shortcut hotkeys for all or specific users in Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   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

Enable or Disable Windows Key Hotkeys using a REG File

1. Do step 2 or 3 below for what you would like to do.

2. To Enable Windows Key Hotkeys for All Users
NOTE: This is the default setting. A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below. Enable_Windows_Key_Hotkeys.zip

Download


3. To Disable Windows Key Hotkeys for All Users A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below. Disable_Windows_Key_Hotkeys.zip

Download


4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5.Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. Click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC - Windows 7/8) or Continue (UAC- Vista), Yes, and OK when prompted.

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

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

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Windows Key Hotkeys in Group Policy

1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2. In the left pane, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer (Vista/Windows 7) or File Explorer (Windows 8). (see screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, double click/tap on Turn off Windows + X hotkeys to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.


5. To Enable Windows Key Hotkeys A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 7)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
6. To Disable Windows Key Hotkeys A) Select (dot) Enabled, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below step 7)
7. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)
8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

9. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Completely Disable the Windows Key
• A List of Shortcut Keys for Windows 7

 

[vishnusoman]

Well, I tried system restore to a restore point before today's changes. But it gave me threw me a BSOD before the thing was done.

Should I run it again?

 

[Brink]

If so, try doing it at boot instead.