Windows Key Shortcuts - Enable or Disable

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    Windows Key Shortcuts - Enable or Disable

    Windows Key Shortcuts - Enable or Disable

    How to Enable or Disable Windows Key Shortcuts in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    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
    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
    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)
    Windows Key Shortcuts - Enable or Disable-group_policy.jpg
    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)
    Windows Key Shortcuts - Enable or Disable-properties.jpg
    8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

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







  1. Posts : 1
    Windows 7
       #1

    doesnt work for me


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

    Any ideas?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    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
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 33
    Windows 7
       #3

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


  4. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello Azure,

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

    Windows Key - Enable or Disable

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 33
    Windows 7
       #5

    Thanks Shawn.

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


  6. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Umm, strange. It's fixed now. :)
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 33
    Windows 7
       #7

    Thanks again. Working as intended. :)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,976
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're welcome Azure. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    7
       #9

    Psssst


    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.
      My Computer


 
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