[Tip] How to Disable All WIN+ Keyboard Shortcuts (Hotkeys) in Windows?

If you use Windows operating system, you might be very well aware of the WIN key present on your computer’s keyboard. Generally WIN key is used to quickly access Start Menu or Start Screen in Windows. But you can also use WIN key in combination with another key to access other programs or features in Windows. There are many such keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) available in Windows which use WIN key plus other keys such as:

  • WIN+R to launch RUN dialog box
  • WIN+E to launch Windows Explorer
  • WIN+L to lock
  • WIN+P to launch External Display selection screen
  • WIN+X to show WIN+X menu (Windows 8 and later)
  • WIN+C to show Charms Bar (Windows 8 and later)
  • WIN+PrtScn to capture computer screen and save screenshot (Windows 8 and later)
  • WIN+S or WIN+F to launch Search
  • WIN+D to show the Desktop
  • WIN+M to minimize all running programs windows
  • WIN+SHIFT+M to restore all running programs windows
  • WIN+Break to show System Properties
  • WIN+B to set focus on system tray (Taskbar notification area) icons
  • WIN+T to set focus on Taskbar buttons
  • WIN+number key (0-9) to switch between Quick Launch toolbar or Taskbar buttons

Although these WIN+ hotkeys are very useful and time saving but many people might find these built-in hotkeys annoying. For example, suppose you were using WIN+Arrow keys to change volume level in your Windows XP or Vista PC and when you upgraded your PC to Windows 7, the WIN+Arrow hotkey was automatically assigned to change windows alignment such as restore windows, maximize windows, cascade windows, etc as a part of Aero Snap feature. Now you don’t want this new behavior and want to unbind or disable the built-in Windows 7 hotkey so that you can use your previous hotkey functionality.

There might be many other reasons behind disabling built-in WIN+ hotkeys in Windows. For example you often accidentally press WIN and another key in your keyboard so you may want to disable the WIN+ hotkey feature to prevent it from happening again.

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If you also want to turn off WIN+ hotkeys in your Windows, this tutorial will definitely help you.

We have divided this tutorial in 2 parts:

  • PART 1: Disable WIN+ hotkeys only
  • PART 2: Disable WIN key completely

If you don’t want to disable WIN key but want to disable its hotkeys such as WIN+R, WIN+E, etc, then you’ll need to follow the steps given in part 1 of the tutorial.

If you want to completely disable WIN key so that it no longer works in your system, then you should follow part 2 of this tutorial. Completely disabling WIN key will also disable all its hotkeys.

PART 1: Disable WIN+ Hotkeys

With the help of following steps, you’ll be able to turn off all WIN+ hotkeys available in your Windows.

You can use following 2 methods to disable WIN+ hotkeys:

  • METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
  • METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (regedit)

METHOD 1: Using Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)

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1. Type gpedit.msc in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Group Policy Editor.

2. Now go to:

User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Explorer
or
User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> File Explorer

3. In right-side pane, look for “Turn off Windows+X hotkeys” option.

4. The option would be set to Not Configured. Double-click on it and set it to Enabled.

Disable_Windows_Hotkeys.png

That’s it. It’ll immediately turn off all WIN+ hotkeys in your system.

PS: To re-enable the hotkeys in future, again set the “Turn off Windows+X hotkeys” option to Not Configured.

METHOD 2: Using Registry Editor (regedit)

If you are using Home edition of Windows OS, you’ll not be able to run gpedit.msc command because this edition doesn’t come with Group Policy Editor.

If you can’t use or don’t want to use Group Policy Editor, you can take help of Registry Editor for the same task. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start search box and press Enter. It’ll open Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following key:

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

3. In right-side pane, create a new DWORD NoWinKeys and set its value to 1

Turn_Off_Win_Keyboard_Shortcuts.png

4. Close Registry Editor and restart your system. After reboot the WIN+ hotkeys will be turned off in your system.

PS: To re-enable WIN+ hotkeys in future, delete the DWORD NoWinKeys created in step 3.

PART 2: Disable WIN Key Completely

If you want to completely turn off the WIN key in your system so that no one can use WIN key and all its related hotkeys, then this method will help you.

We’ll use the built-in “Keyboard Scancode Mapping” feature of Windows to disable WIN key. If you remember we have used the same feature to disable Caps Lock key in following tutorial:

How to Disable Annoying Caps Lock Key in Windows?

If you follow the tutorial given at the above mentioned link and set the value of Scancode Map binary present in HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout key to 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 5b e0 00 00 5c e0 00 00 00 00, it’ll completely disable WIN key.

Disable_WIN_Key_Using_Registry_Editor.png

But modifying Registry and changing value of a binary is not an easy task, so we are going to use a very easy to use freeware “Sharp Keys” to do the same task automatically.

Sharp Keys is a free software which allows you to disable any desired key or change functionality of a key present on your computer keyboard.

1. First of all download the software using following article:

Download Sharp Keys

2. Run the software and click on Add button. Now click on “Type Key” button given in first section “Map this key (From key)“. It’ll open a small dialog box to detect a key. Now press WIN key and it’ll store the key. Click on OK button.

3. Now leave the value of “To this key (To key)” section set to “— Turn Key Off (00_00)“.

SharpKeys_New_Key_mapping.png

4. Click on OK button and then click on “Write to Registry” button.

If you have two WIN keys (left and right) on your keyboard, repeat the same steps for the other WIN key as well.

It’ll immediately save your settings to Windows Registry. Restart your computer and upon reboot, the WIN key will be disabled completely.

PS: If you want to enable WIN key again in future, run Sharp Keys tool again, select the WIN key entry given in the list and click on “Delete” button. At last click on “Write to Registry” button and restart your system.

Also Check:

How to Disable or Customize “Backspace Key” in Mozilla Firefox?

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Just want to add that in Windows 7 (Laptop only not PC) , WIN + X will launch Windows Mobility Center.

  2. Complete failure for me. Maybe I didn’t read carefully what to expect…
    Part 1 (Win hotkeys) method 2 (Registry) did the opposite of what I wanted on my Win8.1:
    I wanted to remove the new shortcuts for those stupid Win8 Charms because I use these keys for my own actions.
    These Charms still “work” like a charm – damn!
    I was used to “old” Win7-ones like Win+E, B, R – but THEY are gone now.

    Does anyone know how to kill the “Charms” shortcuts or disable the Charms completely?

  3. corretion: …not as bad as I wrote above…
    I got rid of the two most hated Charms WIN+H (“Share”) and WIN+U (read screen content I think) – both not mentioned above.
    Still active are the Charms keys WIN+L, P, C.

  4. For reasons that I still do not fully comprehend, the issue with the Windows Key becoming virtually stuck and preventing me from having control over this and other computers has caused a great deal of time loss, and hardware costs. While I have tried a myriad of possible cures, go-arounds, s

  5. This did not help me at all! I was trying semd an email for a job. Its that important.

  6. How do I disable in windows 7 Pro., Screen tips on the tool bars in every application, appears by itself like every 5 to 10 seconds and is driving me c.zy. When an application is opened and you press the Alt key see what happens on the tool bar, my computer is doing that by itself without me pressing that key.
    Anyone knows how to disable this option that can help?
    Your help is really appreciated.

  7. Thank you for posting this fix. Was very tired of losing my work thanks to disappearing pages when I’d accidentally trigger something!

  8. Thank you for this, it really helps me a lot! im kinda annoyed every time i press L in the keyboard then the screen will automatically locked! when i press D in the keyboard it will delete the words that i have type! its annoying! but thanks to this! I follow the the method 1 and it works! thumbs up!

  9. Brand new laptop. Use one note for screenclippling all the time but no longer available. This was no help at all, Message I received for first option – “No results for gpedit.msc”
    2nd Option, “After Policies” my choices are completely different and nothing says anything about Winkeys.

  10. Very clear instructions – for a behaviour that has been bugging me for a decade !!

    BUT ….. “Turn off Windows+X hotkeys”
    …. is not at this location:
    “User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows/File Explorer”

    In gpedit.msc,
    ….. I can get down to “Windows Components” but there is no item/file “Windows/File” (or similar).

    I’m using Win XP. Presumably this hotkey toggle is elsewhere.

    Thanks

  11. my some win shortcuts are working but some are not.
    ok. i have an idea that first i turn off all shortcuts ..and then turn it on.
    bt u have told how to turn them on again.

  12. You must not be using windows 10. I have nothing that looks like that. Everything is completely different and some things I am supposed to type in the search has no subject in windows 10. I can not stop the hot keys.

  13. 2016.04.01 just a note that HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies doesn’t exist on my Windows 7 pro machine. Searched the entire registry for LinkResolveIgnoreLinkInfo and NoWinKeys and turned up nothing. Such is the nature of registry tweaks. Perhaps this is something that can be disabled by group policies? We have a pretty restrictive systems admin here at work.

  14. Hi This does not work. I have win 7 32 bit. When I type in ‘regedit’ the box that appears is nothing like the one on this demo. There is no option to change or add the value or anything. What do I do? Btw the gpedit does nothing either thanks.

    I type fast, and Im always accidentally hitting some shortcut or other, it drives me nuts

  15. ^^ Instructions to re-enable WIN key are given at the end of each method. Please check again.

  16. well written guide, This issue is been a hassle for me for some time, the trouble is that some hot keys become suddenly active and disabling all of them will disable some that need to be in use,my fear is that there is no known solution to the problem.
    sorry, the solutions given does not work for solving the trouble.
    have my thanks for the thinking and giving solution for others on the web.

  17. Does this work for Win7 x64 Premium?

    I tried it (gpedit method) and I went back and checked. All edits are done correctly as per your instruction.
    I restarted the computer for good measure
    but when I press Win + L it still locks the computer.

    This is when I checked the ReEdit method.
    It already had the NoWinKey set to 1 so I guess the gpedit changed the registry entry to 1.

    Of course this does not help me much but it might be of help to you.

    I have Roccat Keyboard and Mouse.
    Do you think this might be overriding it?

    I really would like to disable all WIN+ hotkeys so that I can create my own hotkeys based on the win key with Autohotkey.

    It is because I use LaTex and would be nice to have a dedicated key like the WIN key left and right to assign shortcuts with AutoHotkey.

  18. I am glad to be one of the visitors on this great website (:, appreciate it for posting .

  19. I simply must tell you that you have an excellent and unique article that I must say enjoyed reading.

  20. Hi

    For W10 there is no GPO for Win+X

    To disable this delete all entries in this folder:
    C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WinX\*

  21. A part of the lead-up to the tutorial is a bit misleading:

    “For example, suppose you were using WIN+Arrow keys to change volume level in your Windows XP or Vista PC and when you upgraded your PC to Windows 7, the WIN+Arrow hotkey was automatically assigned to change windows alignment such as restore windows, maximize windows, cascade windows, etc as a part of Aero Snap feature. Now you don’t want this new behavior and want to unbind or disable the built-in Windows 7 hotkey so that you can use your previous hotkey functionality.

    For example you often accidentally press WIN and another key in your keyboard so you may want to disable the WIN+ hotkey feature to prevent it from happening again.”

    Both of these examples portray an annoyance with a SPECIFIC WIN+X hotkey, not ALL of them. It gave me the impression you understood an issue that hasn’t been addressed anywhere else, which is that it’s not always ALL the hotkeys that give problems but just the one or two. However then I read on and to my dismay it’s just the same tutorial that just turns everything off.

    Is there no way to keep the Win+D, Win+E, Win+R, etc, and disable Win+C?

  22. To refine my previous comment:

    Is there no way to keep the Win+D, Win+E, Win+R, and disable the Windows 10 behavior of Win+C, and have Win+C available for custom use the way we used it before Windows introduced their shortcuts?

    THAT would be the only real solution to the examples you gave that ended with “so that you can use your previous hotkey functionality”.

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