Navigate to Ease of Access and click on it. In 2005, he created Vintage Computing and Gaming, a blog devoted to tech history. A disabled start menu will also show this problem. If you’re accidentally hitting these keys without knowing, it can cause major inconveniences and confusion. Your settings have been saved, and you’re free to close PowerToys and use your computer as usual. I did find this post in my internet travels, which basically says “To turn Win-Lock On or Off, press the Windows Key and Space Bar” In my case, that was incorrect. Click OK when prompted by the Registry Editor. For over 15 years, he has written about technology and tech history for sites such as The Atlantic, Fast Company, PCMag, PCWorld, Macworld, Ars Technica, and Wired. Both options will do the trick. Also, you can use Windows key in combination with another key. For example, if you press Windows key + E you will open Windows Explorer or File Explorer, if you press Windows key + R, you will open a Run dialog box and many others combination keys. Method-3 Disable Windows key from your keyboard-If you are using a gaming keyboard, then you can easily disable the Windows key. There can be various reasons behind the odd Windows key behavior on Windows 10. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. How to Install Custom Themes and Visual Styles in Windows 10 How to … This feature makes your keyboard ignore brief or repeated keystrokes, which might have led to your WinKey issue in Windows 10. How to Install Custom Themes and Visual Styles in Windows 10 Step 2: I suggest you to uninstall the keyboard drivers, go to the manufacturer’s website to download the input drivers for your laptop and then install them. Many of the usual solutions that allow you to disable key inputs on Windows are now outdated. Also, if you want to disable Windows key, you will need to download and run registry key from this LINK. Navigate to Ease of Access and click on it. Method 3: Use Group Policy Editor To Turn Off Key Combinations Open a Run Window by pressing Win + R. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter to launch group policy editor. Enable (and disable) Game Mode. Hi, I'm Jasmin. Please read instructions on this LINK, and follow the procedure of on the method 4, from step 1 to step 7. He also created The Culture of Tech podcast and regularly contributes to the Retronauts retrogaming podcast. Please follow the procedure below. The TouchPad settings If not, you should read next method. In the dialog box, enter “gpedit.msc” and hit the Enter button. How to Disable the Windows Key on Windows 10, reassign any key to have the function of any other, How to Pause Family Bell Announcements From Google Assistant, How to Remove the Background From a Picture in Excel, How to Log in With a Password on Windows 10 (After Setting up a PIN), The 10 Best Rom-Coms to Stream This Valentine’s Day, © 2021 LifeSavvy Media. My hunch was right, it disables the windows key but how to turn it back on befuddled me. Disable Windows key must be disabled for games: The user runs it simply, and automatically it blocks the Windows Key when the full-screen game mode is on. I may gone into the bios and the keyboard is working from there, so it is a windows 10 issue. I get spammed with this message: "Win Key is disabled" by "ROG Gaming Center" Even when I dont press it. Before purchasing a new keyboard, please check is your brand name computer, keyboard or notebook under warranty. Back up the Windows 10 Registry file and create a valid restore point before you proceed. To disable filter keys, use the instructions below: Right-click on your Start menu icon. Disable the Windows key from the registry. Some keyboards (notably gamer dedicated KBs) have a physical switch that disables the Windows key. hi, A few days ago, I pressed the turn Win Key off in ROG gaming center, and the windows key was disabled, but in the ROG gaming center it said it was still on so I tought "Mhmm weird" Since then nomatter how much times i've pressed the button, the Windwos key just wont turn on. Click Recovery in the left panel. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager. If you are using a notebook, please plug USB keyboard on your notebook and check is working properly. A corrupted Windows Registry file could render your computer inoperable, requiring a reinstallation of the Windows 10 operating system and potential loss of data. I am holding multiple IT certifications focused on IT Infrastructure, including CompTIA A+, Network+, Server +, CNIP, MTA, MCP, MCSA, MS, IT Academy and many others. And if you enjoy fiddling with the Registry, it’s worth taking the time to learn how to make your own Registry hacks. Method 2: Press Win Lock. Click Yes when prompted by Registry Editor. For example when we are going to play on the PC platform. Download Disable Windows Key and extract the two files. So, why this problem occurs? In this case, we will be changing the Windows key to be “Undefined,” which means nothing will happen when you press it. https://www.guidingtech.com/fix-windows-key-not-working-windows-10 This procedure is compatible with computers and notebooks, regardless which brand are you using. The gaming mode stops the Windows key from working to prevent your game from exiting when the Windows key is accidentally pressed. If combination keys are not working well, you will need to enable Windows key through Registry Editor. Sometimes, dust can block some of your keys, including Windows key. If cleaning your keyboard did not solve your problem, we are recommending you to replace your keyboard with the new one. Press the Win Lock button. How to disable your keyboard in Windows 10 1. Find your keyboard under the keyboard section. Once the Windows … Go to User configuration>Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Few users solved their problem by pressing Win Lock key on their gaming keyboard, including keyboard model Logitech G15. While one can manually edit Windows Registry to disable a key, most users prefer to … Click Start, click Run, type regedt32, and then click OK. On the Windows menu, click HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE on Local Machine. For example, Simple Disable Key is no longer freeware. If you're using Windows 8.1, click Change PC settings. Inside Performance make sure Disable the Windows key is checked. Thank you for reading the article below. In the first method, we will use combination keys to activate or deactivate Windows key. Click “Continue Anyway.”. Click Yes when prompted by User Account Control. Select Settings from the menu. If yes, you should press this key to enable or disable Windows key. After that, the Windows key should be disabled. To start, type "regedit" into the desktop search box and select Registry Editor in the results. Luckily, there’s a way to disable the key on your Windows 10 PC. How to disable your keyboard in Windows 10 1. Method 1: Use device manager to disable the keyboard in Windows 10 Most of the methods discussed below involve the use of third-party utilities to lock the keyboard. To turn Windows key functionality back on, change the clicked radio button to Disabled or Not Configured. Sometimes, it kicks you out of a full-screen game by opening the Start menu or unintentionally launches a shortcut. Afterward, press the “ OK ” button on the main screen. You can download Restoro by clicking the Download button below. These methods are compatible with operating systems from Windows XP to Windows 10. By submitting your email, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the touchpad in Windows 10. If … Double-click the System\CurrentControlSet\Control folder, and then click the Keyboard Layout folder. Just access the keyboard settings on your computer, and you will be able to enter “Gaming Mode“. How to Enable and Disable the Windows Key Method 1: Press Fn + F6 or Fn + Windows Keys. How to Enable and Disable the Windows Key. On my Latitude 7480, the Fn graphic on the F6 key is Scroll Lock. Click on "+" button given under "Key:" section to tell Windows which key do you want to disable. For this method, you will need to use a user account with Administrator privilege, because Standard user account is not allowed to do any system changes. Before purchasing new keyboard you should test your computer keyboard on another machine or plug another keyboard to your current computer or notebook. Also, try pressing “Fn + Windows” key which can sometimes get it working again. If not, you should read next method. Now you can select the desired key from the given drop-down box. In the “Remap Keyboard” window, click the “+” plus sign button to add a mapping definition. I was trying to enable my laptop keyboard back light for the keys and I accidentally disabled the entire keyboard, so can only now use the onscreen keyboard on my HP Spectre x360. In the case of some misconfiguration, you can revert registry database to the previous state when everything worked without any problems. Here’s how you can disable a key on the keyboard on Windows 10. Benj Edwards is a Staff Writer for How-To Geek. To disable filter keys, use the instructions below: Right-click on your Start menu icon. Search for Human Interface Device and expand it. This feature makes your keyboard ignore brief or repeated keystrokes, which might have led to your WinKey issue in Windows 10. In this way, what is achieved is that users cannot make use of the shortcuts associated with it. If your keyboard is dirty and if there is dust between your keys, you should clean your keyboard. Search for Human Interface Device and expand it. Out of curiosity, for the people where Fn+F6 disables the Windows key, what is the icon on that key to indicate that functionality? How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. How to Reenable the Windows Key If you change your mind and want to re-enable the Windows key, launch PowerToys and navigate to Keyboard Manager > Remap a Key. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read more than 1 billion times. When it comes to changing how a keyboard key works on Windows 10, the go-to app for the job is AutoHotKey. Click Update & Security (Windows 10) or Update & recovery (Windows 8.1). In order to enable a previously disabled key you will have to choose the key row on the grid and press the “Remove” button on the right.Afterward, press the “OK” button on the main screen. Magic commence. 5. A backlight keyboard is still a standard chiclet keyboard with lights underneath the keys, that’s it. Make sure the Win Lock button is illuminated indicating the Windows Key is disabled. 4) Select “Always” option and click on the OK button.After that click on the OK button on the main screen and you are done!. However, many modern Windows 10 and 8.1 PCs now have an easier way to do this: Press the Windows key + I key together to open Settings. Before you do any registry configuration, we are recommending you to backup registry database. If the issue is with your Computer or a Laptop you should try using Restoro which can scan the repositories and replace corrupt and missing files. Join 350,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, comics, trivia, reviews, and more. Windows key is located on every keyboard, and we are using this key for various actions. We will show you how to solve the issue by using 5 different methods. For more options, check out, " 2 more ways to … If you press Windows key, you will open the Start menu. Please, press Fn + F6 to activate or deactivate Windows key. Disable key on keyboard. There is also a possibility that your Windows key is disabled within the Windows OS registry editor itself, hence Windows is not able to accept a request by this key. I am a System Engineer and IT Trainer with over 10 years of experience. Disable Windows key with Winlock. To change a key mapping, you select the key you want to change in the left column, then define what you want it to do in the right column. Nowadays, most of the laptops come with a backlit keyboard, so if you own a fairly new laptop model, regardless of the price, it should have a backlight keyboard. Previously, you could toggle Game Mode in the Windows … Five ways to disable WinKey or keyboard Windows key while gaming. With PowerToys, you can reassign any key to have the function of any other. There is a provision in Group Policy to turn on or off some popular keys such as the Windows logo key, but other keys on the keyboard can’t be disabled using Group Policy. If you are using gaming keyboard, please check is there Win Lock key located on your keyboard. Right click on the driver and select Uninstall. RELATED: How to Make Your Scroll Lock Key Useful on a Windows 10 PC. Are you using gaming keyboard? This works in most cases, where the issue is originated due to a system corruption. Press and hold Windows key + R, and it will open the Run dialog box. There are different reasons why Windows key is not working, including keyboard issue, system settings, game settings or application settings. 5. After that, your Windows key will work normally. Then click “OK” to close the window. Right click on the driver and select Uninstall. Another way to disable the Windows Key is to use Group Policy Editor settings. Based on that, we are recommending you to clean your keyboard. It can also be used just as easily to disable a key. Use Microsoft Fix It, WinKey Killer, WinKill, PowerToys, GPEDIT or REGEDIT. And you have to know that we can accidentally press the same during games, so … The above article may contain affiliate links, which help support How-To Geek. There are several small software applications that provide software control of the keyboard such as AutoHotKey which can script control over the Windows key . I'm happy to share my knowledge and skills through addressing tech issues and writing how-to's in a way that it can be followed by everyone. A disabled start menu will also show this problem. The Windows key will be disabled immediately. Methods to Enable or Disable Keyboard Backlight Using the keyboard function key I hope you are using minimum Windows 7 because previous operating systems are not anymore supported by Microsoft. 6] Keyboard Driver issue Right-click on the Windows Key, and open Device Manager. If you're using Windows 8.1, click Change PC settings. If Windows key is not working properly, you will not be able to to this actions. Launch PowerToys, and click “Keyboard Manager” in the sidebar, and then click “Remap A Key.”. Disclaimer:Editing the Windows Registry file is a serious undertaking. To disable or turn off desired key, click on "Remap a key" button. Locate the “Win –> Undefined” mapping, and click the nearby trash can icon to delete it. To disable the Windows key, download Microsoft PowerToys if you don’t already have it installed. At the same time we must bear in mind that this Windows key can become a real nuisance in certain types of use. Select Settings from the menu. Pressing the Alt key can sometimes completely block all key inputs thereafter. It can be a hardware issue, or a bug due to the latest Windows 10 … With this, what we will actually achieve is that it is to disable the Win key completely so that it does not work in Windows 10. However, if you don’t want to use a third-party application, there is still an option to lock the keyboard … The easiest way to disable the Windows key is by using Microsoft’s free PowerToys utility. If you can not find Win Lock key, please read the technical documentation of your gaming keyboard. Always mode disables the key all the time. Locate the “Win –> Undefined” mapping, and … User Configuration > … Open the Device Manager by tapping the Windows key, then type "Device Manager" into search and … How to disable Windows key or WinKey in Windows 10 Download this PC Repair Tool to quickly find & fix Windows errors automatically Pressing the Windows keys opens the start menu. If you are one of the users who want to disable Windows key when playing games, you will be able to do it after reading this article. If yes, the vendor will replace your keyboard for free. The little scripting utility isn’t just for changing how a key is executed or what it does. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager. Click Update & Security (Windows 10) or Update & recovery (Windows 8.1). Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System Can Offer 10Gbps Connection Speeds, Nvidia may Launch the RTX 3060 Graphics Card on February 25th at $329 MSRP, A Whole Bunch of Images of the OnePlus 9 Pro leaked, Thanks to Dave2D, Google to Consider implementing a dwarfed version of Apple’s Anti-tracking feature for Android, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Delayed to a Future, Unannounced Date. This relates to the Win Lock button found on the K70 keyboard. All Rights Reserved. This is the last option under If Win Lock is on. In our tests, a reboot was required. 5. After that, you will need to download and run registry file from this LINK. This does not support any arrangement. Disable the Filter Keys option. If another keyboard is working properly on your machine, you will need to purchase a new keyboard. Are you using gaming keyboard?