Back in October 2012 I wrote a post about How to disable the Windows Key in Windows for the people that feel the key is more trouble than good. The solution to the issue includes making changes to the Windows registry and creating a long binary sequence to make the tweak works. I got some comments to the post asking for an easier way to make this work. I decided to develop a small utility that make it easier to tweak this little changes to Windows for users without technical experiences.
How to Toggle the Windows Key On and Off
Download the Windows Key Toggler Utility
Yesterday I finished writing the tool and it is available on my download page here on Techwork.dk. What the program does is that it creates the changes to the registry for you making it all very easy to use. All you need to do is to click on the “Toggle Windows Key On/off” button and restart or logoff your computer. When you log back in to windows the change is effective. If you want to enable the keys again you just Toggle the Windows key On and reboot your computer again.
Troubleshooting Windows Key Toggler
Be aware that this setting is made for all users on the computer and that it requires administrator privilege to make the changes. If you don’t have the rights needed or you have User Account Control (UAC) enabled you will see a message like this:
You can try right clicking the program and select Run as Administrator. That should do the trick regarding UAC. Also remember that you will need to logout your user to make the changes work every time you toggle the Windows Key on or Off. That is because it is a registry setting that is only read when the user login to Windows. Unfortunately that is not something that I can change.
Feedback
I hope that you have found this tool useful and you are always welcome to leave me a comment below if you have any questions or feedback regarding this tool.
I’ve always hated the windows key from my old laptop as it was the button I was hitting whenever I try to hit ctrl when I am touch-typing. As a writer and part-time transcriptionist, having keyboard shortcuts can cut down my work time for several minutes each day because I no longer have to fiddle much with the mouse to execute what I want. When I upgraded my laptop, the ctrl button is fairly larger and has a function button in between the ctrl button and the windows key button, so I am no longer accidentally hitting the winkey. How I wish I had access to your utility back then as it will certainly have proven helpful. I’m sure other people will find your utility helpful, but not for me this time around. Nevertheless, I am downloading it, just in case.
I found windows key annoying when I was playing Battlefield on my laptop. It was pretty annoying since the ctrl key and the windows key along with the Fn (function key) were close by and I used to accidently tap on windows key during a battle. When that happens I had to restart the computer to play again losing my save games as well. I used to remove the key-cap when I was playing next. This tool is amazingly helpful at times like those. Great share!
Hi Shalin
Glad you liked it.
Or you could just buy a cooler master gaming keyboard or razer with a dedicated Windows key disable button.
It’s very useful specially when you are gaming.
That is of cause another solution to the issue Jeff 🙂
Gamers encounter this issue a lot. Thanks for taking the time to develop this tool Thomas.
You are welcome Frank-
Wow! nice tool thanks for share
It’s a great app for us who press windows key by mistake whenever tries to tap ctrl or alt key. I tried it and now I toggle off windows key whenever I need and after work on it again. Great share and keep it up .
Thank you Daniel.
i like this tool, i’ve tried and it’s very usefull, thanks for sharing this Key Toggler Utility.
It’s an excellent app for us who media windows key by error whenever tries to tap control or alt key. I tried it and now I toggle off windows key whenever I need and after perform on it again.
Thanks for helping me solve that problem the windows key is really annoying to me and kpt getting in the way!
Hey Thomas,
It can’t be denied that we sometimes press the wrong key when we use our keyboards for our computer. And I guess one of the most common key that is mistakenly press is the windows key. Not that this key has no use, but from what you’ve stated in your post, it does give a lot of trouble. The app you just made which enables us to toggle off/toggle on the windows key is a very appropriate app. In this app, the users will now have the option of toggling the windows key on or off with ease. Disabling the windows key can consume a lot of time and besides, the windows key is not that useless to be disabled right? Thanks for sharing this application.
Hi Farrell
The windows key is for sure not useful, but sometimes it is just in the way. I have not disabled the key on my own computer, but I have seen people removed both keys from their keyboard. I thought a little app to do the trick is a little more sophisticated 🙂
Will this tool work fine with Windows 8 RT version? Sometimes it is very important to turn off windows key function. And this tool will let me on/ off, So it will be good choice.
I am not sure. I have only tested it on Windows 7, but you can give it a try.
I’ve also always hated the windows key, but I never taught, until today, at disabling this key. Nice ..
Hi Thomas,
This seems like a great tool for gamers, I usually unwantedly press the windows key accidentally.