How to Disable Windows Key on Windows 10 for Uninterrupted Gaming
May. 15, 2021Windows shortcuts are an integral part of the PC experience, and many of us use them on a daily basis. The Windows key is used in manykeyboard shortcuts in Windows 10, like opening the Settings menu (Win key + I), accessing the Run dialog box (Win key + R), locking the computer (Win key + L), etc. However, it could sometimes be a bit of a nuisance while gaming if you accidentally press the Windows key and end up pulling up random menus or minimizing the game. So today, we will show you how to disable the Windows key for an uninterrupted gaming experience.
You can disable the Windows key using a variety of methods onWindows 10devices. That includes using native methods like the registry editor and group policy editor, as well as a whole host of third-party programs. Microsoft’s power-user tool, PowerToys, is another utility that lets you disable the Windows key effortlessly. So without any further delay, let’s check out all the ways you can use to disable the Windows key on your Windows 10 PC.
There are two methods to manually disable the Windows key on your keyboard using the registry editor. While one will only disable the Windows key, the other will disable all Windows key shortcuts. We have discussed both methods in this article.
That’s it. You have successfully disabled the Windows key on your PC. To re-enable the Windows key, go back into the Registry Editor and delete the Scancode Map key (right-click -> Delete).
Well, those are the steps you need to follow to disable all Windows key shortcuts on your PC. To re-enable Windows key shortcuts, go back into the Registry Editor and delete the new key (right-click -> Delete).
If editing the Windows registry is too much work or if you are afraid of messing up your Windows installation, you can use a registry file to disable the Windows key. For that, downloadthis reg file(courtesy of Ten Forums) and run it on your Windows 10 PC. You will get a warning message about making changes to the registry. Click on ‘Yes’ to get the job done.
This method is the fastest and the simplest way to disable the Windows key on your keyboard. To revert the changes and re-enable the Windows key, download and runanother reg file, also courtesy of the folks over at Ten Forums. Restart your PC after running the file, and the changes should reflect after that.
The following process disables Windows key shortcuts rather than the key itself. If you want to disable the Windows key entirely, move over to the next method.
Note:Group Policy Editor is not available in Windows 10 Home. So if that’s what you are using on your computer, follow our step-by-stepguide to enable Group Policy Editor on Windows 10 Home.
Microsoft PowerToys is an immensely useful free utility that offers power users many options to tweak Windows 10. We have already written a detailed tutorial onhow to use PowerToys on Windows 10, including how to use the built-in keyboard manager. And today, we will show you how to use that feature to disable the Windows key on your computer.
There are plenty of third-party applications that allow users to remap keys in Windows 10. One such utility is the open-source app SharpKeys (Free). It comes either in an installable package for x86 and x64 systems or an installer-less package (ZIP file) that works on both x86/ x64 andARM-based Windows 10 computers. Here’s how you use it:
If you want a simpler one-click solution, you can use a utility that blocks the Windows key on your Windows 10 PC. We recommend the free and portable WinKill app, which lets you temporarily disable the Windows key without rebooting your computer. To use it, download it from GitHub (Free) or MajorGeeks (Free) and then install it on your PC. Now click on the WinKill icon in the system tray to toggle the Windows key on or off.
WinKill is a nifty utility that works as advertised. It uses almost zero resources, requires just one click to enable or disable the Win key, and is simple enough for your grandma. However, if you still need other options, there are various other similar applications you can check out. They include WKey Disabler (Free), Disable Windows Key (Free), AutoHotkey (Free), etc.
One of the fastest, simplest, and safest ways to disable the Windows key on your Windows 10 computer is through the custom software that comes with your gaming keyboard. These utilities typically offer you options to configure various settings such as macros and lighting.
Most gaming keyboards ship with custom software that includes, among other things, a ‘Gaming Mode’ thatallows you to block the Windows key while gaming. If you are unsure of how to activate the feature, check your keyboard manufacturer’s support site for detailed instructions. Do note that not every gaming keyboard supports this feature, so make sure to check if your keyboard offers this function.
Disable the Windows Key for Uninterrupted Gaming
Hopefully, the tutorial above will help you get the chicken dinner that you rightfully deserve. So go ahead, disable the Windows key on your PC and let us know which method you chose and why in the comments section below. Once you do that, also check out how you canoptimize your Windows 10 PC for gamingandkeep your PC’s temperature under controlto prevent thermal throttling. Finally, check out thebest budget gaming SSDsand thebest DDR4 RAM for gamingyou can buy.
Passionate techie. Professional tech writer. Proud geek.
