5 Ways to Disable the Windows Key for Good

PDF download Download Article
Eliminate annoying Windows key interruptions with just a few clicks
PDF download Download Article

It’s possible to disable your Windows key using both built-in programs and third-party options. If you’re not sure where to start, you’ve come to the right article—we’ll walk you some of the most popular options out there (like WinKill or Microsoft PowerToys), so you can figure out which one is best for you and your PC.

Quick Steps

  1. Download WinKill.
  2. Extract the download into a new folder.
  3. Run the WinKill.exe application file.
  4. Click on the WinKill icon in your taskbar to switch it on and off.
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

WinKill

PDF download Download Article
  1. Download the WinKill file . It’s hosted on the MajorGeeks website.
  2. Unzip the file. If you don’t have any extraction software, download a free program like 7-Zip so you can access the .exe file.
    Advertisement
  3. Make sure you’re clicking on the application itself rather than the .dll extension.
  4. In the small icon panel next to the taskbar clock, look for a black-and-white version of the Windows logo. Simply click on it to toggle the feature on or off. [1]
    • If there’s no red “X” blocking the logo, your Windows button should be activated.
    5. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Microsoft PowerToys

PDF download Download Article
  1. Download the Microsoft PowerToys program . The file can be found on Microsoft’s GitHub page.
  2. It may open automatically after you download it. If not, search “PowerToys” in your search bar to find it.
  3. It’s between Image Resizer and Mouse Utilities .
  4. [2]
  5. This pulls up a new pop-up window.
  7. You can also adjust the key selection via the drop-down menu.
  8. It should be at the very top of the menu.
  9. You might get a pop-up warning that you haven’t assigned anything to the Windows key, but that’s okay. It will still be disabled once you close out from the pop-up.
  10. Open up the Remap keys pop-up again and click on the trash can at the far right of the key-mapping assignment. Then, hit OK to confirm these new changes.
    11. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Group Policy Editor

PDF download Download Article
  1. Alternatively, search for gpedit in the main search bar to open the Group Policies shortcut. [3] If your PC doesn’t seem to have the file, try this:
    • Pull up a blank Notepad file.
    • Paste the following:
      @echo off
      pushd "%~dp0"

      dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientExtensions-Package~3*.mum >List.txt
      dir /b %SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientTools-Package~3*.mum >>List.txt

      for /f %%i in ('findstr /i . List.txt 2^>nul') do dism /online /norestart /add-package:"%SystemRoot%\servicing\Packages\%%i"
      pause
    • Save the Notepad file as gpedit_enabler.bat . Make sure to delete the .txt suffix!
    • Right-click on the .bat file you created and hit Run as administrator . This will automatically run the file through your PC’s command prompt, which will create the gpedit.msc file on your PC. [4]
  2. Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer .
  3. You may find it between the Prevent access to drives from My Computer and No Computers Near Me in Network Locations options.
  4. You can find this option in the top-left portion of the Turn off Windows Key hotkeys
  5. Your Windows key should now be disabled.
  6. Go to the Group Policies editor, find the Turn off Windows Key hotkeys in the File Explorer folder, and toggle the setting back to Not Configured .
    7. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Windows Registry

PDF download Download Article
  1. Registry Editor should pop up in the search results.
  2. To find it, navigate through the following folders:
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER
    • Software
    • Microsoft
    • Windows
    • CurrentVersion
    • Policies
    • Explorer
  3. Keep the name as NoWinkeys and the Base as Hexadecimal .
  4. This should disable your Windows key when you press it.
  5. To make sure this worked, reboot your PC and try pressing the Windows button to confirm that it’s disabled.
  6. Open the Registry Editor , navigate to the Explorer folder, right-click the NoWinkeys option, and click DWORD Value to make the change.
    • Restart your computer again to make sure the change goes through.
    7. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Logi Options+

PDF download Download Article
  1. Keep in mind that this program only works if you have a Logitech-brand keyboard, and some models might not have many customization options available within the Logi Options+ app.
  2. The app will likely ask you to turn the keyboard off and then back on to help sync it—just follow the onscreen instructions.
  3. You can find this on the left side of the app window.
  4. Click the checkbox next to Windows/Start to disable the button.
    • When you’re ready to re-enable the Windows key, uncheck the box next to Windows/Start in this part of the app.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If you have a membrane keyboard, some tech enthusiasts believe that removing the Windows keycap could disable the key as a temporary measure. (A membrane keyboard registers keystrokes with a combination of a circuit board and rubber membrane.) [5]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Take a Screenshot on a Windows PC: 8 Simple Tricks
      How to
      Find Your Windows Product Key
      How to
      Start Windows in Safe Mode: 6 Easy Options
      Easily Download and Install FFmpeg on a Windows PC
      11 Tips & Tricks to Fix a Missing Windows Laptop Mouse Cursor
      4 Easy Ways to Access the Boot Options Menu in Windows
      How to
      Check Your Windows Version
      How to
      Automatically Shut Down Your Computer at a Specified Time
      Get Rid of the "Activate Windows" Watermark in 3 Ways
      How to
      Check Your Mouse DPI on Windows & Mac
      How to
      Disable BitLocker Encryption in Windows 10 and 11
      How to
      Stop Windows from Freezing: Easy Troubleshooting Guide
      How to
      Fix PC Sound Not Working: 8 Quick Solutions
      4 Easy Ways to Manually Reset the Wi-Fi Adapter in Windows
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/winkill.html
      2. ↑ https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/keyboard-manager
      3. ↑ https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-turn-off-windows-key-window-ctrl-d/426e79ac-a525-43e1-a33c-edd564acb12c
      4. ↑ https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/gpeditmsc-missing/cc1d05b2-457d-4aa6-839f-8136d0eddc35
      5. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/membrane-keyboard

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 4,684 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement