How to disable the Windows Cardinal in Windows 10 [FULL GUIDE]

past Milan Stanojevic

Milan has been enthusiastic about PCs ever since his babyhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as... read more

  • Have you wondered how to disable the Windows central? Modifying the registry is i solution.
  • Instead of modifying the registry, you can download a .reg file and apply it to disable the Windows cardinal.
  • Usually, gaming keyboards have defended software then y'all can check the key settings at that place.
  • Using a dedicated third-party tool is another solution of how to disable the Windows fundamental button.

windows key

10INSTALL By CLICKING THE DOWNLOAD FILE

The Windows Key is rather useful and information technology's a role of many shortcuts on Windows x. Even though many users use information technology frequently, some users want to disable it.

Every avant-garde Windows user knows how useful Windows Fundamental button is. Despite its usefulness, the key tin sometimes be a problem, especially during intense gaming sessions.

By default, pressing the Windows Fundamental will open up the Start Menu and that can be a problem during gaming. By accidentally pressing the Windows push button you lot'll lose focus on your game and that can be a large problem.

In order to avoid these kinds of problems, many gamers disable their Windows Key during the gaming sessions.

In this guide, we're going to show how to disable the Windows button. At that place are a couple of methods you lot tin can use from where y'all tin can choose the best for yous.


How can I disable the Windows Key while gaming?

1. Modify your registry

  1. Printing Windows Key + R and enter regedit.
  2. Click on OK or press Enter.
    regedit run window disable the Windows Key
  3. Optional: Before you make any changes to your registry it'south always a good idea to create a backup. To practice that, just click on File > Export.file export registry disable the Windows Key
  4. Select All as Export range, cull a safe location, enter the desired file proper noun and click on Save.
    export settings disable the Windows Key
  5. In the left panel, navigate to: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Keyboard Layout
  6. In the right pane, right-click the empty space and cull New >Binary Value from the card.
  7. Enter Scancode Map as the name of the new value.
    new binary value registry disable the Windows Key
  8. Double click Scancode Map value and enter 00000000000000000300000000005BE000005CE000000000 in the Information field.
  9. Be actress cautious and double-check if the entered value is correct. At present click OK.
    edit binary value disable the Windows Key
  10. After doing that, close Registry Editor and restart your PC.

Notation: Continue in mind that your registry has sensitive information in it, and then if yous want to edit it, employ extra caution. If you encounter any issues with your PC after modifying the registry, restore the backup created at steps three-4.

After your PC restarts, the Windows Key should be completely disabled. To enable the Windows Primal, yous need to go dorsum to Registry Editor and delete the Scancode Map that you created.


two. Employ Disable Windows central reg

 regedit

If you don't want to alter your registry manually, there's a .reg file available that y'all tin can apply to alter information technology. Merely download Disable Windows key.reg and run it.

When the warning message appears, click on Yeah. If you want to enable Windows Key again, download and run Enable Caps Lock and Windows keys.reg.

This method is a lot faster and simpler, so if y'all're non comfortable with modifying the registry manually, be certain to effort using the .reg file.

This method is corking if you want to disable Windows Primal and foreclose other users from enabling it. Modifying the registry manually might not exist the simplest method, only you can always use the .reg file to modify information technology automatically.


3. Use AutoHotkey

disable windows key

If you want to disable your Windows Key, you might want to endeavor using AutoHotkey. This is an open-source and powerful automation scripting linguistic communication.

The application allows you to assign sure commands to your keys, merely information technology also allows you to disable keys. AutoHotkey isn't the simplest awarding, and so y'all might want to larn how it works earlier you can utilize information technology correctly.

Basically, you lot demand to create a script that will block Windows Keys and add that script to AutoHotkey. Simply click AutoHotkey icon in your Taskbar and choose Edit this Script. Now you need to paste the following script at the bottom:

          ~LWin Up:: return ~RWin Up:: return                  

Salve your script, right-click AutoHotkey and choose to Reload This Script from the menu. After doing that, both Windows Keys volition be disabled.

Proceed in mind that this solution won't disable shortcuts that involve Windows Primal, instead, information technology volition just disable the keys themselves.

It'due south worth mentioning that some online games might recognize AutoHotkey every bit a cheating awarding, and then keep that in listen.

Before you lot employ this solution it's always a good idea to practise some research and check if the game developers allow you to utilise AutoHotkey with their game.

Download Autohotkey


4. Use SharpKeys

  1. Download and first SharpKeys.
  2. Once the awarding starts, click on Add.sharpkeys
  3. Now you'll meet two columns. Click on Type Key in the left pane and press the Windows Key.
    type key disable the Windows Key
  4. Now click on OK to select the pressed key.
    type key confirmation disable the Windows Key
  5. Select Plow Fundamental Off in the correct pane and click on OK to salvage changes.
    turn key off sharpkeys
  6. Now click on Write to Registry button.write to registry sharpkeys disable the Windows Key
  7. Now you just accept to restart your PC or log out and log back in to apply the changes.
  8. To enable Windows Fundamental over again, start Sharpkeys, southwardelect the desired primal from the menu, and click on Delete.sharpkeys delete disable the Windows Key
  9. After deleting the key, click on Write to Registry button.write to registry disable the Windows Key
  10. Now restart your PC or log off and back on to apply the changes.

Note: This is a complimentary and portable tool that allows you to remap your keys, but it also has the ability to disable keys or to assign them to certain functions. Keep in mind that this is a powerful awarding, so you're using it at your own risk.


v. Utilise Gaming mode on your keyboard

gaming-keyboard

Many gaming keyboards have a Gaming mode feature that allows you lot to block Windows Key with ease. To activate Gaming manner you usually have to press a certain keyboard shortcut.

Some keyboards even take a controller icon on 1 of its keys then y'all can easily detect the shortcut key for Gaming way. If you can't discover the shortcut on your own, nosotros advise yous to bank check your keyboard manual for detailed instructions on how to actuate Gaming fashion.

Keep in listen that not all keyboards support this feature, then before yous tin can utilise it you need to check if your keyboard supports it. Activating the Gaming mode is the simplest and fastest style to disable Windows Key, but unfortunately, non all keyboards support this feature.


half-dozen. Use your keyboard software

As we previously mentioned, many gaming keyboards support Gaming fashion. These keyboards usually have dedicated software that you tin can utilize to configure diverse settings such as macros and lighting.

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In addition, you lot can likewise turn on Gaming mode from these apps. Keep in mind that not all keyboards and apps back up Gaming mode, so be certain to check your keyboard manual to see if your keyboard supports this feature.


vii. Apply Winkill

If you lot want to disable Windows Key and its shortcuts, you can exercise it easily with Winkill tool. This is a modest and portable application and information technology will run in your systray, so y'all won't even know that it'southward running.

Once you start information technology the application will cake Windows Key forth with most other Windows Key shortcuts.

Dissimilar previous applications we mentioned, Winkill allows you lot to toggle it on or off, and so you can easily disable it once you're washed with your gaming session.

If needs be you tin also plow it dorsum on with a single click. Winkill is a uncomplicated awarding, and if yous're looking for a simple and easy way to disable Windows Key on your keyboard, Winkill might be the best pick for you.

⇒ Download Winkill


eight. Use Disable Windows Central app

windows key disable

Another third-political party application that can disable Windows Key for y'all is Disable Windows Primal app. This is a freeware and portable awarding, and it will run on any PC without installation.

After you start the application, it will be located in your systray then you won't even know that it'south running.

The application allows a chip of configuration, and so yous can start it automatically with Windows if you like. Y'all can besides prepare the awarding to automatically disable the Windows Central once you start it.

Of grade, the application allows yous to toggle it on or off simply by clicking its icon.

Disable Windows Keyapp will disable Windows Key, but it won't disable any shortcuts that use it, which is a major plus.

If you're looking for a simple and friendly 3rd-political party solution that will allow y'all to disable the Windows Cardinal, exist sure to try this awarding out.

⇒ Download Disable Windows Key


9. Use WKey Disabler

wkey disabler

At that place are many tertiary-party applications that can disable Windows Central, and one of these applications is WKey Disabler. Just like previous apps that we mentioned, this is a freeware and portable awarding and information technology volition run from your systray.

The awarding doesn't accept any advanced features, and you tin can't fifty-fifty toggle it on or off. Every bit soon every bit you first the application your Windows Key and all its shortcuts will be automatically disabled.

Since there'due south no style to toggle the application off, the simply way to enable Windows Cardinal again is to disable the app. WKey Disabler is a simple tool, and if you lot want to disable your Windows Fundamental, experience free to try it.

⇒ Download WKey Disabler


ten. Use Registry Editor to cake Windows Central hotkeys

  1. Open Registry Editor.
  2. When Registry Editor opens, from the left console become to: : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
  3. Right-click the empty infinite in the correct panel and choose New > DWORD (32-flake value).
  4. Enter NoWinKeys as the proper name of the new DWORD.
    new dword disable the Windows Key
  5. Double click NoWinKeys DWORD to open its properties.
  6. Set Value data to i and click OK to save changes.
    value data disable the Windows Key
  7. Afterward you're done, shut Registry Editor and restart your PC to apply the changes.

Notation: Once your PC restarts you won't be able to utilize Windows Key shortcuts at all. This is useful if you lot want to prevent users from accessing sure hidden features of your organization by using Windows Key shortcuts.

If yous want to disable Windows Key only, you lot might want to try some other solution.


xi. Use Grouping Policy Editor

  1. Press Windows Key + R and enter gpedit.msc. Printing Enter or click OK.
    gpedit.msc run window disable the Windows Key
  2. Now navigate to the User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer in the left pane.
  3. In the correct pane, locate and double click Plow off Windows Key hotkeys option.
    turn off windows key hotkeys disable the Windows Key
  4. Select Enabled option and click on Apply and OK to save changes.
    enable policy turn off windows key hotkeys
  5. Afterwards doing that, restart your PC and check if that solves the trouble.

Note: This is a simple solution, but information technology should disable only Windows Fundamental shortcuts. If you need to disable the Windows Key entirely, you might desire to endeavor a dissimilar solution.

Learn how to edit the Grouping Policy like an expert with the assistance ofthis useful guide.


Windows Fundamental is incredibly useful, merely it can sometimes be a problem during intense gaming sessions. In that location are many ways to disable it, and the best i is to prepare your keyboard to Gaming manner.

If the keyboard doesn't support this feature, you can easily disable Windows Key by using any of our solutions.

If you have any other suggestions or questions, exit them in the comments section below and nosotros'll surely have a await.