Windows 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 many keyboard 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 on Windows 10 devices. 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.

  • Disable Windows Key Using Registry Editor
  • Disable Windows Key Using a Reg File
  • Disable Windows Key Using Group Policy Editor
  • Disable Windows Key Using Microsoft PowerToys
  • Disable Windows Key Using Third-Party Applications
  • Activate ‘Gaming Mode’ on Your Gaming Keyboard

1. Disable Windows Key Using Registry Editor

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.

  • First, open the Windows Registry Editor. To do that, search for ‘regedit’ in the Windows Search Bar and click on the first result.

  • Now double-click on Scancode Map and enter the following value in the data field: 00000000000000000300000000005BE000005CE000000000. Hit ‘OK‘ when done. Then, restart your PC to apply the changes.

  • Open the Windows registry editor as described above. Now navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer. Next, right-click on the empty space in the right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Enter ‘NoWinKeys‘ (without quotes) as the name of the DWORD.

2. Using a Reg File

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, download this 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.

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.

  • In the Group Policy Editor window, go to the following path using the left sidebar: User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. In the right pane, locate the entry that says: ‘Turn off Windows Key hotkeys‘.

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 on how 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.

  • In the ‘Remap Keyboard’ window, click on the ‘+‘ sign under ‘Key’ to add a custom mapping rule.

5. Using Third-Party Applications

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 and ARM-based Windows 10 computers. Here’s how you use it:

  • You will now see the option to remap keys on your keyboard. Click on the ‘Type Key‘ button at the bottom-left.

Other Third-Party Tools to Disable Windows Key

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.

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.