Deactivate Windows key - How it works
If you do not need the Windows key or often accidentally tap it, you can deactivate the key. We show you how to do this.
Manually disable the Windows key
To manually deactivate the Windows key, you have to edit your registry.
- Press the [Windows] and [R] keys simultaneously so that the "Execute" command opens.
- Enter "regedit" there and confirm with "OK". Then the registry editor starts.
- Find the menu item "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" in the left bar and click on it.
- In the submenu click on the "SYSTEM" folder, then on "CurrentControlSet" and finally on "Control".
- At the top of the "Keyboard Layout" folder, select the "Edit" tab and then the "New" and "Binary Value" options.
- Enter the name "Scancode Map" here. "REG_BINARY" must be selected as the type. This is done automatically.
- Now double click on the entry you created called "Scancode Map". Enter the following value here: "00000000000000000300000000005BE000005CE000000000". Confirm with a click on "OK".
- Restart your PC. After the restart, the "Windows key" should have no function.
Deactivate Windows key automatically
Since you are working with the manual method in the registry file and this can have fatal consequences for incorrect entries, Microsoft has designed a "fix-it file" with which you can immediately deactivate the Windows key with a simple click. To do this, go to the following link. Follow the installation instructions. If you want to reactivate the "Windows key", this tool from Microsoft will help you.
Windows 7 was used for this practical tip. If you are not really familiar with the registry, we recommend the automatic procedure.
On the next page we will tell you how you can permanently deactivate Caps Lock.