Accidentally pressing the Windows key on your keyboard can be very annoying. Sometimes it kicks you out of a fullscreen game by opening the Start menu or unintentionally launching a shortcut. Fortunately, there is a way to disable the key on your Windows 10 PC. Here’s how.
The easiest way to disable the Windows key is to use Microsoft’s free PowerToys utility. With PowerToys, you can reassign any key to have the function of any other. In this case, we’ll be changing the Windows key to ‘Undefined’, which means nothing will happen when you press it.
To disable the Windows key, download Microsoft PowerToys if you haven’t already installed it. Launch PowerToys, click “Keyboard Manager” in the sidebar, then click “Remap Key”.
In the “Remap Keyboard” window, click the plus “+” button to add a mapping definition.
To edit a key mapping, select the key you want to edit in the left column, then define what you want it to do in the right column.
AT?? Using the drop-down menu under the “Key:” heading on the left, select “Win”. In the “Mapped to” section on the right, click on the drop-down menu and select “Undefined”.
Click “OK” and Windows will warn you that you cannot use the Windows key because it will not be assigned. Click on “Continue Anyway”.
After that, the Windows key should be disabled. Your settings have been saved and you are free to close PowerToys and use your computer as usual.
Unlike other key remapping methods such as using SharpKeys and the Windows registry, you won’t have to log out or restart for your change to take effect. The Windows key will be deactivated immediately.
How to reactivate the Windows key
If you change your mind and want to activate the Windows key again, launch PowerToys and navigate to Keyboard Manager> Remap Key.
Locate the “Win -> Undefined” mapping and click the trash icon nearby to remove it. Then click on “OK” to close the window. After that, your Windows key will work normally.
