How to Block or Disable Windows Key in Windows 11 & 10

If you want to block or disable the Windows key on your keyboard, this tutorial is for you.

By default, pressing the Windows key opens the Start menu no matter what you are doing on-screen. Windows key combinations, like Windows key + R and Windows key + E, trigger actions such as opening the Run dialog and File Explorer. While this is useful in many cases, in some situations, it can be a hassle. For example, accidentally pressing the Windows key while gaming can take you out of the game.

Thankfully, there are several ways you can completely disable the Windows key on your keyboard. In this quick and straightforward tutorial, I will show you three methods so that the Windows key doesn’t bother you when you don’t need it. Let’s get started.

Disable the Windows Key Using the “Fn” Key

If your keyboard has an FN key (most mechanical, gaming, and laptop keyboards have it), you can use it to quickly enable or disable the Windows key.

To disable the Windows key, simply hold down the FN key and then press the Windows key. This action toggles the Windows key state. That is, if it is enabled, pressing this key combination disables it. Otherwise, enables it.

Disable the Windows Key using AutoHotKey

AutoHotKey is a free and open-source automation tool. You can create a simple script that disables the Windows key whenever you want. Here’s how.

1. Get AutoHotKey and install it.
2. Right-click on the desktop and select “New” > “Text Document”.
3. Rename the file to “Disable Win Key.ahk“. Make sure to replace the “.txt” extension with “.ahk”.
   
4. Right-click the file and select “Edit in Notepad” or Edit Script“.
   
5. Copy the below code.
   ; Disable Left Windows Key
LWin::Return
​
; Disable Right Windows Key
RWin::Return
6. Paste it in the opened file.
   
7. Press “Ctrl + S” to save the file.
8. Close Notepad.

That is all. You just create a custom script to block the Windows key. Just double-click the script file to run it. As long as the script is running, the Windows key will be disabled. While the script is running, you can see the AutoHotKey icon in the taskbar.

To enable the Windows key, exit the script. To do that, right-click the AutoHotKey icon on the taskbar and select “Exit”. This will close the script and the Windows key functionality will be restored.

Disable Windows Key Using PowerToys

PowerToys is an open-source app by Microsoft that adds a lot of functionality and features to Windows. Using the Keyboard Manager tool in PowerToys, you can disable the Windows key. Here’s how.

Note: Download PowerToys from this official GitHub page, install it, and then follow the below steps.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search and open the “PowerToys” application.
3. Click “Input / Output” > “Keyboard Manager” from the sidebar.
4. Click the “Remap a key” option on the right page.
5. Press the “Add key remapping” button.
6. Select “Win” from the “Select” dropdown menu.
7. Select “Disable” from the “To send” dropdown menu.
8. Click the “OK” button in the top-right corner.
9. Click the “Continue Anyway” in the warning window.

That’s it. From now on, the Windows key no longer works. To enable the Windows key, you need to disable the Keyboard Manager tool. To do that, open PowerToys, go to the “Input / Output” > “Keyboard Manager” page, and turn off the “Enable Keyboard Manager” toggle.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, it is pretty simple to disable the Windows key as long as you follow one of the three methods shown above. For those looking for a quick way to enable or disable the Windows key whenever you want, follow one of the first two methods (FN key and AutoHotKey methods). If you want to disable the Windows key permanently, follow the PowerToys method.

I hope this tutorial helped you. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to assist.

Good to know: How to disable sticky keys in Windows.