SOVLED! How To Turn Off Hotkeys

While Windows hotkeys prove handy from time to time, they also cause issues on occasions and make some people wonder how to turn off hotkeys. You find hotkeys less than helpful and want to disable them but don’t know the way? In that case, you have come to the right place. This article could show you what must be done to put hotkeys out of commissions

Turning Off Hotkeys On Windows: Measures 

In discussions about how to turn off hotkeys, most Windows users opt for one of two ways: 

Via Local Group Policy Editor

• Step 1: Press Windows key, type gpedit.msc and hit Enter to open Local Group Policy Editor. 
• Step 2: Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
• Step 3: Locate Turn off Windows Key Hotkeys, right-click it and pick Edit.
• Step 4: Tick the Enabled circle, select Apply and choose OK.
• Step 5: Restart your computer. 

Via Registry Editor

• Step 1: Press Windows key, type Regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
• Step 2: Click File then pick Export to create a backup of the Registry in case things go south. 
• Step 3: Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
• Step 4: Right-click an empty space on the right, hover your mouse over new and pick DWORD (32-bit) Value. 
• Step 5: Name the new value NoWinKeys. Next, right-click NoWinKeys, pick Modify and change its value to 1. After you finish, restart your computer. When the screen comes back on, test out hotkeys and witness the result. 

A List Of Hotkeys

• Windows + R: Open Run.
• Windows + I: Open Settings.
• Windows + A: Open Action Center.
• Windows + C: Open Cortana in listening mode.
• Windows + D: Show the desktop.
• Windows + E: Open File Explorer.
• Windows + F: Open Feedback Hub.
• Windows + G: Open the Game bar.
• Windows + H: Open the Share charm.
• Windows + K: Open the Connect quick action.
• Windows + L: Lock PC/switch users.
• Windows + M: Minimize all windows.
• Ctrl + Escape/Win: Display the start menu.
• Shift + F10 or Apps: Display context menu.
• Win + Shift + Tab: Cycle through taskbar buttons in reverse.
• Alt + Escape: Send the active window to the bottom of the z-order.
• Alt + Shift + Escape: Activate the window at the bottom of the z-order.
• Alt + F4: Close active window. If there is no active window, open shutdown dialog.
• Shift while a CD is loading: Bypass AutoPlay.
• Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow: Invert screen.
• Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow: Undo inversion.

Hotkeys For File Browsing  

• Arrow Keys: Navigate.
• Shift + Arrow Keys: Select multiple items.
• Backspace: Go up one level in the parent directory.
• Alt + Left: Go back one folder.
• Alt + Right: Go forward one folder.
• Enter: Activate (Double-click) selected item(s).
• Alt + Enter: View properties for the selected item.

FAQs

How do I turn off Sticky Keys and Filter Keys?

In most of the cases, you should be able to turn Sticky Keys and Filter Keys via Control Panel. 

• Step 1: Press Windows key, type Control Panel and hit Enter.
• Step 2: In Control Panel, change View by to Category. 
• Step 3: Select Ease of Access, choose Ease of Access Centre and hit Make the keyboard easier to use.
• Step 4: Uncheck the Turn on Sticky Keys and Turn on Filter Keys checkboxes. 
• Step 6: Click Apply then pick OK to save the changes.

What is the difference between a shortcut key and a hotkey?

Shortcut keys are usually used to manage specific functions within a program. For example, the shortcut key for the “save” function in Microsoft Word is “Ctrl+S.” On the other hand, hotkeys are usually used to control system-wide functions.

How do hotkeys work?

Hotkeys intercept keystrokes and send them to the desired program or action. To use hotkeys, press the right keys in the right sequences. Depending on the hotkeys, they either execute the task immediately or open up a menu of options. Some hotkeys are universal, meaning they will work in any application, while others are specific to a certain program. 

Is it possible to reassign hotkeys on Windows 10?

You may reassign hotkeys on Windows 10 in a few ways but the easiest is via Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center.

• Step 1: Download and install Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center.
• Step 2: Connect the keyboard you want to tweak to your computer.
• Step 3: Open Start menu, select Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center then choose the keys to reassign according to your preferences. 
• Step 4: Select commands from the command list for the reassigned keys.
• Step 5: Test out the reassigned keys.

Can I create custom shortcut keys for programs?

• Step 1: Open Start menu.
• Step 2: Right-click the target program, hover your mouse over More and pick Pin to taskbar. 
• Step 3: Right-click the target program on the taskbar, right-click the name of the program above  Unpin from taskbar and pick Properties. 
• Step 4: Hit Shortcut key then enter your desired combination by pressing the keys on the keyboard. 
• Step 5: Select Apply, choose OK and test out the shortcut key.