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Looks like Windows 8 hijacks the ►❚❚ media key: when I press this key, it goes directly to the default system media player.
For example, if I have WMP running, it handles the Play/Pause key even when it is not focused, ignoring the currently active program. If I don't have WMP running, the Play/Pause key is simply ignored in other applications!
This answer shows that you can change the program to which all the ►❚❚ keystrokes go by assigning it as a default media player.
But is there a way to disable this feature completely?
At first I thought that windows explorer registers a hotkey, but I can successfully call RegisterHotKey with VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE: it does not return any error code. This means it was not registered as a hotkey before. But my application still doesn't receive any input events on it.
Ideally, I would like to revert it to the pre-Win8 behaviour: so that any focused application would receive it, unless it is registered as a hotkey by some other application - then it should go to that application.
Is there a setting for this?
How to reproduce: go to pleer.com and start playing any song. Then press the ►❚❚ media key on your keyboard while the browser is focused. Pre-Win8 it worked: the music paused. It no longer works for me on Windows 8.
torvin
Posted 2016-01-08T06:55:02.733
Reputation: 123
There is no such behavior in Vanilla Windows 8.1. Do you perhaps have a third-party keyboard driver installed? – Daniel B – 2016-01-08T07:40:51.047
Also, what browser are you using? – Daniel B – 2016-01-08T07:47:49.813
@DanielB are you saying it works for you on Windows 8.1? I see this behaviour on several different PCs with different keyboards. No additional drivers installed. Browser is FF43, but this is irrelevant, since it doesn't work in any other application as well. – torvin – 2016-01-08T08:19:16.620
Oh yes, it most definitely works. I'm using a portable foobar2000 installation which isn't registered anywhere. Firefox reacts to the "Play/Pause" key in a way that isn't compatible with this website - the
keyCodeis0. Try Chrome. – Daniel B – 2016-01-08T09:04:00.167@DanielB I think you are right. I just tried registering the hotkey on my home computer with Win8.1 and it worked. Looks like the problem is not with Win8 itself. I'll inspect the troubled installations more closely. Thanks again! If you post the answer, I'll accept it. – torvin – 2016-01-08T09:20:38.610
Silly suggestion, but have you tried
fn+the-play-key... – rahuldottech – 2016-01-08T15:15:49.420