How to create a new keyboard shortcut using the Windows key?

Windows has built-in key shortcuts for locking your machine (WinKey+L) and for starting Explorer (WinKey+E). I'd like to create a similar new shortcut, WinKey+X, to start one of my favourite replacements for Explorer.

I've tried the usual method, creating a shortcut and then setting the Shortcut key to WinKey+X, but it shows up as CTRL+ALT+X and doesn't work when I press the WinKey. It does work if I press CTRL+ALT+X.

How can I make the Windows key version of the shortcut work?

Bish

Posted 2010-02-24T17:40:29.447

Reputation: 403

Answers

AutoHotKey was built for this, as well!

#x::Run explorer.exe

would run explorer on winkey (#) and x (x). It's really that simple.

Phoshi

Posted 2010-02-24T17:40:29.447

Reputation: 22 001

1As a keylogger, AutoHotKey is dangerous... Windows would ask to user to allow or deny some kind of app. Ok, all of shown apps here could be or are keyloggers too... But it is so easy to access key history on AutoHotKey that if I use it and have my computer unlocked, someone can see my passwords I recently used. – kokbira – 2016-02-25T12:07:10.330

@kokbira Anything that responds to keyboard input when not focussed could be called a keylogger just as much. If you're talking about the visible key history feature, that's primarily a debugging feature that you should probably turn off if you're concerned about people viewing it--though like with many scenarios like that, if somebody has sufficient access to your machine that they can read that log, you're already in trouble. – Phoshi – 2016-02-27T14:20:10.063

Ok, just to warn ppl that does not know that default config on that software :) – kokbira – 2016-02-29T15:32:10.553

WinKey starts your favorite applications, folders, and Web pages instantly.

This shell extension allows you to define keyboard shortcuts with the Windows key. You can use almost any key combination and create shortcuts to system folders such as My Computer, Network Neighborhood, Dial-Up Networking, Control Panel, and Recycle Bin.

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WinKey is freeware.

More on Winkey from Jeff at Coding Horror.

Molly7244

Posted 2010-02-24T17:40:29.447

Reputation:

1Thanks for this tip. I've installed Winkey and I like it already! However, the fact that you have to use a program to get this feature implies that it cannot be done through Windows. Does anyone know if this is the case? – Bish – 2010-02-24T19:34:49.283

You could also try Hotkeyz:

HotKeyz lets you easily create and maintain a categorized list of your hotkeys. Each hotkey, a key combination on your keyboard, will launch a command. You decide which commands go with which hotkeys. Some of these commands are internal HotKeyz commands and the rest are Windows commands. HotKeyz will help you to manage repetitive tasks on your PC with speed and minimal effort. Why is it faster? The conventional way to open a program on your PC is by pointing your mouse to the Window start button, clicking on the Start button, then you will click on All Programs, your eyes must first look and search for your program icon, then you must click on it and only then it will be the program be launched. Using your mouse like this takes time. With a hotkey you simply press the key combination you have defined for your program and HotKeyz will launch it immediately!

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CGA

Posted 2010-02-24T17:40:29.447

Reputation: 3 767