How do you unbind specific windows explorer shortcuts

Windows Vista (more specifically, explorer) binds win+1, win+2, win+3, etc for its quick-launch bar. I want to use those key combinations for a different program. There is a registry key(s) to prevent explorer from binding those shortcuts so that I can bind them myself, but I can not remember what it is.

Every search I've tried turns up saying set HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NoWinKeys to 1, but that disables all the shortcuts (win+r, etc) instead of just specific ones.

I did it before on my last computer but I can't remember the specific registry setting.

Josh Sterling

Posted 2010-09-15T17:47:52.770

Reputation: 251

Answers

I finally found it by scouring the registry of one of my old computer.

The registry key I was looking for is HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\DisabledHotkeys

If it's not present, create a new Expandable String Value and add any characters you don't want windows explorer to bind.

For example, setting DisabledHotkeys to 12 will prevent explorer from binding windowskey+1 and windowskey+2

Josh Sterling

Posted 2010-09-15T17:47:52.770

Reputation: 251

@pataluc This answer is missing information about virtual keys and how to add those. I checked https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dd375731%28v=vs.85%29.aspx and the arrows need 4 characters, all of them non-printable. You need to look up a single arrow (e.g. arrow left has code 25), then right-click the registry value, pick Modify binary data and enter "25 00 00 00" (ignore the four zeroes on the left). Repeat, and in the end you should have 16 pairs of characters.

– JBert – 2015-04-03T08:38:48.093

@JBert It doesn’t seem possible to disable <kbd>Win</kbd><kbd>Space</kbd> that way (i.e. 20 instead of 25). – kleinfreund – 2018-02-28T17:42:49.723

Is a restart needed ? I asume it is required since windows needs a restart for almost everything. But if not, please specify so :) – aemonge – 2018-05-07T09:13:04.367

1@aemonge If something only affects the Explorer, it should be sufficient to log off and log on again. – Martin – 2018-05-14T12:52:20.627

4which character do you type in DisabledHotkeys to disable Win+Arrow (whatever arrow)? – pataluc – 2014-05-21T12:04:43.333

I did this with Windows 10... created the DisabledHostkeys and added "S". However, that prevented the entire Search function and Search icon from working as well! Not recommended!

Glen Little

Posted 2010-09-15T17:47:52.770

Reputation: 791