How to Unregister Windows aero hotkeys?

Salve! I just switched from WindowsXP to Windows7. Now, I want to use the global hotkeys win+right, win+left, shift+win+right, etc., for something else, but find that they are already taken by Windows (I believe they are assigned globally to aero-snap or aero-something).

I tried adding the NoWinKeys entry in the registry, and so disabled the win+r command, but it didn't work for those other keys!

I also switched the theme to a normal, non-aero theme without any transparency, but that didn't help either. I even used Ultimate Windows Tweaker to Disable Aero Shake feature and Disable Aero Snap feature and Disable Aero Peek too - but to no avail.

How can I disable those keys so I can assign them to something else?

bgmCoder

Posted 2012-06-20T18:48:34.657

Reputation: 1 771

Answers

You can use AutoHotkey to intercept each Win+xxx command and reassign a different keystroke to it. For example, you could have it recognize Win+Left as Ctrl+Win+Left, which you would then assign to the task you wanted the original Win+Left to accomplish.

Basic key intercepts and assignments like that are fairly simple. For example, I use OneNote a lot, but I don't like some of the keystrokes it uses. To open a Quick Note (which I don't use) is Win+N, but to open OneNote itself (which I do use) is Win+Shift+N. The script to reassign Win+N to act as Win+Shift+N is as simple as this: #n::Send #N

techturtle

Posted 2012-06-20T18:48:34.657

Reputation: 8 059

Hey! That does work! I already have a hotkey script running - I just didn't realize that autohotkey would override them. Thanks! For an example, I did: #right:: msgbox, Hey bob! return – bgmCoder – 2012-06-20T19:19:35.450

Wow, I really thought it was not possible at all... – theDmi – 2012-06-20T20:21:45.617

This works like a charm, actually! No problems at all. – bgmCoder – 2012-06-20T20:28:40.593

According to this post on Microsoft forums, you cannot De-register and reassign the shortcut keys associated with the Win key.

Nima G

Posted 2012-06-20T18:48:34.657

Reputation: 1 538

That is horrendous! Surely there is a hack? – bgmCoder – 2012-06-20T19:00:17.507

None that I'm aware of.. – Nima G – 2012-06-20T19:02:14.743

Look at here: How to disable the keyboard Windows key?

It has a Microsoft Fix it link to disable window key, and another link to enable window key.

just download the setup and follow the instructions.

Asif

Posted 2012-06-20T18:48:34.657

Reputation: 403

Please, I don't want to disable the actual keys - I want to use the hotkeys for another application. – bgmCoder – 2012-06-20T19:10:08.757