How to disable Windows-S shortcut in Windows 8.1

Question

I had some program responding on Windows -S keystroke in Windows 8. But currently, in Windows 8.1 "Search everywhere" window appears.

How to disable this?

Answer 1

Solve this by editing the Registry copy the code below in a Notepad and save it as whatever.reg (you rename the .txt to .reg) This is actually a better solution because you do not need to disable all WinKeys.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"DisabledHotkeys"="S"

Then run the file and answer yes to all windows. That's it!

Or do it manually by opening the registry going to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced then create a new string value key, name it DisabledHotkeys, right click on it, Modify, add S in value Data.

PS If you would like to disable more windows keys, say Win+C for example, in value data write S,C

Answer 2

You can either use Autohotkey or windows group policy to disable key board shortcut.

1) Open Start menu and type gpedit.msc in the search box and press Enter key 2) In the Local Group Policy Editor window click to expand the folder

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\ Windows Components\File Explorer given in the left pane

3) Now double click on Turn off Windows + X hotkeys option in the right pane

4) In the Turn off Windows + X hotkeys Properties window click the dot Not Configured or Disabled to enable Key Shortcuts

OR

Click the dot Enabled to disable Key Shortcuts

5) Click Apply and then OK button

6) Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.

7) Now Log off and Log on or Restart your PC

Answer 3

For the following keys, Win+X combinations can't be disabled with the solution from Entropy (and probably at all): - = U I P H K X C < >

Example reg import file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced] "DisabledHotkeys"="1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0,q,w,t,s,d,f,b"

Explorer restart is enough to apply the changes.