How to change default windows shortcuts ?

Bug locker · Apr 14, 2024

Hey.
Anyone to know the location of shortcuts at the registry ?
If not any utility to do that , except powertoys and sharpkeys ?
Thanks.

retiredat44 · Apr 14, 2024

why not search the registry?

Berton · Apr 14, 2024

What is wanted to be changed? Usually a shortcut's icon can be changed on right-click and Properties.

Bug locker · Apr 14, 2024

retiredat44 said:
why not search the registry?

Search for what ?

Bug locker · Apr 14, 2024

Berton said:
What is wanted to be changed? Usually a shortcut's icon can be changed on right-click and Properties.

I dont want to change a shortcut's icon shortcut , but the default windows shortcut keys e.g ctrl+x or winkey +R.

barreleye · Apr 14, 2024

I use Autohotkey (AHK) extensively to override or disable many of them and for many, many other things. There are limitations:

1. A handful of Windows shortcuts can't be overridden at all, like Win+L to lock workstation and some of the Game Bar shortcuts like Win+Alt+B, IIRC.
2. If an elevated program has the focus, like Task Manager, AHK hotkeys are effectively disabled. You might be able to work around this by running AHK elevated and starting your script through Task Scheduler if you want it to be a startup program, which you probably would.

One big advantage to AHK over modifying the registry is that the code is in a simple text file and takes effect when you reload the script, no rebooting required. It's also a capable (if weird) programming language that can do anything you want.

Berton · Apr 14, 2024

The WinKey + R may not be changeable, opens the Run dialog box. Ctrl + X does nothing on mine, WinKey + X opens the same menu as right-click of the Start button. One more, WinKey + I opens the System Information. WinKey + E opens File Explorer. WinKey + S opens Search.

Wisewiz · Apr 14, 2024

I think the first step would be to disable the current hotkeys. Then get a small program that will let you program your own hotkeys.

Disable them with Group Policy:

Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.
Scroll down to find Turn off Windows Key hotkeys and double-click on it.
On the pop-up window, select Enabled and then click the Apply and OK buttons to save changes.

But some can't be disabled that way. They're called "hard-wired hotkeys."

Win + P
Win + L (but I found a reg hack to disable that one)
Win + U
Win + G
Win + X
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Ctrl + Alt + Del

Then, I recommend a tiny standalone (no installation required) program called "Clavier+". Here's a link to it:

Clavier+

gryder.org

It lets me set up as many hotkeys as I want, and open programs, jump to Websites, restart programs, and other things. Here's a sample of some if the hotkeys I've set up:

Bug locker · Apr 14, 2024

barreleye said:
I use Autohotkey (AHK) extensively to override or disable many of them and for many, many other things. There are limitations:

1. A handful of Windows shortcuts can't be overridden at all, like Win+L to lock workstation and some of the Game Bar shortcuts like Win+Alt+B, IIRC.
2. If an elevated program has the focus, like Task Manager, AHK hotkeys are effectively disabled. You might be able to work around this by running AHK elevated and starting your script through Task Scheduler if you want it to be a startup program, which you probably would.

One big advantage to AHK over modifying the registry is that the code is in a simple text file and takes effect when you reload the script, no rebooting required. It's also a capable (if weird) programming language that can do anything you want.

I just want to change few shortcuts. Autohotkey requires to learn a language, running scripts ..... :eyeroll:

Bug locker · Apr 14, 2024

Wisewiz said:
I think the first step would be to disable the current hotkeys. Then get a small program that will let you program your own hotkeys.

Disable them with Group Policy:

Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.

Scroll down to find Turn off Windows Key hotkeys and double-click on it.

On the pop-up window, select Enabled and then click the Apply and OK buttons to save changes.

But some can't be disabled that way. They're called "hard-wired hotkeys."

Win + P
Win + L (but I found a reg hack to disable that one)
Win + U
Win + G
Win + X
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Ctrl + Alt + Del

Then, I recommend a tiny standalone (no installation required) program called "Clavier+". Here's a link to it:

Clavier+

gryder.org

It lets me set up as many hotkeys as I want, and open programs, jump to Websites, restart programs, and other things. Here's a sample of some if the hotkeys I've set up:

View attachment 93476

I dont want to run a program. I want to change default windows shortcuts. E.g i want winkey+; to ctrl+.
Thanks. I will test Clavier+ perhaps other abilities.

Bug locker · Apr 14, 2024

Wisewiz said:
I think the first step would be to disable the current hotkeys. Then get a small program that will let you program your own hotkeys.

Disable them with Group Policy:

Go to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer.

Scroll down to find Turn off Windows Key hotkeys and double-click on it.

On the pop-up window, select Enabled and then click the Apply and OK buttons to save changes.

But some can't be disabled that way. They're called "hard-wired hotkeys."

Win + P
Win + L (but I found a reg hack to disable that one)
Win + U
Win + G
Win + X
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Ctrl + Alt + Del

Then, I recommend a tiny standalone (no installation required) program called "Clavier+". Here's a link to it:

Clavier+

gryder.org

It lets me set up as many hotkeys as I want, and open programs, jump to Websites, restart programs, and other things. Here's a sample of some if the hotkeys I've set up:

View attachment 93476