Windows key not working

Hi Gabriel,

Method 1: Disable gaming mode on your keyboard
Some keyboards, usually marketed as “gaming”, have ability to turn off Windows keys via some hardware switch or Fn key combination in order to prevent pressing this key which usually exits your game. The gaming mode key is usually marked with a joystick drawing. Here is how to disable gaming mode on some of the popular gaming keyboards.

On Logitech keyboards, there is a switch above the F1, F2 & F3 function keys that you can flip to the right for gaming mode and to the left for regular use. Flip it to the left. Other versions have a gaming mode button above F4, press the button to toggle in between gaming and standard modes.
In some keyboards, beside the right Ctrl button, instead of a second Windows button, there is a “Win Lock” button (not the menu button). Press it to enable the Windows key.
Corsair keyboards have their own software to adjust lighting, functionality, etc. Run the Corsair software (which has an option to enable/disable the windows key) and enable your Windows key.
The Azio keyboard also has such a switch in the MGK1 series. MGK1 & MGK1-K: Press FN and F9 at the same time. For MGK1-RGB: Press FN and Windows Start Key at the same time.
For the MSI computer/laptop keyboards, you can switch turn on the Windows key from the Dragon Gaming Center > System Tuner.
For the ibuypower keyboard, press fn + ibuypower (aka windows key) to toggle Windows key on and off
For Alienware gaming keyboard, press Fn + F6 to toggle gaming mode on and off
For MS Sidewinder keyboard, go into MS Keyboard & Mouse Center and you can click the Windows key in the dashboard and set it to enabled/disabled

Method 2: Enable Windows Key using registry edit
The registry can allow or restrict a lot including keyboard keys and menu items. To enable your Windows key:

Click Start, type ‘Run’ and click Run, or in Windows 8/10 right click on the start button and click run
Type ‘regedt32’, and then click OK. Click Yes if you get any EULA message asking for confirmation.
On the Windows menu, click HKEY_LOCAL_ MACHINE on Local Machine.
Double-click the System\CurrentControlSet\Control folder, and then click the Keyboard Layout folder.
Right-click the Scancode Map registry entry, and then click Delete.
Click Yes on the confirmation/warning message.
Close Registry Editor and restart the computer.
If you need to disable Windows key again, go to the Microsoft page here and follow the instructions for disabling windows key. You can also use the easy fix tool from here to enable and disable the Windows Key.

Method 3: Re-Register all apps
This will clear any software conflict with your keyboard

Click on the Windows button.
Type ‘PowerShell’ and then right click on ‘Windows PowerShell’ and run as an administrator.
If your start button doesn’t work when you click on it, go to this location: C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows PowerShell\ and right click on “Windows PowerShell” and run as administrator
Type or copy and paste the script below into the PowerShell window and press enter
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}
Restart your PC

Method 4: Enable the start menu
In cases where your start key does not bring up the start menu, there is a possibility the start menu was disabled. To enable it, follow the steps below.

Right click on the Start Button and select “Run” or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc and go to File > click run a new task from task manager.
Type “regedit” (without the quotes)
Navigate to this key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Windows > CurrentVersion > Explorer > Advance
Right click on the right hand side panel and create a new DWORD (32-bit) value
Call the new key “EnableXamlStartMenu”
Restart your PC or restart Explorer using task manager as explained in method 5 below.

Method 5: Restart Windows/File Explorer

Explorer controls your Windows user interface. This method will restart Windows/File Explorer and clear any errors that prevented it from starting correctly.

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del on the keyboard and click on task manager.
Click on the Process tab and locate Explorer in the windows and right click on it and select end task.
Click on File and then click on Run New Task.
Type ‘explorer.exe’ and press enter.

Method 6: Turn off filter keys
This has been seen as one of the culprits in Windows 8 and Windows 10 issues. Turning on filterkeys ignores or slows down repeated key strokes and adjusts repeat rates. Somehow, the windows key is also affected on some keyboards. To turn off filter keys:

Drag your mouse to the right edge of your Windows 8 PC and click settings. In windows 10, right click on your start menu and select settings.
From the Windows settings page, scroll down and click on Ease of Access
Click on the keyboard tab on the left hand pane
Scroll down to ‘filter keys’ and turn it off

Method 7: Uninstall and reinstall your keyboard drivers
Uninstalling the bad keyboard drivers will reinstall the correct drivers for your keyboard.

Right click on the Start Button and select “Run” or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open task manager and go to File > run a new task.
Type devmgmt.msc and hit enter to open device manager

Expand the ‘Keyboards’ section

Right click on your keyboard drivers and select ‘Uninstall device’
On the warning message that appears, click on ‘Yes’ or ‘Uninstall’ to remove these drivers
If you have a USB keyboard, unplug it then plug it back in. Or restart your computer. Windows will reinstall the drivers automatically. Check if Windows key now functions.

Method 8: Unplug your game controller
Your Windows key might not function some times when your game pad is plugged in and a button is pressed down on the gaming pad. This could be caused by conflicting drivers. It is rear however, but all you need to do is unplug your gamepad or make sure no button is pressed down on your gaming pad or keyboard. Updating your gamepad or keyboard drivers might permanently solve this problem.

Please let me know if one of these will help you solve your concern.

Thanks and regards,