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Do you know how to Fix ‘Windows key is acting as a Play and Pause key’ issue? It can be really annoying and stop you from working if your Windows key starts to behave like the Play/Pause button all of a sudden. Most of the time, this is caused by choices on the keyboard that don’t work well together or bugs in the software. Don’t worry, though. There are some simple things you can do to fix this and get your Windows key to work again.
These easy steps will help you figure out what’s wrong and make sure your Windows key works as it should, which will make your computer experience better and help you get more done. Let’s look more closely at the step-by-step ways to fix the issue where the Windows key acts as a Play and Pause button. The first thing you can do is restart your machine to see if that sorts it out. In that case, you can use the Control Panel to make sure that your keyboard settings are right.
You could also try updating your keyboard drivers, since problems like these are sometimes caused by drivers that are too old. In case nothing else works, you can try a different keyboard to see if the problem still happens. After following these steps how to Fix ‘Windows key is acting as a Play and Pause key’ issue, your Windows key should work normally again in no time.
What is ‘Windows key is acting as a Play and Pause key’ issue
Most of the time, the Windows key acting as a Play and Pause key issue happens when the Windows key on the computer isn’t set up or working right. It stops doing what it’s supposed to do, like starting the Start menu or calling up shortcuts, and starts acting like the button used to play or pause media. Users may find this annoying and hard to understand because it gets in the way of how they normally use the computer.

The problem could be with the hardware, like a broken or stuck key, or with the software, like the wrong keyboard settings or other programmes remapping the keys without your permission. There may be actual damage to the keyboard that needs to be fixed. You may also need to update the keyboard drivers, change settings in the operating system that affect the keyboard, or find and disable any other software that is blocking the keyboard from working properly.
Causes for ‘Windows key is acting as a Play and Pause key’ issue
- Keyboard Software Configuration: Some keyboard software tools let users change how the keys work. If you mess up or accidentally change these choices, they might act in a way you didn’t expect.
- Driver Problems: Keyboards may not work right if their drivers are out of date or broken. This problem can be fixed by updating or replacing the keyboard drivers.
- Third-Party Software Conflict: Some third-party programmes, like multimedia or keyboard customisation software, can get in the way of how keys normally work, leading to strange behaviour.
- Sticky Keys or Accessibility Settings: Sticky Keys is an accessibility tool in Windows that can change how modifier keys like the Windows key work. Make sure that the settings for accessibility are set up properly.
- System changes: Changes made by system changes or installing new software can sometimes make the keyboard behave differently. The problem might be fixed by undoing recent changes or restoring the system to a state it was in before.
How to Fix ‘Windows key is acting as a Play and Pause key’ issue
Check for Software Conflicts
- Go to Settings > Gaming > Game Mode and turn it off.
- Make sure no media player apps, such as Spotify or Groove Music, are running in the background and capturing the keypress.
- Check Third-Party Key Remapping Software, If you use software like AutoHotkey, temporarily disable it to check for interference.
Update Drivers
Keyboard Driver
- Right-click Start menu
- Select Device Manager
- Expand Keyboards
- Right-click your keyboard
- Choose Update driver
- Search automatically
Media Key Driver
- If available, update media keys driver
- Through Device Manager
Disable Fast Startup
- Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Additional power settings.
- Click “Choose what the power buttons do.”
- Click “Change settings that are currently unavailable.”
- Uncheck “Turn on fast startup” (recommended) and save changes.
Run System File Checker
- Open Command Prompt as administrator (search for “cmd” in the Start menu, right-click, and choose “Run as administrator“).
- Type sfc /scannow and press Enter. Let the scan complete and restart your computer.
Modify Registry (Advanced Users
- Warning: Modifying the registry can be risky. Only proceed if comfortable and have a backup.
- Open Registry Editor (search for “regedit” in the Start menu, right-click, and choose “Run as administrator“).
- Navigate to
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\KeyboardLayout.
- Find the value named “Scancode Map” and double-click it.
- Look for entries related to media keys (e.g., E0_00) and delete them. Be careful not to delete unrelated entries.
- Restart your computer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are easy ways to fix the issue where the Windows key acts as a Play and Pause button. First, try updating or replacing your keyboard drivers if they are out of date or damaged. This is often what causes these kinds of problems. Doing a clean boot is also a good idea to make sure that there aren’t any third-party programmes that are interfering with how your keyboard works.
If the problem still happens, check the settings for your keyboard in the Windows Control Panel or, if necessary, use third-party tools to change how the keys work. Check the physical state of your keyboard to make sure there isn’t any damage or junk around the Windows key that could be causing the problem. If you follow these steps, you should be able to figure out what’s wrong and fix it, making your Windows key work normally again so it doesn’t act as a Play and Pause button.
Question and Answer
If your Windows machine is giving you trouble, putting it back to the way it was could help. This should be your last choice, though, since it will get rid of all your apps and files. Don’t forget to back up first!
To fix problems for good, you may need to update your computer’s software or wait for a new driver from the manufacturer. By keeping things up to date, you can keep your system running easily and avoid problems.
Of course! Third-party software lets you change how the keys on your computer work. But be careful, because it could cause problems you didn’t expect or with other programmes on your machine.