If the Windows secret is causing unnecessary keystrokes while gaming or any other activities, here's how you can block or disable Windows type in easy steps.

Whenever you press the Start or Windows Key, the Start menu will be opened. For a majority of Windows users, pressing the Windows key after which searching for applications and files is nearly a second nature. However, while playing you might want to disable the Windows answer to avoid accidental key presses. After all, it is very simple to press the Windows Key instead of the Ctrl or Alt key.

So, when the Windows secret is getting into your way for whatever reason, play one of the methods shown below to disable the Windows key or Start key. Since Windows doesn't offer any official option, we have to use third-party applications or registry or group policy edits. I'll show all of them, stick to the one you want.

1. Disable Windows Key using AutoHotKey

Using a simple AutoHotKey script, you can quickly block the Windows key. All you need to do is execute the script and you're simply done. Listed here are the steps you should follow.

Get AutoHotKey and do the installation.

Right-click on desktop.

Select "New → Text document".

Name the file as "Disable Win Key.ahk". You are able to name the file anything you like, just make sure that you simply replace .txt extension with .ahk.

Right-click on the file and choose the "Edit Script" option.

Copy the below code.
;; Disable Left Windows Key
LWin::Return
;; Disable Right Windows Key
RWin::Return
Paste it within the opened file.

Press "Ctrl + S" in order to save the file.

Close Notepad.

That is all. Just double-click around the file you simply designed to execute the script. As long as the script is running, the Windows key is going to be disabled. While the script is running, you can see the AutoHotKey icon in the taskbar.

To allow Windows key, right-click around the AutoHotKey icon on the taskbar and select "Exit". This can close the script and also the Windows key functionality will be restored.

2. Disable Windows Key via GPO

You can also disable the Windows key using GPO. All you need to do is configure an insurance policy in Group Policy Editor. Here's how.

Open Start menu.
Type "Edit Group Policy" and press Enter.
Go towards the following folder.
User Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer
On the best panel, double-click on the "Turn off Windows Key hotkeys" policy.
Select the "Enabled" radio option.
Click "Apply" and "Ok" buttons.
Close the Group Policy Editor.
Restart Windows.

After rebooting, the Windows key will no longer work. Not just the Windows key but all the hotkeys combined with the Windows key won't work. For instance, the job view shortcut "Win + Tab" no longer works.

To allow the win key, choose the "Not configured" radio option in step 5 and reboot Windows. Setting the GPO to Not Configured will enable the Windows Key.

3. Registry Edit to bar Windows Key

With a simple registry edit, you can block the Windows key. If you work with Windows 10 Home edition, this is the alternative for that group policy method.

Open the Start menu.
Type "Registry Editor" and press Enter.
Copy the below path.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

In the opened registry editor, paste the copied path in the address bar and press Enter.
Right-click on the "Explorer" folder.
Select "New → DWORD (32-bit value)" from the context menu.
Type "NoWinKeys" because the value name.
Double-click on the newly created Dword value.
Type "1" within the Value Data field.
Click "Ok" in order to save the changes.
Close the registry editor.
Restart Windows.

Once you restart the system, the Windows key won't work.

To re-enable the Windows key, simply delete the "NoWinKeys" value in the registry editor.

Wrapping Up

As you can tell, it is really quite simple to disable the Windows key. If you are searching for any temporary solution. i.e, an easy method to enable and disable win key whenever needed then I recommend you stick to the AutoHotKey method. If you are searching to permanently disable Windows key then follow the Group Policy or Registry method.