How to make your multimedia keyboard work with iTunes

In: Tutorials

6 Dec 2008



Makes your multimedia keyboard buttons work with iTunes when the program isn’t currently in focus, or is minimized.

It is common to find that, when it’s not maximized, iTunes will not recognize your media or gaming keyboard shortcuts as commands to play, pause, skip song, or whatever the control might be. This plugin fixes the problem in most cases. It saves you having to bring iTunes up on screen each time you want to change how it’s playing.


To use this plugin, simply copy the mmKeys.dll file into your plugins folder.

For XP Users: “C:\Program Files\iTunes\Plug-ins”

Vista Users: “C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins”

In each case, you have to create this folder if it doesn’t already exist.

DLL File: http://nachomaster.com/tutorials/mmkeys.dll

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44 Responses to How to make your multimedia keyboard work with iTunes

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Max

March 2nd, 2009 at 5:30 am

hey thanks this works 90% :D when i have interactive progams up it doesnt work though
such as poker sites etc. much better tho!!! thanks

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Nacho

March 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm

No problem, enjoy!

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Jav

March 5th, 2009 at 4:52 am

Works good! Thank You

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noni

March 5th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

:o i dont have itunes plug-ins…and i use XP
what do i do now ? =(

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Nacho

March 5th, 2009 at 3:13 pm

You have to create the folder yourself. Try it.

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wortherz

March 6th, 2009 at 3:47 pm

cheers mate this is just what i needed. :)

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Kenneth

March 30th, 2009 at 6:01 pm

This didn’t work for me in iTunes 8.1, but I found these scripts that worked perfectly:

http://www.maximized.com/freeware/scriptsforitunes/default.asp

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Mike

April 8th, 2009 at 11:08 am

Did this trick work in itune 8.1, didn’t it?

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Rodney Emhof

May 23rd, 2009 at 3:27 am

Works great with 8.1 in Windows 7 RC.

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Justin

July 9th, 2009 at 4:36 pm

Awesome!! Also working in Windows 7 RC with iTunes 8.2

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mederbil

August 5th, 2009 at 2:33 am

Thank you so much! If you are Vista x64, you have ot make the Plug-ins folder yourself. I've been using Windows Media Player to use my media keys. Unforunately for me, WMP SUCKS!

I've had no problems yet! Greatly appreciated. I will be sure to mention it on my websites. http://www.g33kblog.org/ and http://www.mederbil.com/ – If you don't mind, of course.

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someone235

September 5th, 2009 at 5:55 am

ty very much :D
I’m just checking something…
alert(123)

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someone235

September 5th, 2009 at 5:56 am

%3Cscript%3Ealert%28123%29%3C/script%3E

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someone235

September 5th, 2009 at 5:57 am

i think u r safe, lol :D

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meme123

September 12th, 2009 at 2:57 am

works on vista sp2 32 bit itunes 9 mmkeys.dll from a different source didnt work on itunes 9 so i downloadded it from here it works

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Derick

September 25th, 2009 at 5:32 am

Thank you soo much, i now can use itunes while playing video games, i used to always just use windows media player but found it hard because i put all my music in itunes because my ipod uses itunes, this makes it easier to say goodbye to WMP!!!

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Matt

October 4th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

Hi there. Unfortunately it doesn’t work for me, since I upgraded from Itunes 8.2 to Itunes 9. Any other ideas?

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JT_3k

October 13th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

iTunes 9 (latest release as of 13/10/09) and Windows 7 ultimate market release (gifted by Microsoft at the official launch) leaves me well happy that this works.

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JT_3k

October 13th, 2009 at 4:10 pm

Wait, I take it back. iTunes 9.0.1.8 and Windows 7 Ultimate x64 – FAIL

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James

October 16th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

TY, Worked , Im on Windows 7 Its in same place as Xp’s one i just made the folder :D

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David

November 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 am

Works great with x32 Windows 7 and iTunes 9. Thanks!

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Maz

November 8th, 2009 at 10:41 pm

Thank you so much! Started to get annoying not being able to skip songs without clicking on iTunes (In a totally non-lazy way of course!)

Thanks again x

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Mat

December 29th, 2009 at 6:42 pm

Thanks for this fix. Works great !!
:)

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Donovan

December 29th, 2009 at 10:26 pm

Worked great thanks!

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Jack H.

January 6th, 2010 at 9:56 pm

THANK YOU. Worked like a charm. Windows 7 64-bit ultimate edition. (Keyboard is a Microsoft Laser 6000 v2)

Bless your soul for making my life one click faster. :)

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Check241

January 11th, 2010 at 7:44 pm

Thanks. It works. Makes life much easier.

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Tom

January 27th, 2010 at 5:15 am

WOW, thanks soo much dude, you are a champion!

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Hewer

February 15th, 2010 at 7:29 pm

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit laptop with an old Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro plugged in for easier typing- works perfectly.

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU

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marcelo

March 6th, 2010 at 7:08 pm

Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit dell laptop! Perfect!

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billy the kid

March 12th, 2010 at 6:21 am

this is friggin awesome, thanks a lot dude! works perfectly on hp pavilion dv6000 laptop with touch keys that are built onto the top of the keyboard area and iTunes 9.0.1.8

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Ruairidh

March 17th, 2010 at 9:54 pm

Thanks works great, absolutely brilliant :D

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help

March 31st, 2010 at 4:09 pm

I have windows 7 and itunes 9 and i cant get this to work. I made the plug-ins file and copied the dll there, but my media keyboard still doesnt work when itunes is minimized! Help required.

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help

March 31st, 2010 at 4:17 pm

Solved! Apparently there’s itunes in program files (x86) and this was the right one instead of itunes in program files!

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thanks

May 6th, 2010 at 9:18 pm

Wow, so easy, cheers man, my life is that little bit better!!!
(Seriously thanks man!!!!)

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Peter

June 8th, 2010 at 7:27 pm

Works beautifully. If you go into the configuration for the keyboard and ‘disable’ the play/pause key it will stop trying to launch windows media player and still work with itunes. Beauty!!

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Mikkel

June 15th, 2010 at 6:01 pm

Thank you!! :D I have been looking for this for ages, and then you pop up! :D I almost love you man :D :D:D:D:D:D I ow you one! ;D

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Kishan

July 1st, 2010 at 6:31 pm

Thanx…it works great !

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Anirudh

July 3rd, 2010 at 8:40 pm

Hey.. this doesn’t work for me :( I am using windows 7 and I did it exactly like you said.. roaming.. apple computer.. itunes plugins.. copy the .dll file.. but it doesnt work for me. Can someone help me, please?

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Anirudh

July 3rd, 2010 at 8:45 pm

Actually.. its working now.. I created a file “Plug-ins” in itunes in Program Files and copied the .dll file.. its working perfectly.. thanks :D

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Brian

July 12th, 2010 at 6:33 pm

Doesn’t work with me. Win7 x64 Ultimate + iTunes 9.2.0.61.

Dropped the DLL in the c:\Users\XXX\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins folder.

Even tried creating C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\Plug-ins, then dropping it in there, but both do the same thing.

When pressed, if the active window, it does nothing. If not in the foreground or minimized it just brings it to the front.

Any advice?

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Wally

July 20th, 2010 at 7:01 pm

The advice for Vista Users also worked for me on Windows 7. thank you for your advice.

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Tristan

August 21st, 2010 at 1:59 pm

Thanks :) Was wondering why this didnt work

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Ivan

August 25th, 2010 at 6:49 am

Dude, I’ve been a fool opening itunes just to change the song ever since I switched from windows media player, and I’ve always considered switching back just because I could use my play button, but now with this plug in, I don’t have to worry about that, so perfect, thank you!

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Brian

September 2nd, 2010 at 12:31 am

Works great in my windows 7 32-bit with Itunes 9.2.1.5. So nice to have this working as I constantly have to pause my tunes during the workday to deal with those pesky phone calls and co-workers! Nice Job.

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