How to make your multimedia keyboard work with iTunes

How to make your multimedia keyboard work with iTunes

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



78 Responses to “How to make your multimedia keyboard work with iTunes”

  1. Jeffrey November 1, 2010 at 12:10 pm #

    I’m using my HP Pavillion dv6000 touch-buttons for i-tunes now. Works like a charm, tnx!

  2. Luke February 18, 2011 at 6:58 pm #

    Didn’t watch the video, but the Vista directory is the same with Win7. Don’t know if it mentioned it in the video, but restart iTunes to enable it.

    • mathemagician July 24, 2011 at 9:15 pm #

      ok i have win 7 and itunes 10.4, theres no app data folder for win 7, so how is it the same as vista?

      Did you have to make all the folders manually?

      • mathemagician July 26, 2011 at 1:56 am #

        ok i realized i had my folders hidden but still when i put it in the right folder and restart itunes it still only works when maximized and ive updated my drivers just to make sure

        it looks like an update will be required for it to work with itunes 10.4 cause other ppl have been saying it doesnt work unless they downgrade back to 10.3

        this was awesome with my old comp, so any chance an update could be made for logitech keyboard and itunes 10.4 for win 7 64??? please???

        • Skipjack August 4, 2011 at 3:21 pm #

          Hey.
          Same problem with iTunes 10.4.
          10.3 was everything all right.
          I think some changes for OS X Lion are the problem, hope it will be fixed in next Update.
          Apple is not bugless.

  3. C March 25, 2011 at 12:47 am #

    hey, I have vista on a PC and downloaded the file and then created my own file called “Plug-ins” under my iTunes folder, as you said. Well, it made my shortcut keys work for iTunes, which they weren’t before (yay!), but only when it’s maximized. Any clues for further tinkering to that I can use the hotkeys when iTunes is minimized?

    Thanks!

  4. Des April 7, 2011 at 2:12 pm #

    Hey i cant change my music when im playing full screened games like warcraft.Can help?

  5. Ken April 9, 2011 at 12:44 am #

    I followed your instructions, and itunes recognizes the play/pause button, but only as long as the button is down. It doesn’t toggle between play and pause, but pauses when button is down and plays when button is released. I am using windows 7, microsoft wireless keyboard 3000, and I have updated drives. Any help would be appreciated

  6. tom April 25, 2011 at 5:56 am #

    Thankyou so much, this worked fine. and was very helppful, cause i was using window MP for the sole purpose to have those buttons but now it works:)

  7. Lu April 30, 2011 at 3:38 am #

    Love it! Thank you very much. Did you developed this?

  8. dan May 8, 2011 at 5:06 am #

    works perfectly!!! thanks!

  9. Tail July 26, 2011 at 3:48 am #

    After putting the plugin in the right directory, iTunes just doesn’t open, even though I can see a process of iTunes open in the task manager.

    • Tail July 26, 2011 at 4:00 am #

      Nevermind, everything was fixed after restarting the computer, and the plugin works perfectly fine! ^^
      Thanks alot!

      • Rish July 29, 2011 at 8:50 pm #

        Hey man, what version of windows and what version of itunes are you running? Just want to see if this will work for me when i get home. Thanks!

  10. Gruber August 22, 2011 at 6:45 pm #

    Since 10.4 iTunes “windows class name” changed from iTunes to ITWindow. Maybe mmkeys is searching for the iTunes Window to send the keyboard strokes?

  11. Maggie September 8, 2011 at 8:19 pm #

    The plug-in is working for me on my HP Pavilion G6, but only if iTunes is the active window, which kinda defeats the purpose. Any other plug-in anyone can recommend that allows keyboard control of iTunes if it’s minimized?

  12. Mark September 9, 2011 at 3:07 pm #

    @Gruber Same problem here too. Since upgrading to iTunes 10.4 this plug-in no longer works for me either :( [Windows XP Pro]

    • Dixa September 13, 2011 at 5:54 am #

      i might have the solution, i was looking for something to control itunes with media keys, and i found this page

      http://code.google.com/p/hktunes/

      just move the .exe file to the folder:

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

      Vista Users/Win7 Users: “C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins”

      it still has some issues, but it works for me.

  13. Viin September 18, 2011 at 10:39 pm #

    hktunes works for me too.On W7 itunes 10.4, looks perfect. Ty

    • eagles11 September 25, 2011 at 11:36 pm #

      hktunes worked great for my hp pavillion g4 win 7 64bit . thanks viin

  14. Walrus October 8, 2011 at 6:50 am #

    I bought a Logitech G110 keyboard today and it didn’t work with itunes (obviously). I followed all the instructions, twice, and it still hasn’t worked for me. Any help? Haha.

  15. walid November 23, 2011 at 2:47 am #

    Hi.
    I just searched on the net if it was possible. nevver thought it was, but then it was :) .

    THANK YOU Nacho!! you saved my life :P

  16. Jaay November 28, 2011 at 10:12 am #

    Thank you so much!
    This did the trick.
    It was bugging me heaps, that i had to stop what i was doing to change a song.
    Now i haven’t to worry about that anymore, so thank you tons!
    (:

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