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. Max March 2, 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

    Reply
  2. Nacho March 2, 2009 at 2:58 pm #

    No problem, enjoy!

    Reply
    • Anirudh July 3, 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?

      Reply
      • Anirudh July 3, 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

        Reply
  3. Jav March 5, 2009 at 4:52 am #

    Works good! Thank You

    Reply
  4. noni March 5, 2009 at 2:58 pm #

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

    Reply
  5. Nacho March 5, 2009 at 3:13 pm #

    You have to create the folder yourself. Try it.

    Reply
  6. wortherz March 6, 2009 at 3:47 pm #

    cheers mate this is just what i needed. :)

    Reply
  7. Kenneth March 30, 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

    Reply
  8. Mike April 8, 2009 at 11:08 am #

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

    Reply
  9. Rodney Emhof May 23, 2009 at 3:27 am #

    Works great with 8.1 in Windows 7 RC.

    Reply
  10. Justin July 9, 2009 at 4:36 pm #

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

    Reply
  11. mederbil August 5, 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.

    Reply
  12. someone235 September 5, 2009 at 5:55 am #

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

    Reply
  13. meme123 September 12, 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

    Reply
  14. Derick September 25, 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!!!

    Reply
  15. Matt October 4, 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?

    Reply
  16. JT_3k October 13, 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.

    Reply
  17. JT_3k October 13, 2009 at 4:10 pm #

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

    Reply
  18. James October 16, 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

    Reply
  19. David November 3, 2009 at 5:16 am #

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

    Reply
  20. Maz November 8, 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

    Reply
  21. Mat December 29, 2009 at 6:42 pm #

    Thanks for this fix. Works great !!
    :)

    Reply
  22. Donovan December 29, 2009 at 10:26 pm #

    Worked great thanks!

    Reply
  23. Jack H. January 6, 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. :)

    Reply
  24. Check241 January 11, 2010 at 7:44 pm #

    Thanks. It works. Makes life much easier.

    Reply
  25. Tom January 27, 2010 at 5:15 am #

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

    Reply
  26. Hewer February 15, 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.

    THANKYOU

    Reply
  27. marcelo March 6, 2010 at 7:08 pm #

    Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit dell laptop! Perfect!

    Reply
  28. billy the kid March 12, 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

    Reply
  29. Ruairidh March 17, 2010 at 9:54 pm #

    Thanks works great, absolutely brilliant :D

    Reply
  30. help March 31, 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.

    Reply
    • help March 31, 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!

      Reply
  31. thanks May 6, 2010 at 9:18 pm #

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

    Reply
  32. Peter June 8, 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!!

    Reply
  33. Mikkel June 15, 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

    Reply
  34. Kishan July 1, 2010 at 6:31 pm #

    Thanx…it works great !

    Reply
  35. Brian July 12, 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?

    Reply
  36. Wally July 20, 2010 at 7:01 pm #

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

    Reply
  37. Tristan August 21, 2010 at 1:59 pm #

    Thanks :) Was wondering why this didnt work

    Reply
  38. Ivan August 25, 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!

    Reply
  39. Brian September 2, 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.

    Reply
  40. MSB September 7, 2010 at 6:51 pm #

    Works like charm :)

    Reply
  41. thomas September 12, 2010 at 4:17 pm #

    For me it works if I have a windows explorer window opened, but not when I have firefox or something else opened…

    Reply
  42. Omar Shamali September 13, 2010 at 10:07 am #

    thank you, it works fine :)

    Reply
  43. Daniel September 15, 2010 at 8:17 pm #

    Works Great!!! Fixed an incessant annoyance in my daily computing. Thank you soooo much

    Reply
  44. Jordan September 15, 2010 at 8:27 pm #

    Works perfectly on iTunes 10 in Windows 7. This is sweet.

    Reply
  45. Chris September 17, 2010 at 5:44 pm #

    Windows 7 x64 Pro with iTunes 10!! works perfectly every time! excellent post!

    Reply
  46. Mckray September 22, 2010 at 6:43 am #

    Sony Vaio VGN-FZ290 Vista 32
    iTunes 10
    Works.

    Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  47. James Fraser October 3, 2010 at 3:07 pm #

    Hey, it works on my Sony FW11E – thanks very much for the post!

    Reply
  48. Lee October 9, 2010 at 2:12 am #

    OMG!! Thank you SOOOOOooo Much!!! i’ve been wishing this forever! finally decided to figure this out!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!

    Reply
  49. Duane Stout October 27, 2010 at 6:56 am #

    Basically, feeling the same as Lee on this issue. So glad I finally decided to look into it. It has been driving me FREAKIN NUTS! Thank you so much for posting this AND providing the file. Fixed in seconds! HELLZ YEAH!

    Reply
  50. Shannon October 30, 2010 at 9:04 am #

    Thank you! It kind of works, by that I mean, it starts out working, and then after awhile, even if I’m still doing the same thing as before, it will no longer work. I’ll have to plug my iPhone back into the computer (I run it through the USB cord from my iPhone) … though maybe that’s the problem it stops working… who knows.

    Reply

Leave a Reply