Your daily fix of iTunes Plugins, Tips and Scripts for Windows XP and Vista
mmKeys.dll – Use a multimedia keyboard with iTunes
Tags: Keyboard
Added On: 4th Jan 08
Links: [site] [download]
EDIT: As a keen reader has pointed out, this software no longer works, due to changes made in the latest release of iTunes. Instead, use HKTunes, found on google code.
Makes your multimedia keyboard buttons work with iTunes when the program isn’t currently in focus, or is minimised.
It is common to find that, when it’s not maximised, iTunes will not recognise your media or gaming keyboard shortcuts as commands to play, pause, skip song, etc. This simple plugin fixes the problem in most cases. It saves you having to bring iTunes up on screen each time you want to use the keys.
To use this plugin, simply copy the mmKeys.dll file into your plugins folder.
- For XP Users, this is found in “C:\Program Files\iTunes\Plug-ins”
- For Vista Users, it’s “C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins” and you may have to show hidden files (or use the search) in order to see the AppData folder. One commenter also reported that it works when put in “C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins”.
- For Windows 7 Users: follow Vista instructions above.
- For linux+wine Users: This reportedly doesn’t work. Most likely a Wine bug though… what are you using iTunes for anyway?!
- In each case, you have to create this folder if it doesn’t already exist.
You also need to restart iTunes to load the dll. Some commenters have also reported a short delay after the button-press. I’m not sure why this could be..
Other Notes:
+ You still need to install the correct drivers for most keyboards in order to use the MultiMedia keys in the first place. This dll does NOT replace those drivers.
+ There’s also a reported glitch where the windows maximises, on both Windows 7 and Vista… anyone care to confirm this, or list what other apps they have running at the time? Also reportedly doesn’t work again until iTunes is restarted.. OR only pops up with PLAY and PAUSE, but not NEXT_TRACK… Please give more info in your comments!
+ This may be achievable using a registry hack. See this comment.
+ Some users have issues while playing full-screen games, where the keys no longer work. Please elaborate on this problem in the comments too.
+ If it’s not working, try killing “ituneshelper.exe” from within Task Manager. (press Ctrl+Alt+Delete)
+ If when you press a multimedia key, Windows Media Player (WMP) pops up, you need to make sure that iTunes is your default media player [how?].
+ Apparently the issue was fixed in an early version of iTunes 7, but with the later releases the problem has re-surfaced.
+ This plugin is great if you want your multi-media keyboard to be able to control iTunes when it’s behind another window or hidden in the system tray.
+ Apparently, this works in all flavours of Windows XP, Vista and 7, and both 32- and 64-bit varieties!
* Updated to reflect comments * – Please keep the comments rolling in!
thanks a lot Ben! the script works :D
Damn!! this doesn’t work with iTunes 10.4.1 doesn’t it?i also got HKtunes but doesn’t work either
please update this i just bought a g110 for nothing now!! :’(
It doesn’t work for me when Itunes is minimized.. the file is in the right location too.. help!!!
thanks that has been buggin me man
This no longer works with 10.4.1.10!!! Please update mannnnn. :)
My fix for the Dell XPS 15 is to download iTunes 10.5 Beta 7. This worked fine, until this release of the beta recently got “blocked”, meaning it crashes after 10 minutes or so, because it’s about to expire.
I guess I’ll have to wait for iTunes 10.5 to come out, it fixes my problem, and I hope yours too.
Works like a charm. ;)
i installed the itunes 10.5 today and it’s working pretty fine again, hope it keeps that way from now on.
A FIX HERE:
Uninstall all your apple software Bonjour, Apple mobile device helper, ituneshelper and stuff and then restart your pc and install itunes 10.5 that should work!!
I updated iTunes to 10.5 – now its working!!!
@Floris which keyboard are you using. I’m using the Razer Arctosa and the media keys don’t work with the 10.5 itunes. (I talking about the mmkeys.dll method)
I have a Sidewinder X6 and iTunes 10.5, this don’t work anymore.
Is it only me, or does iTunes 10.5 supports multimedia keys by itself with no plugins??
I uninstalled mmkeys.dll sometime ago, and now by mistake i pressed play/pause and it is working :S
[...] Today,06:30 PM mmKeys.dll – Use a multimedia keyboard with iTunes at Everything iTunes [Windows Version] This should solve your problem. [...]
Multimedia keys definitely working in 10.5, not sure if that is due to MMKeys or not though.
Media keys are now working without any programs dlls, however the media display on logitech keyboards are no longer working =/
Where is the mmKeys.dll file? steps plz?!
The plugin works again with iTunes 10.5 :D
Seconding BBK, with the new iTunes update (I’m running iTunes 10.5.0.142 on Windows 7) I can now use my dell laptop keyboard to control iTunes when minimized/out-of-focused, even without mmkeys. After the last updated broke mmkeys, this update fixed the original problem for me at least, making mmkeys no longer necessary.
What are you all doing differently? Upon upgrading to iTunes 10.5 my keyboard media keys no longer work unless iTunes has the focus. Even with the mmKeys.dll file in the plugins folder, it still doesn’t work.
Your blog does not display correctly on my iphone 4 – you may want to try and repair that
NEW ITUNES 10.5 LETS THIS PLUG IN WORK NOW. WOOOOO!
I can verify that the C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins placement of the file does work just fine. I placed the file in my actual user file and it didn’t work, but I created that extension and it worked A+
DESPITE the recommendation here to use HkTunes – HKTUNES DOES NOT WORK with iTunes 10.5!
Also, this does not work. The only solution currently is VBS based scripting.
just donfirming that itunes 10.5 does indeed work without mmkeys.dll or any other secondary plugin on my Dell inspiron 1525
Running the latest version of iTunes x64 (10.5.0.142), I still cannot control iTunes with my Razer Lycosa media keys, both with iTunes as the active windows and in the background. I’m guessing that since others have had media key functionality restored, that there must be a Razer driver issue, but even reinstalling the Lycosa drivers does nothing. Anyone else with the same keyboard able to restore media key functionality?
This didn’t work for me with a sidewinder x4. I think its iTunes 10.5 because my media keys used to work just fine until I updated to the newer version of iTunes.
TO EVERYONE WHO CAN’T GET THEIR KEYS TO WORK:
Yes, it’s iTunes. For some reason, the drivers you install to get your fancy functioning keys make iTunes throw a hissy fit and not register the keypresses.
Laptops with inbuilt media control keys get theirs to work through a different method, which is why they are getting results and we are not.
Any fix for this yet? This used to work great for my G11 Logitech keyboard, until I instaled a newer version of iTunes. Really annoying that I can’t skip a song I don’t like when I’m playing video games full screen, used to work perfectly. Now it won’t even register me pressing play/pause, next, previous, etc. even when I’m running nothing but iTunes.
Also, tried the HKTunes program, but to no effect.
I use a Comfort Curve 2000 Keyboard from Microsoft and my mediakeys don’t work either. It’s a pretty decent keyboard but even with HKTunes i couldn’t get the ‘play/pauze’ and ‘next/previous media track’ buttons to work. I have a ASUS N61J series laptop, Windows 7 64-bit.
Any ideas? I’ll try to uninstall IntelliType and reinstall the latest version.
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=5910
Perfect fix! Awesome work
Any chance of getting this to work whilst Windows is locked? I’ve seen the functionality on a Mac but can’t seem to find anything for Windows. Either way it’s a great plug-in the rest of the time!
I use a MS Sidewinder x4 and iTunes 10.5. I put the dll file in the correct spot, made sure no apple services were running and then turned on. Doesn’t work.
Any ideas?
http://andy.hillhome.org/blog/code/ituneskeys/
this worked instantly.
[...] prior iTunes versions, I had to use mmKeys.dll to get the media keys on my Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard to [...]
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[...] ist möglich. Dies kommt zwar nur selten vor, weil in oft den VCL Player verwende. (via + via)PLISTA.items.push({"objectid":6994,"title":"iTunes mit der Multimedia Tastatur [...]
iTunes 10.5.2.11 now seems to have a fix for media keys on built in laptop keyboards
I have iTunes 10.5 and Windows 7. The keys work when iTunes is minimized, but only for a second. For example, if I hit Pause, it pauses, then starts playing again. Haven’t found a fix for this. Does anyone know what will fix it?
Well if anyone is using LDCSirReal you should uninstall it if you want your media keys working while iTunes in running in the back.