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]
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!
Works great for me thank you very much!!
Works great on Windows 7… been wanting this for a while!
to kairi – games typically use DirectX (DirectInput) to “capture” the keyboard, and so windows will pass most keypresses to the game. I think some keyboard drivers can get around this with preset shortcuts. Otherwise, I’m not sure if iTunes or mmkeys uses DirectInput, or what happens when two DirectInput programs both want to inspect keypresses (I suspect the one with focus will get priority).
Very nice work, thanks a lot :D
Works perfectly.
[...] Hier gibt es Abhilfe in Form eines Plugins – und keine Angst es handelt sich lediglich um eine .dll Datei. Also kein zusätzliches Programm was noch nebenbei laufen muss. Ich weiß ehrlich gesagt nicht, wer das ganze programmiert hat, aber gefunden habe ich es bei Everything iTunes. [...]
Works fine, no delay with win 7 and 9.0.1.79 build of itunes.
For anyone like me using Vista, the newest version of iTunes (9.2.0.61), and can’t get this plug-in working, I did a little googling and found a program that does it just fine. It’s a program, not a plug-in for iTunes though. It does however, have an option to run it on startup if you right click it in your system tray.
I spent 4 hours trying to get this plug-in to work and couldn’t. I believe the publisher of the plug-in deemed it abandonware and thus it will not be updated by him.
This program allows you to map your shortcut keys, uses about 6.5kkb, and on a decent system it isn’t even noticable at all.
Hope this helps alleviate some of your frustrations.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/iTunes-Media-Keys.shtml
It appears to be from a trusted site (never used it myself) and I’m running it now and I’m not noticing any additional background scripts so I believe this is the real deal.
Good luck folks hope it helps!
Just downloaded for Vista Ultimate 64-Bit, worked 1st try no problems, thanks for the .dll mate.
As most of you I got issues with my IntelliType + Sidewinder X6 :/
Whenever I clicked my play/pause button WMP opened up (if it was not already, else it took the commands in place of iTunes) and if iTunes got focus it reacted to the command, else it wouldn’t.
I use iTunes for songs.
WMP for videos/Animes.
This won’t change, it’s my setup for media.
I found this plug-in, it works as a charm except for 1 or 2 things, they are not critical, but sometime they could become a pain in the…
1- If WMP is not open, whenever I play/pause, it will open up.
1.1- The difference is that now iTunes will react correctly to the play/pause command even with this little WMP glitch. :)
2- It’s kinda funny, but somewhat of a pain… considering WMP and iTunes opened. If both are paused, I click Play/Pause, both will start, if both are started, both will pause, and the oposite, one is started the other paused, they will switch status. xD
2.1- The exception is that if iTunes has focus, only iTunes will react to the play/pause command,, if WMP has focus, both will to as described.
I don’t know if I’m the only one with this little “special-freebe feature” :P but I would like to unsubscribe from it, is there anyway someone got up with??
Thanks in advance
Best regards
Joel
thanks!!! I installed this library on laptop toshiba u505 with Windows 7 64bits and iTunes 9, and works perfect. :)
Thats amazing. Works perfect!
AMAZING!
works great on Windows 7 64 bit, iTunes 9.2.1.5 and a Logitech G110 keyboard
Thanks, works great!
When iTunes doesn’t have focus works well. However when it has the focus it doesn’t work at all…
iTunes 9.2.1.5 Win7 64 bit.
Maximizes the window. Nothing else.
Worked exactly as explained!
I have been looking for a while and this was perfect
Thanks
Works perfect! Only problem (very small), i didnt have the C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins folder, insted of iTunes Plug-ins i had to use a mozilla plug-ins folder (using windows 7).
This fix has worked for me for years, recently (sometime in June or July) it stopped working. There was an update to itunes somewhere in that time period I remember. People report that it still works though with the current itunes version though. Tried re downloading it and putting in the plug in folder again but still a no go. Is there another place I should put it besides C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins ?
WIndows Vista 64 bit
Worked great on Win7 64-Bit – Make sure to make it so you can view hidden files through your control panel.
Worked brilliantly, thanks!
Ok, so it made the shortkeys on my laptop work but how do I make my Dell XPS m1530 Laptop Remote work??? anyone know?
Stopped working for some reason, so i tried copying the .dll to
C:\program files (x86)[just program files if you are on 32 bit]\itunes\plug-ins
tried it again and worked
Windows 7 on Dell studio xps (laptop) with iTunes 9.2.1.5.
Brilliant! Thanks a lot.
Ty works a treat!
(win7 64bit logitech g110)
perfect, thanks alot
This works great, so glad I wasn’t the only one frustrated by this!
Saved my life.. kind of
worked, awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Works like a charm. Thanks a bunch
Awesome plug-in!
thx mate!! ^_^
Wasn’t Working for me (had .dll in C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins AND C:\program files (x86)\itunes) despite it having worked for a short period after first trying the .dll fix several months ago. Today when trying to figure it out again, I tried “Jordan’s” fix and surprisingly that seems to have done the trick.
Copied the .dll into “C:\program files (x86)\itunes\mozilla plugins”.
Restarted itunes and good to go!
Windows 7 Home Premium x64; itunes 9.2.1.5
I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit, iTunes 9.2.15 and Dell wireless multimedia keyboard.
It worked for me when I put the dll file into:
C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins
*AND*
C:\program files(x86)\itunes
THANKS!
Just installed this on Windows 7 64-bit with a Logitech G110 Keyboard and it works perfectly even with full screen programs and games running. iTunes Version 9.2.1.4
Tried all variations of this fix in the posts above but cannot get it to work.
Any other suggestions?
Windows 7 64bit
Itunes 9.2.1.5
Microsoft Intellitype 7.1 on Wireless Desktop Elite
Thanks, this got my Sidewinder X6 keyboard to work with iTunes. Major props for this fix; I really appreciate it.
Thanks a lot for this dude. I was starting to get really frustrated. Had a lot of problems with my G110, but this was the last of the bugs I’ve had to iron out.
Appreciate it.
<3
This is Perfect bought a new Cherry keyboard and it was configured for Wmaplayer!! so this helps really well
and no delay (xp)
Thanx!
Couldn’t get MMkeys to work with my G110 keyboard on Win XP but I found a small program called iTunesControl and it worked perfectly. Even has a little pop up display of album art and song and artist nice.
Just wanted to say thanks for the fix. It works great. Only that I did not have a folder called plug-ins. I just created one, and copied it there, and restarted it. Works like a charm.. :)
yes this works great .. just have to close itunes and re open for it to work after!
Works brilliantly, thanks a lot.
worked perfectly for me at first, but since the version 9.2.1.5, I can’t get it to work.
Hey this was PERFECT! I was so frustrated because my keyboard has like 1000 functions and it wouldn’t work with iTunes in the background!
Now it does everything I ever needed it to! Thanks a ton!!!
Love this really, thanks for your work. Seriously, if you put up a Donate link I will drop some money in the bucket. Or if you have one and I missed it, let me know.
Works perfect! Fantastic!
Works for the pause/play button, does not work with skip/goback buttons.