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!
Thanx, nice work ;P
Does it also works in other Multimedia Player as plug-in?
Greeze Stefan
works perfectly…. thanks SOOOOO much…
win 7 64x
itunes 9
ahhh! just what i needed!! thank you so much! i have vista and itunes 9! yay!
it worked perfectly untill i reinstalled windows…
now running win 7 64bit
works for a while after i start itunes and then stops…
help?
Works Great for me, Windows 7 Professional x64, iTunes 9
Ditto what Noam says.
Works for a while after starting Itunes then stops after about 2 minutes.
Windows 7, 64bit, dual monitors. Itunes 9.0.3.15
Any help would be greatly appreciated! Very frustrating because it was such a great fix.
thanks so much! Worked great for me on Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate.
Great! My friend told me to try it and it works perfect! Thanks Again.
I agree with comment 224: pressing play/pause brings iTunes to the front, but doesn’t play or pause whether or not iTunes is in the background. Next track, prev track, and stop all work, but only when iTunes is in the background.
Software:
Win7 x64 Professional
iTunes 9.0.3.15
Microsoft Wireless Natural Multimedia Keyboard
Intellitype 7.1
FANTASTIC! Works flawlessly, thank you very much.
Win 7
iTunes 9
Awesome! My hatred of iTunes has just reduced 10%.
[...] diversas opciones, pero me limito a la más eficiente. MmKeys.dll es un pequeño archivo que se agrega al folder de plugins y sólo con [...]
Hello, Josh again! I can confirm that the hotkeys don’t work when playing full screen games. But apart from that there are no issues.
EXCELLENT! It worked flawlessly!!!
Thank you so much !!!!!!!!!!!!
It workes GREAT! I am using Windows XP on a Dell Vostro 1520.
THANKS!
thanks it works great i tried everything new drivers etc. but this finally works :D
works perfect on win7 ultimate. thanks bro.
Hey, i was a bit skeptical downloading a file from a site i haven’t been on before, but it did actually work a treat. thanks heaps. now i dont have to switch over to wmp :):):)
Works beautiful in Win7 Professional x64
Oh yea, this works like a charm in Win7 Home Premium! Like others, I was kind of weary about downloading this from a site I hadn’t heard of, but it works perfectly!
Thanks a lot. :D
Perfect! Win 7 Ultimate x64, iTunes 9, SK-8135 Dell keyboard.
Works really perfect!
Thanks!
Dell Vostro 1400
Windows XP SP3
iTunes 9.0.1.8
Plug-in doesn’t works if the music library is placed not on disc C.
Win 7
iTunes 9
great except for the fact that when itunes is minimised it wont work which makes it complely pointless, now unlessed i stuffed something up i dont know can you help?
THANKS it worked PERFECTLY!§
i had to restart itunes :)
Worked perfect in win7 thanks!!!
Just letting you know that this is working under Windows 7 64bit running 9. Thanks a lot for this.