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!
Thanks soooooooo much! Works perfectly, just had to show the ‘hidden’ folders then it was simple.
it appears to be making the media buttons hyper sensitive, occasional registering the buttons as being pressed twice.
It works great! I’m using XP though (iTunes 9.1.0.79) and the Plug-ins folder doesn’t seem to exist in this version. However, there is a “Mozilla Plugins” which I used in place of the “Plug-ins” folder and restarted iTunes and everything works just fine now. Thanks!
Nice one, man. Works like a charm. Got a new Alienware laptop running Windows 7, works perfectly. Music while on L4D2 now, finally.
perfect!
kind of works for me, but not really. I’m using Win 7 Ult. 64, iTunes 9.1.1.11, and a microsoft multimedia keyboard (with intellitype).
GOOD: play button opens itunes, can skip songs or stop play while window is in background
BAD: cannot control itunes at all when it is the active window, cannot resume play with play button but it instead makes itunes active window (terrible while gaming)
I have tried killing ituneshelper.exe and yes, I have restarted itunes
Yeah, I had a slight problem with it as well. Worked just fine, 2 days straight. I turn on my computer, works fine. Tried to change track while loading MW2, and it didn’t work. Exited, and it didn’t work unless it was the front window (again). I deleted it and downloaded it again, and it works. Nonetheless, don’t want to be doing that all the time.
worked (more or less) on windows 7 x64 pro. initially hitting play/pause brings up windows media player, it can be closed and the play and pause work for itunes with no further issue. however for the microsoft ergonomic 4000 keyboard took a bit more work to get the “back and forward” keys to be associated with just iTunes, have to reassign the key functions to be for music tracks then again restart iTunes (and hit pause play then close windows media player). thanks for the file!
It works perfectly! I have been looking for this for the longest time. Thanks so much! :)
doesnt work at all…. works when itunes is the active window but it worked before anyway… closed itunes helper, restarted several times reinstalled it twice and nothing…
plain old windows 7 pro 32bit with logitech media 600
loveeeeeeeeeeeee
Thx a lot ! ! !
Works 100 %
brilliant!
I didnt have a ‘plug-ins’ folder either
i had the mozilla one… just rename it to ‘plug-ins’ and insert the mmKeys.dll file in there
and restart itunes
works well thanks!
Thanks for the great plug-in!
To bad i-Tunes didn’t put it in standard. That was really the only downside to using i-Tunes. All my music was in i-Tunes so was kind of iritating in games to switch tracks.
If i-Tunes reads this: MAKE THIS A STANDARD PLUG-IN ! ! !
Greetz
works perfectly with iTunes 9.1.1.12 on Win7 64bit! pure awesomeness!
@Scott:
Try to put the mmkeys.dll in the C:\Program Files\iTunes\ dir also. I am on Win7-x64 and have non of your issues.
[...] mmKeys.dll – Use a multimedia keyboard with iTunes at Everything iTunes [Windows Version]. [...]
IT WORKS GREAT! THANKS!
Awesome dude!! thanks you very much!
Thanks dude!! Works better without the intelli type but without it your keyboard loose functionality.
It resolves window on top issue.
ahhh perfect, this works so well thanks
I used these VBS files and made links to them in Microsoft Intellitype Pro 7
http://maximized.com/freeware/scriptsforitunes/default.asp
It has scripts for Play/Pause/PlayPause/Next/Previous etc. Works flawlessly. I used this page’s plugin and RESTARTED itunes, and found it didn’t work with Intellitype…stupid Micro$oft
Works great, I couldn’t be happier (about the keyboard working).
I actually can’t get it to work at all… The media keys DO work in itunes, and the work great for WMP, but they won’t control itunes if it’s minimized. I’ve tried putting mmkeys all together in about ten different locations. Microsoft Internet Keyboard Pro, Win 7 x64.
I got it working! In windows 7, make sure you have the “Human Interface Device Access” service running. I found someone else suggested that in a post a while back, I tried it and it made it work for me.
Yes!!! Awesome work…
great job! instructions were clear and for once, simple to follow. How refreshing.. Thank you!
Geat Job, man! That’s everything I needed!!
Nice one – works a treat on my XPS 1630. :) Thanks.
This works perfectly, except it doesn’t work at all when I minimize iTunes to the system tray using the built-in option. Does anyone know a fix?
Ok, so I previously commented (comment #27) that this was a clear and simple fix. Unfortunately, this fix has suddenly stopped working. I read over several other comments and followed #16′s and #25′s suggestions, but to no avail. Seemingly, mmkeys.dll has just become ineffective on my system (despite having it now in both directories: C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins and C:\Program Files\iTunes\..
What’s strange is that it temporarily began working again after following ulrich binder’s suggestion, but now that isn’t doing the trick either.
Any ideas?
Thank you. Pausing with itunes underneath working perfectly with Win 7 64. This small thing has been irritating me for a long time. Glad to find the fix!
Ladies & Gentlemen
THIS FRICKIN WORKS!
It’s been a problem for me for sometime now
So annoying always going back into iTunes to change
WORKS PERFECTLY!
Kudos! :) :)
Really works, thank you very much
YES! Finally, the ANGUISH is over! What a small, yet frustratingly bothersome, quirk…why the Halifax doesn’t it do this “out of the box”?
THANK YOU!
Do we need to have itunes opened or closed, when we put the .dll file in the plugins folder?
Works great, thanks. So far I’ve had no glitches. Im running win7 pro 64 bit. I couldn’t find the file on my system so I just searched C:\Users\your_username\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins — with my username “travis” and it worked perfectly. Thanks again,
Travis
alright i had this working last week. but now it wont work, i lost power yesterday and when i turned my computor on it didnt work. ive tried putting th .dll file into the fold with and without itunes open and restarting. and it will not work. please someone help me. it is bugging me.
T.T so it works which is amazing BUT! whenever I play a game in windowed mode it stops working :( that’s why I wanted it in the first place, so I could control itunes while playing a game…any fixes? please and thank you ^^ but if you plan on using this while browsing the web or something it works fine :) I’d recommend it anyways.
vistax64 bit
gateway dx4300
works perfectly on win7 64bit. thanks alot.
Sweet jesus, it works! Windows 7 here. Thank you so much!
followed instructions, still wont help. please someone help me.
Working sweet on Win7 Pro x64. There is a slight delay in the button press but it is about half a second and definitely worth it to be able to change songs without opening up iTunes again. Thanks!
Also to the people who are struggling to find the folder, type this in the Run box “%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins” This will open the correct folder regardless of your username.
Isn’t working :/ tried everything, copied it into the plug-ins folder.. didn’t work. copied it into the mozilla folder, not working. renamed the mozilla folder, still not working. :(
Would it be possible to get the source code for this? Under creative commons or whatever… It’s hard for me to trust a dll, especially when it has to do with keystrokes.
Perrrrfectt!
[...] the heck is the point of these media keys then!!!! I think this is what you are looking for: http://www.everythingitunes.com/os/w…-04/mmkeysdll/ [...]
Nice! Simple and elegant! Thank you! (Windows 7 Ult 64 on Dell Vostro 1720 laptop)
Readme:
put mmkeys.dll in:
C:/Documents and Settings/*Username*/Application Data/Apple Computer/iTunes/iTunes Plug-ins/
Restart iTunes
Go to:
iTunes->View->Visualizer->Global Media Settings
Done!
Works perfect, thanks!