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!!! thank you very much!
I have a short delay but not long enough to be a pain.. in the end it’s 10x better than restoring focus to itunes.
Vista Business x64
thanks man, works great..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Excellent! Thank you!
Everything works great except the multimedia key does not work. I am using windows 7, and have set itunes to default player. Any suggestion?
WOW. SO simple. Don’t need to worry about using a 3rd party program. Thanks so MUCH!!
It’s working fine now on my Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard 3000
But something that I didn’t like is the iTunes popping up when I press the Play/Pause key
having issue with the next/previous track buttons, play/pause works fine.
using windows 7 and Itunes 8.
keyboard: Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 v1.0
Works greats! I used this about a year ago with a Dell M1330 laptop running Vista 32, and just checked my bookmarks and tried it on my Lenovo Thinkpad X200s running Vista 64. Works flawlessly with the built-in media keys in both, as well as using a USB Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro on the X200s.
Cheers mate – great little find, so easy to do and instantly worked for me.
Thanks!
why cant i find this in my user name file. \AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins” i have searched all words of this and with no findings. can any one help. running vista
PERFECT!! Windows 7
Works perfect….
you’re not gonna find the folder by searching in vista or 7 because it is hidden;
instead search %appdata% in the start bar search
Windows 7, iTunes 8, Logitech Di Novo Edge. Works perfect, thanks.
With Toshiba Satellite A300: The play and forwards buttons work perfectly once I started iTunes manually, but if I want to activate the program with my touchpad, its still WMP that keeps popping up…any news on that?
works like a charm, I was looking for something like this for a looooong time. thanks!
Was working fine for me under Vista 64 bit until I updated Itunes to V 8.2, now it doesn’t work at all.
:(
Can confirm that it works in Windows 7 Ultimate Retail with Itunes 8.2. Cheers!
it’s not working with itunes9 :(
Can confirm that its not working with my iTunes 9 x64, running on Windows 7 x64
Works perfectly on my Dell XPS M1530 with Windows Vista 32 bits and iTunes 9. Both with the multimedia keys and the remote control.
Thanks for this plug-in!
Just installed this on my Win7 x64 box with iTunes 8.2.1.6 and it works great!
I’m using a cheap Logitech wireless keyboard without any special Logitech drivers
Yeah, can we get a fix for iTunes9 x64, please?
Just doing a quick repost… appears to be working again after I restarted iTunes… Perhaps the problems are sporadic?
Thanks a lot for this, I hate Windows Media Player and *always* use iTunes and so was getting frustrated at my lack of control with iTunes out of focus!
not working with windows 7 x64 when word or games are up works when firefox is on top but when ms word and games are open it is non responsive could you please look into it thanks
sorry u want me to elaborate on games doesnt work while playing heros of newerth, works with halflife 2, dont believe it works with warcraft 3, if i notice anything while playing other games i will post back
perfect!
Thanks a lot, total life saver.
I’m running Windows 7 x&4 and iTunes 9 and for me it works most of the time, but after a while it doesn’t work anymore and I have to restart iTunes to get it working again.
it didnt work for me whats wrong? nothing happend when im pressing the button :(
Ooooo this fit as :D thx
Thanks a bunch, works like a charm.
Mines working again now fine with Itunes 9 Vista 64 bit, it stopped working completely (whether itunes was chosen or not)when I upgraded to Itunes 8.2 and then 9.0.
What I did was delete the mmkey.dll and plugged the keyboard into a different usb. Without the mmkey.dll the media keys began working again but only when Itunes was chosen. Reinstalled the mmkey.dll plugin and hey presto! It works minimised as well.
Thanks sooo much! Works a treat and so easy – no messing about with other programmes. I’m using iTunes 9 and Vista. No noticeable delay either. Ta muchly :)
Works Great with Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit, iTunes 9, Microsoft Wireless Natural Multimedia Keyboard.
Thanks!!
Perfect =)
Windows 7 64 bit, iTunes 9, x6 Sidewinder Keyboard
Works GREAT with IntelliType 7.0 on Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit.
There is a slight 1 second delay when pressing play (Only coming from paused), otherwise it is perfect.
Thank you!
Brilliant works very well, win xp and itunes 9 and itunes doesn’t pop up on mine.
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doesnt work at all for me :(
i tested it useing vista home premium 64bit and itunes is in the special toolbar mode (you can control it from the taskbar)
I found out what i did wrong! You need to set it as your visualizer! i have itunes 9 and a toshiba satellite a305-6862 btw.
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Hey thanks very much!! top tip.
works perfectly for vista premium 64bit with saitek cyborg keyboard and itunes 9.0.1
EDIT TO PREVIOUS POST: somehow this disables the mute button on my keyboard when I have any of the OpenOffice applications in focus, but play/pause, next track, and previous track all work just fine with OpenOffice in focus. mute button works fine with other things as focus.
It seems people are mainly having problems with games and Microsoft Office-type programs.
In XP Itunes 9.0, the plugins folder is
%APPDATA%\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins
Thanks a lot. Works like charm
wo0www,,, amazing!!!! hey men!! you are a god,,,, you give me de new life,, jeje,,,
i search in all parts in the world!! jeje,, thanks!!!
Works for a minute or So (windows 7 Ultimate X64) then stops (Itunes 9)