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!
Worked with iTunes 8 on XP. Then I upgraded to iTunes 9. Now it only works if iTunes is maximised and has the focus. Doesn’t work if minimized or doesn’t have focus.
THANKS! This plugin works for the previous, next and stop buttons on my keyboard (Microsoft Wireless 1000), but Itunes (I’m using version 9) still pops up when I press the play/pause button.
Any suggestions?
Yep sure enough itunes 9 stopped this from working.
For iTunes9 try this folder: “C:\Documents and Settings\Your_User_Name\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins” and restart iTunes
On XP, was working fine before, now with iTunes9 it’s stopped working.
Putting the .dll in “C:\Documents and Settings\Your_User_Name\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins” does nothing, that’s the folder tree for Vista and Windows 7….
Charles,
Stan is right. The XP directory structure is C:\Documents and Settings\Name. Vista and Windows 7 structure is “C:\Users\Name
And the fix does work. You have to restart iTunes for it to take effect.
pkgitip8u55485
Thanks a million, worked perfect for me on Vista 64bit itunes 9
It’s much easier if you type %appdata%\Apple Computer\… in the path instead of \blah\lbha\blah\Apple Computer\…
No need to show hidden files either.
Vista x64, iTunes 9.0.1.8 x64, iType x64 7.00.260.0, MS Nat4000
mmkeys.dll fixed the play/pause while not focused, but not even Vlad’s reg hack fixed the next/prev/stop keys I have mapped with iType. Guess I’ll go back to XP32.
simple and works perfectly! thanks
thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!! just perfect…..
thanks a million! works fine!! still have to resolve issues with itunes9 freezing unexpectedly at some points though. i suspect it has something to do with ie8 to do, maybe in combination with vista 64bit. anyone got an idea?
anki
Great Work
As a feedback
Works with VAIO Windows 7 64Bit Enterprise itunes9
Hi,
It works on a sony vaio vgn-fw but sometimes buttonpresses register 2 times with a delay:
When i pres play the song starts to play but one second thereafter it pauses again.
Same with next and previous, it skips 2 songs instead of one…
Awesome thanks a lot
It worked!
Thanks a lot!!
:D
doesn’t work unless window is maximized for itunes 9.0 in vista64 or 7-64
Works with Windows 7 64 bit and Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard
Thank You !
This mostly works for me. I am running Win 7 64 Bit and have a remote that came with my ATI TV tuner. The next track, previous track, and play/pause buttons now work while minimized. The rewind and fast forward buttons don’t work while minimized, although they do while iTunes is maximized. The menu navigation buttons work in iTunes to change tracks and they don’t while minimized, and it’s just a bit easier (on my remote at least) to pick up the remote and hit these buttons (I know, this last part is nitpicking. I am actually quite thankful for this program as it covers 99% of what I use the remote for).
and I should add I’m using iTunes 9.0.1.8.
Thanks!!
The above link did not work for me, so I Google’d it and came across:
http://www.4shared.com/file/80746142/c4519e7b/mmKeys.html
which worked fine for me when placed in the Program Files/iTunes/Plug-Ins folder (or wherever it is installed). Next/prev/play/pause all work under Windows 7 Pro x64.
Cheers!
Yup, works with iTunes 9 and Windows 7! Thanks so much.
Worked brilliant under Vista on a Dell XPS M1330. Then Windows 7 came along (32bit) and it doesn’t work when itunes 9 is minimised :( Shame!
Thanks anyway,, appreciate the work.
Works well for me. Running Windows 7 x64 and iTunes 9. :)
Wonderful!
Windows 7 32-bit – Dell XPS M1330
Works Great for me – Win 7 x64, Itunes 9, Dell XPS M1330
This works great for me. Thank You very much. I’m using Vista Business x64 SP2 on a Lenovo T400 and iTunes 9 :P
works great – legends!
I am running Win7x64 Pro. I just purchased a Microsoft Sidewinder x6. I used mmkeys.dll on my old (crappy) media keyboard. I installed the recommended way, failure. Registry change, failure. Any ideas?
So, my question is this. What is the cause of this issue? Is this Apple’s fault with iTunes, Microsoft’s fault with Windows Vista 64 (and 7 64), or Microsoft’s fault with their multimedia keyboard driver?
Works with Windows 7 and iTunes 9. Thanks!
[...] mmKeys.dll – Use a multimedia keyboard with iTunes [Everything iTunes] Tagged:auituneskeyboard shortcutsmedia playerswindows [...]
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 with iTunes 9. Works a treat!
[...] admin on Nov.18, 2009, under Uncategorized Download mmkeys.dll from http://www.everythingitunes.com and install it in C:Users<user>AppDataRoamingApple ComputeriTunesiTunes [...]
stan was right… i put it in
“C:\Documents and Settings\Your_User_Name\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes Plug-ins”
and it works for itunes 9
thanks allot man
Works well for me. Good share!
Hey arrived from Lifehacker, thanks and now I can fully utilize my keyboard! It’s been too annoying not being able to use my multimedia keys for too long.
Charles is right. If you’re on XP and are using iTunes 9, that works. Now I like iTunes! Rather than muting quick button pauses the song just a quick!
I just tried it on my Win7 PC with iTunes 9.0.2.25, no change from using it with out this dll.
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I just hacked my life! I was thinking about this yesterday, and today VOILA~
Works excellently, latest iTunes (9.something), Win7 Pro 64bit, with 64bit iTunes.
Before this dll the media keys only worked when iTunes was focused, but when I had Vista 32bit + iTunes 9 they worked whether it was focused or not. I think it’s a Windows thing maybe?
Cheers anyway, works excellently!
Works! XP, iTunes 9.
Thanks! this works perfectly with iTunes 9 on Win7 Ultimate 64bit. Remember to restart iTunes before complaining that it doesn’t work.
Thanks! Works great on Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit running iTunes 9. I hated how I couldn’t use my media keys with iTunes and thanks to this amazing plug-in I can :) thanks again.
Works great on Windows 7 x64 with iTunes 9! Thanks for this!
Win 7 64 bit home premium, latest I tunes. Works great! Thanks