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!
Using with XP. If its in the background and maximized every time I push a button it is like I am pressing it twice. So if it is playing and maximized in the background and I press play/pause, it pauses for a second and then plays again. Or if I hit skip track it skips two tracks. If its minimized to the taskbar and I hit skip track it works fine. But it maximizes when I hit play/pause. and I have the same problem again.
you are the best
FABULOUS!! YOUR AWESOME. NOW I DON’T HAVE TO CLICK BACK N FORTH OR USE MINI PLAYER THIS IS VERY CONVENIENT. THANKS N I’M USING VISTA. I PLACED THE .DLL IN BOTH THE ROAMING DIRECTORY AND THE PROGRAM FILES DIRECTORY. :P THANX AGAIN
I restarted my iTunes and computer but it still doesn’t work. I am using Razer Lycosa Mirror keyboard. Any help ?
heaps goood
wrks like a charm and don’t have to install a separate application
Thank you so much! … :)
This is wonderful!
Thanks this rocks!
Thanks…
Does itunes start slow on windows 7 anybody?
This is great for play/pause, but it doesn’t work for next track/last track. I’m using Intellitype Pro 7.0 with a MS ComfortCurve 2000 keyboard, and 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium.
Exactly what I was looking for, thanks so much.
i did everything but it doesnt work for me. mind i have Windows Vista. and Itunes 9.0
Very nice. Thanks for this.
Thanks!! works perfect. did it in 1 minute easy steps.
Win 7 (Home), iTunes9
I join everyone else with the problem of it working for awhile, then stopping. I tried Word on focus. Still worked. I tried minesweeper, still worked. Tried an internet game fullscreen (Team Fortress 2), still worked. I constantly have rainmeter, objectdock, and rocketdock running on my desktop. However, after a awhile it just stops. It could stop after I put the computer to sleep and then check up on it. That seems to the cause of a lot of random functions messing up after awhile. I’m fine with this problem though, a simple restart of iTunes helps. Just a minor annoyance. Will continue to check on this site. And if I didn’t already say this, this function is one of THE best features on my laptop know and I’m eternally grateful. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the plugin. Works perfectly for all keys (play, pause, stop, |<>|. I’m using Windows 7 (64bit) Home Premium with iTunes 9.
Thanks mate that was awesome :)
It doesn’t work for me! Nothing happens, I’ve restarted itunes. Placed it in both folders mentioned in the steps, I’m running Vista :(
Thank You Very Much. It works perfectly for my thinkpad
OMG! This is exactly what I was looking for :D thanks sooooo much
Hello!! Yes!!! this is exactly what i was loiking for too!!!
I tried on my dell xps 1640 with windows 7 x64, the iTunes 9.0.2.25 (x64). Works perfectly with the keyboard media keys and with the dell bh200 control keys (bluetooth headset)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Work great (on Vista) Play, pause, next track, pervious track, all work cannot rewind or ffwd (by holding button)though.Cheers
This is great! Thank you!
It’s works! I tried a LONG time ago, and it wouldn’t work at all. I came back to this site remembering about this awesome little plug-in and I wanted to give it another shot because I thought maybe I didn’t do it right the first time. I tried it, and it’s working like a charm. Thanks a lot!
Thank you very much!!
I’ve been looking for a solution for 2 years, and today, you give me this!!
Awesome.
Hi,
I cannot get the dll to work. I am running 7 Home premium 64-bit, and iTunes 9.0.2.25. I am using a Microsoft Natural Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard 7000 with IntelliType Pro with driver version 7.0.258.0
I tried restarting iTunes (and iTuneshelper.exe), but it still doesn’t work when iTunes is minimized or is behind any windows (it works when it’s brought to the front – but it worked before I copied the dll to the appropriate folder).
Please help me.
Sweet!
I’ve been wondering about that for some time. I’m glad I found this site.
Keep up the good work.
Works like a champ on Windows 7 …thanks!
I have 9.0.2 and I can use my multimedia keyboard without this plugin. I use this keyboard http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-K49-00001-Multimedia-Keyboard/dp/B00006D2LI and I have not installed Itellitype.
thank you sooooo much!!!!!
Works great! Thanks a lot!
Awesome! Works great. (Windows 7)
Thanks!!
Worked like a charm on a beta copy of Windows 7 64 bit, using a Saitek eclipse II keyboard.
You my friend are amazing !!!! this works out so much better for me constantly playing games and multitasking :)!!!!!!!
im having the same problem as dan at the top, when i dont have itunes selected it is doing 2 actions for 1 button press, such as skipping 2 tracks instead of going to the next, playing then pausing itself immediately after etc…
the first day i installed it, it worked great. after i restarted and came back to it the next day, its having these problems
[...] default, iTunes on Windows only supports multimedia keys when in focus. MmKeys.dll is a tiny (44K) addon which just needs to be dropped into your iTunes plugins folder to add support [...]
used this several times on xp pcs, works sweet, minimal delay but not long enough to be bothered by it.
Cheers + Beers
Rhys.
works good but it stops working after a while.i have object dock rainmeter fences orbit download deamon tools u torrent last fm and nod32 working on background
I have Windows 7 and i-tunes 9.0 works great now however i do have an issue with i-tunes where it tells me that i ma running in compatibility mode and everything i try to fix it doesn’t seem to work
any thoughts
Thanks! Worked on my Seven x64
Works Flawless thanks a lot!
OMG! Thanks a lot for sharing this with us.. Great work !
thank you! this helped so much! my laptop (running vista) wasn’t working unless iTunes was open, but now it works like a charm!
Thanks, awsome DLL file
I can confirm that with intellitype 7.0 on Win764bit nextTrack/prevTrack buttons don’t work, play/pause button works though.
It’s a pity, i’m really missing skip tracks without having to bring iTunes window on top.
I have the same problem where it stops working after a while. it will work fine once you start itunes, then randomly stops and you need to restart
same problem as above. anyone have a fix?
You are awesome :)
On Vista. Doesn’t work unless iTunes window is open and not minimized. Kind of defeats the purpose haha… Maybe I am doing something wrong?
Good job! This just works..
Windows 7 64-bit with Logitech Keyboard (Model: Y-SAE71)