NOTE: I have totally rewritten this post as the original solution was crap. This one works!
I’ve been having an issue with the Windows key being “stuck.” It’s as if the key is being constantly pressed and before you ask, it is not a physical keyboard problem. The problem stems from Windows itself as I will show below.
An Internet search will lead you to several common solution suggestions. The most common ones are trying a new keyboard or blaming it on Windows Sticky Keys feature. Neither of these are the culprit, but go ahead and try. Even in Safe Mode, the key seems to be stuck!
Surefire Fix
The surefire way to unstick the Windows key is to remote into the computer using Remote Desktop and execute a Windows key command like Win+E which will bring up an File Explorer window. When you do this remotely, it will release the Windows key. Obviously, this solution won’t work if you are using a Home version of Windows which can only act as a client. (There are other ways to remote in, of course :-)
Permanent Fix
The sledgehammer approach is to edit the registry and disable the Windows key altogether. The problem with executing this solution is that it’s very difficult to do when every time you type something it’s executing Windows+ shortcuts. If you go this route, you will need to figure out a way that involves only mouse clicks. Microsoft has a page with downloadable files that will edit the registry to disable the Windows keys. So, a couple ideas come to mind: you could bookmark the page in Chrome on an iPad or another machine and wait for it to sync with your desktop or maybe use Dropbox or a USB drive to transfer a URL shortcut file to the affected machine.
Once you get the Windows key unstuck, I HIGHLY recommend that you disable the Windows key! (See above) If not, you should at least save Microsoft’s disable Windows key page to your favorites.
Windows is the Problem
Once you get the key unstuck, it will function normally. That means it is not a physical keyboard nor a Sticky Keys issue. Also, since the problem happens on various PC makes and models, you have to point the finger at Windows itself. Also, I find it very odd that Microsoft even has a page devoted to disabling the Windows key. Since no other key works qutie like the Windows key, perhaps there is something inherently problematic with the implementation and they couldn’t get to to work properly across all hardware systems. I don’t know, but the truth is I rarely used the key and definitely can live without it.
Throwing Caution to the Wind
One of the things I tried when I was looking for a solution is to bring up the Windows virtual keyboard. I then noticed that it was the left Windows key that was highlighted (indicating it was stuck), not the right. Since my keyboard only has a left Windows key, I remapped the Left Windows key to a Right Windows key using KeyTweak. We shall see if this solves the problem should it occur again, but if it does, I will disable both left and right Windows keys.
I hope this post helped you. Good luck!
Update:
2016-08-20: For an unrelated reason I had to reinstall Windows. The Windows key is no longer stuck and I can use it. Obviously, the problem is software not hardware.
If anyone finds their way to this post and still has this problem, I have a fix (semi-permanent)
Click the Windows Logo down the bottom left of your taskbar. Click on your user icon and click Lock.
Enable the On Screen Keyboard using the Ease of Access button and type your password (if you have one)
Sign back in and bam it works!
This worked for me. Thanks.
Funny story.
I tried everything, but nothing worked, and I couldn’t reinstall because I was late with a project. So I used KeyTweak to disable all the Win keys (thank you).
Today I tried again and I noticed that it happens when I click with the mouse wheel.
…. Then I realize I have a Win button in my mouse. It was phisically blocked, probably the mouse was pressed in the computer bag.
:-D
Absolutely no idea why this fixed it but I downloaded key tweaks to reroute my windows key but right after downloading it it fixed itself… does downloading something fix it?
I highly doubt that just downloading something would fix the problem. Consider yourself lucky :-)
Hi,
This problem happens to me occasionally after using a remote desktop application. The solution is to press the windows key twice. All works well – until the next time it happens.
Richard
Try changing the keyboard language. Had the same problem but it was the CTRL or ALT keys for me. Changed the keyboard language from Canadian to US and the problem went away.
Here’s the way I found worked:
Go to ease of access in settings, turn on on-screen keyboard, hold down the windows key on your actual keyboard and on the screen’s keyboard at the same time, let go of it on your real keyboard then further let go of it on the screen’s keyboard