How to Disable Keyboard in Windows Using a Shortcut
One of the most important components of your PC can be a nuisance if you have a pet that jumps onto your keyboard or a child who types random gibberish while you’re away.
Even scarier is if an important message or mailing thread is open and that gibberish ends up there.
But there’s an easy way to prevent this. When you’re away from your keyboard, simply lock it with a customized keyboard shortcut and unlock it the same way.
All you need is the Keyboard Locker app by HowToGeek. It’s a modified version of an AutoHotKey script by Lexikos.
Download the Keyboard Locker and unzip files to your desired location. You will find icon files, a text document, a .akh script file, and a .exe application file (the latter two being the most important). If you don’t have AutoHotKey installed, use the ‘Keyboardlocker.exe’ application file, which is a standalone program for locking and unlocking the keyboard. After activating the Keyboard Locker, an icon will appear in the taskbar app tray.
To lock the keyboard, simply press ‘CTRL+ALT+L’ after running the application and the icon will change.
To unlock, simply type ‘unlock’ from the locked keyboard. Unlocking may take a few seconds, so there is no need to panic; your keyboard will eventually unlock.
If you have AutoHotKey installed, you can run the script. Users well-versed in AutoHotKey can customize the script for their own keyboard locking and unlocking shortcuts.
Once locked, all keys on the keyboard, including Caps, Num Lock, and media keys, are disabled. However, certain combinations like ‘CTRL+ALT+DELETE’ and ‘Win+L’ will still function.
You can also choose to receive a balloon notification above the tray when you lock or unlock the keyboard. Right-click the Keyboard Locker icon and select ‘Show tray notifications’.
As Fred Humiston, the author behind Twothirds.us, I focus on providing practical and easy-to-follow guides and solutions for a variety of technical issues that people commonly face.
My articles cover a wide range of topics, from troubleshooting out-of-sync audio on TikTok and managing Firestick devices, to understanding the impact of Capcut on video quality and resolving sound issues on Hisense Roku TVs.
I also delve into more general tech tips, like how to block numbers on landlines or use VPNs without Wi-Fi. My goal is to make technology more accessible and less intimidating for everyone, whether you’re a tech novice or a seasoned user. I strive to offer clear, concise, and helpful advice to make your digital experience smoother and more enjoyable.