How to Disable the "Windows Logo Key+E" Key Combination with Group Policies

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This article was previously published under Q301422

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SUMMARY

This article describes how to use Group Policy to disable the Windows logo key+E key combination.

Some keyboards include a Windows logo key that can be used to open the Start menu, or can be used in combination with other keys to start certain Windows functions. For example, pressing Windows logo key+E starts Windows Explorer. You can disable this function by enabling the following group policy:

Disable programs on Settings menu

This policy is located under the following branch:

User Configuration\AdministrativeTemplates\Start Menu and Taskbar

MORE INFORMATION

If you enable the policy that is listed in the "Summary" section of this article, the Windows logo key+E key combination is disabled. In addition, the following items are removed from the Settings menu:

Control Panel
Network and Dialup Connections
Printers

Pressing Windows logo key+E displays the following message:

This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator.

All other Windows logo key combinations will continue to work. By default, the Windows logo key combinations include:

Windows logo key (alone): Opens the Start menu
Windows logo key+E: Starts Windows Explorer
Windows logo key+R: Opens the Run dialog box
Windows logo key+F: Opens the Search menu
Windows logo key+U: Starts Utility Manager
Windows logo key+F1: Starts Windows Help
Windows logo key+F3: Opens the Search menu.