Missing Windows key on some keyboards, e.g., Cooler Master CK550 V2 and Rapoo 700RGB

Sometimes it can appear as if the Windows key on some keyboards has stopped working. But that is not the case. A Windows key lock has inadvertently been enabled!

A Windows key lock feature is often found on keyboards intended for the Windows gamer market (to avoid inadvertently activating the Windows Start menu in the middle of a game). It is also found on many mechanical keyboards as those are often intended for the gamer market.

Rapoo V700 RGB, Rapoo V700, and Rapoo V500

On the Rapoo V700 RGB, Rapoo V700, and Rapoo V500, the Windows lock key is a dedicated key right in between the “M” key and the mute button (on the upper right on the keyboard). Thus it is easy to inadvertently activate the lock. Especially as a bug in Rapoo V700RGB requires constantly changing mode using the “M” key; the 102th key on European keyboards (with “<", ">“, and “\”) does not work in “game mode”.

This is compounded by a separate lock state for each of the two modes, “office mode” and “game mode”, thus potentially making it seem like an intermittent bug (which it is not).

This state is remembered across power cycles. Or in other words, it is not possible to reset the state by disconnecting and connecting the keyboard again.

Resolution: Press the ‘Windows key’ lock key to the left of the “M” key. To positively know about the lock state: For V700RGB: In both the “office mode” and “game mode” state, the ‘Windows key’ lock key has a bright white colour when the lock is turned on. For V500 and V700, it takes on the same colour as other keys in the row (red for V700 and orange for V500).

Without the lock, in “game mode”, it is turned off for all three models (blank, no colour). In “office mode”, it is different between the models: V700RGB: it takes on the same colour as the other keys. V500 and V700: It is also off (as in game mode); it is V700RGB that is inconsistent (to be consistent, it should be off in office mode; it is already off in game mode…).

Cooler Master CK550 V2

On the CK550 V2 (and likely on similar keyboards from Cooler Master), the Windows lock is activated by Fn + F9. This is easily done accidentally, e.g., when setting up colours or macros on the fly on the keyboard (the close-by Fn + F10 and Fn + F11).

There is also a third mode: Locking the entire keyboard. This is less likely to happen by accident as it would require again accidentally pressing Fn + F9.

This state is remembered across power cycles. Or in other words, it is not possible to reset the state by disconnecting and connecting the keyboard again. The state is, however, per “profile”. Thus changing to another profile (Fn + 1, Fn + 2, Fn + 3, and Fn + 4) may bring back the Windows key.

Resolution: Use Fn + F9 two times. To positively know about the lock state: Hold down the Fn key. If the F9 key is blinking in either red or blue, it is in one of the lock states, Windows lock and entire keyboard lock, respectively. If nothing happens to the F9 key, then the keyboard is in the normal, non-locked, state.

If all else fails, the current profile can be reset back to the default state by holding down Fn + R for 5 seconds. Note: This will wipe out all macros and any custom colours for the current profile. All four profiles can be reset back to the default state by holding down Fn + E for 5 seconds.

Ducky Shine 7

On the Ducky Shine 7, the Windows lock is activated by holding down Win + Alt + Fn for 3 seconds. This is practically impossible to do accidentally.

Resolution: Hold down Win + Alt + Fn for 3 seconds. The keyboard will blink in white as acknowledgment of the change of state. There isn’t any indication of the current state (except if the Windows key works or not).

Operating system dependencies

Some operating systems or desktop environments (“OS” here for short) do not, by default, support the Windows key as a means of activating the main menu system. An example would be Lubuntu 18.04 (using LXDE).

Workaround 1: Some OSes support using Ctrl + Esc to achieve the effect of only tapping the Windows key (to open the system menu). This is the case for both LXDE and Windows itself. Though this will not help for keyboard shortcut involving the Windows key, e.g. Win + D.

Workaround 2: The keyboard shortcut for the system menu can be changed in some OSes. This includes LXDE.

Conclusion

If the Windows key on a keyboard appears not to be working, it is likely because a key lock has been activated accidentally. This blog post has demonstrated how to get the Windows key working again for some particular keyboards.

In general, for any keyboard with such a lock feature it should be possible to reverse the lock state to normal (default) state.