How to Stop Windows from Opening LinkedIn with Keyboard Shortcut

Learn how to disable the annoying keyboard shortcut that opens LinkedIn in Windows 10 and 11, and how to customize your own shortcuts.

Problem

If you use Windows 10 or 11, you may have noticed that pressing the Windows key and the L key together opens LinkedIn in your default browser. This can be very frustrating if you are trying to lock your computer, switch users, or use another shortcut that involves the Windows key and the L key.

In this article, we will show you how to disable this built-in keyboard shortcut and how to create your own shortcuts for the websites you want to open.

Why Does Windows Open LinkedIn with a Keyboard Shortcut?

The Windows key and the L key shortcut is part of the Windows 10 and 11 feature called My People. This feature allows you to pin your favorite contacts to the taskbar and access their social media profiles, emails, and messages with a single click. LinkedIn is one of the supported apps for My People, along with Skype, Mail, and People.

However, many users find this feature annoying and useless, especially if they don’t use LinkedIn or any of the other supported apps. Moreover, the Windows key and the L key shortcut can interfere with other shortcuts that use the same keys, such as locking the computer, switching users, or launching the Task Manager.

Disable the Windows Key and the L Key Shortcut for LinkedIn

Fortunately, there is a simple way to disable the Windows key and the L key shortcut for LinkedIn. You just need to follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
2. Scroll down to the People section and toggle off the option Show contacts on the taskbar.
3. Restart your computer or sign out and sign back in.

That’s it! Now, pressing the Windows key and the L key will not open LinkedIn anymore. You can use this shortcut for other purposes, such as locking your computer or switching users.

Create Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts for Websites

If you want to create your own keyboard shortcuts for the websites you frequently visit, you can use a free tool called WinHotKey. This tool allows you to assign any combination of keys to open any website or program on your computer. Here is how to use it:

1. Download and install WinHotKey.
2. Run the program and click on the New Hotkey button.
3. In the New Hotkey window, enter a name for your shortcut, such as Google.
4. In the Key section, select the keys you want to use for your shortcut, such as Ctrl + Alt + G.
5. In the Action section, select Launch a web page and enter the URL of the website you want to open, such as https://www.google.com.
6. Click on OK to save your shortcut.
7. Repeat the same steps for any other website you want to create a shortcut for.

Now, you can use your custom keyboard shortcuts to open your favorite websites in your default browser. You can also edit or delete your shortcuts by using the WinHotKey interface.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question: How do I disable all keyboard shortcuts in Windows?

Answer: There is no easy way to disable all keyboard shortcuts in Windows, as they are built into the operating system and the applications you use. However, you can disable some of the Windows key shortcuts by using the registry editor or a third-party tool like SharpKeys. You can also disable some of the Ctrl key shortcuts by using the keyboard layout settings. However, be careful when modifying the registry or the keyboard layout, as you may cause some problems or lose some functionality.

Question: How do I change the default browser that opens with the keyboard shortcuts?

Answer: You can change the default browser that opens with the keyboard shortcuts by changing the default browser settings in Windows. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
2. Under Web browser, click on the current browser and select the browser you want to use as the default, such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
3. Restart your computer or sign out and sign back in.

Question: How do I find out what keyboard shortcuts are available in Windows?

Answer: You can find out what keyboard shortcuts are available in Windows by using the built-in help feature. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows key and the F1 key together to open the Windows Help and Support window.
2. In the search box, type keyboard shortcuts and press Enter.
3. You will see a list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows and the applications you use, such as File Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and WordPad.

Summary

In this article, we have learned how to disable the Windows key and the L key shortcut that opens LinkedIn in Windows 10 and 11, and how to create our own keyboard shortcuts for the websites we want to open. We have also answered some frequently asked questions about keyboard shortcuts in Windows. We hope you found this article helpful and informative.