Keyboard Filter

If your device is being use for a dedicated purpose, it may make sense to ensure that key combinations like 'Ctrl+Alt+Delete' do not alter the operation of the device by locking the screen or using Task Manager to close a running application. Windows IoT Enterprise provides a feature called Keyboard Filter that allows you to suppress undesirable key presses or key combinations.

Keyboard Filter Features

Keyboard Filter has the following features:

• It supports hardware keyboards, the standard Windows on-screen keyboard, and the touch keyboard (TabTip.exe).
• It also suppresses key combinations even when they come from multiple keyboards. For example, if a user presses the Ctrl key and the Alt key on a hardware keyboard, while at the same time pressing Delete on a software keyboard, Keyboard Filter can still detect and suppress the Ctrl+Alt+Delete functionality.
• Supports numeric keypads and keys designed to access media player and browser functionality.
• Can configure a key to breakout of a locked down user session to return to the Welcome screen.
• Automatically handles dynamic layout changes.
• Can be enabled or disabled for administrator accounts.
• Can force disabling of Ease of Access functionality.
• Can block physical hardware keys.
• Supports x86 and x64 architectures.

Turn on Keyboard Filter

There are multiple ways to turn on Keyboard Filter:

• Control Panel
• Unattend
• Windows Configuration Designer
• DISM

Note

Turning on an off Keyboard Filter requires that you restart your device. Keyboard Filter is automatically enabled after the restart.

Additional Resources

• Keyboard Filter
• Predefined Key Combinations
• Keyboard Filter WMI provider reference
• Windows PowerShell script samples for Keyboard Filter