Google Chrome 73 to support multimedia keys on the keyboard
Google Chrome 73, the next version of the web browser, will support multimedia keys on keyboards that support them. The web browser will be the first desktop browser to support media keys on keyboards.
Media keys allow users to control media playback using them. They are usually attached to the Function-keys on the keyboard or available as separate keys instead.
Update: The feature interferes with certain media clients such as Spotify or iTunes. You can disable Chrome's media key support at the moment to resolve the issue. End
My main keyboard, Das Keyboard, has them attached to the Function-keys. Media keys support operations that control audio or video playback for the most part. You may use them to change the volume, play, stop or pause videos, or use forward and backward operations.
Third-party programs have been created in the past to integrate media keys in programs. We reviewed quite a few including Taskplay, Global Hotkeys for Windows Media Player, Media Keyboard 2 Media Player, or Media Player Hotkeys.
Chrome will support the following controls in version 73:
- Pause -- Activate the key to pause audio or video playback.
- Start -- Activate the key to start playback.
- Stop -- Activate the key to stop playback.
- Forward -- Jump to the next media element in a playlist.
- Backward -- Jump to the last media element in a playlist.
- Volume Up, Down, or Mute -- Change the volume of media accordingly.
The functionality works even if Chrome is in the background but it won't work on Chrome for Linux in version 73 (only on Windows, Mac OS X or Chrome OS).
Chrome users who run development versions of the web browser, in this case Chrome Canary or Beta, may test the functionality already.
If your keyboard has media keys, head over to the page in Chrome Beta or Stable. Select audio or video, and use the media keys to control it.
If the media keys are attached to the Function-keys, you may need to press the Fn key on the keyboard to use the media keys. Please note that media keys may work only if your keyboard is connected in the right away to the desktop computer. For my keyboard, media controls only work if the keyboard is not connected to the PC using a PS2 connection.
Chrome 73 will introduce support for the Media Session API on the desktop next to that.
Closing Words
Controlling media playback in Chrome using hardware media keys may make things more comfortable in this regard for some Chrome users. Just tap on a media key on the keyboard to play or pause media, or change the volume. Since it works even when Chrome is not the foreground application, it could become a favorite way of controlling media in Chrome for some users of the browser.
Now You: Do you use media keys on your keyboard (if available)?
I have the opposite question:
How can I adjust media keys only on youtube?:)
Repeat as a mantra: “No one expects media keys to work with browser-based media, NO ONE”
This turned out to be a horrible idea. This needs to be destroyed. With fire. Immediately. Every time I go to watch a YouTube video and press Play/Pause it pauses the video instead of my music. No one expects media keys to work with browser-based media. Enabling it just adds confusion.
I thought my keyboard was broken.Terrible update. Messed up my keyboard. Why the %@$% I would want the Play button to start some random tab in my browser?! I want it to be bind just to my Music App that is installed.
This was the worst feature to date, p*ssed me off so much. Disabled now.
To disable,
– go to “chrome://flags/#hardware-media-key-handling”
– set “Hardware Media Key Handling” to “Disabled”
– restart browser
Please someone help on disabling. This is the worst update ever.
FYI: To disable this, navigate to chrome://flags in the address bar and find ‘Hardware Media Key Handling’, set it to disabled, re-launch Chrome. Rather annoying Google didn’t make it an easier setting…
For those of you who don’t like this, you can go to chrome://flags (type it into your URL bar), and type “media key” in the search box that appears. It’ll let you disable Hardware Media Key Handling. You’ll have to hit the relaunch button in the bottom right to apply the change, but it should fix your issue.
how to disable:
https://www.ghacks.net/2019/04/17/fix-chrome-blocking-keyboard-multimedia-keys-from-working/
I am only here to disable this because this sucks holy shit
Is it possible to disable it? It pauses the youtube video instead of my media player, even if the media player is my active window. That’s not how it should work. I had to roll back a Chrome version to be able to stop my music with my macro mouse.
Does anyone know a way of disabling this feature? I use a desktop app for listening to music, but now anytime I have a tab in Chrome open with a video in it, I am unable to control my music, just the video, even if I am in the music app instead of chrome.
Navigate to chrome://flags and find ‘Hardware Media Key Handling’, set it to disabled, re-launch Chrome. Rather annoying Google didn’t make it an easier setting…
Navigate to chrome://flags and find ‘Hardware Media Key Handling’, set it to disabled, re-launch Chrome. Rather annoying Google didn’t make it an easier setting…
It works! (For about 15 seconds, then it goes back to playing the music.)
Bit late, no? Keyboards with multimedia keys have existed for over a decade lol, browser devs should be ashamed
Sadly media keys are being omitted in many laptops and ultrabooks.
Google exploiting another vector for the unsuspecting, your keystrokes?
Much needed and very late added feature on any browser.
I don’t trust Google, but I’ll say that seems like a good idea.