Bug: Play/Pause, Next and Previous media keys do not work with Logitech "Options" keyboard/mouse software

[dansauve]

EDIT Dec 7, 2020: This issue is closed, and although never permanently fixes in the software, a tested workaround/fix for the Logitech Options configuration file (XML) is provided in a comment below.

I just bought a new Logitech keyboard (Ergo K860) and mouse (MX Vertical) and the play/pause, next, and previous media keys don't work on the keyboard (and these commands do not work when mapped to a mouse button either). Oddly, these commands work fine as configured in Winamp and in Windows Media Player, it seems only YTM Desktop is an issue...

Edit: Logitech "Options" software is installed and used to configure the keyboard/mouse. The incompatibility seems to be with this software.

Is this easy to investigate? Logitech hardware is popular enough that I'm hoping this can be looked into.

The play/pause button used to work with my old keyboard (Microsoft Sculpt) and another older Dell keyboard I have here works fine as well.

[adlerluiz]

Hello @dansauve thanks for reporting this issue, we will investigate and fix.

[travisrider]

Has this issue been resolved? I notice that when I install Logitech Options the media keys don't work. Without Logitech Options the media keys work just fine.

[Total-Ecl1ps3]

Can confirm this affects me too, Logitech Craft Keyboard, media keys works with VLC, vivaldi, etc.
Logitech options installed here too.

Please keep us updated on the progress, and ask if you need more info :)

[adlerluiz]

Still under investigation, but what probably happens is that when installing options, it identifies the multimedia keys with another id and this affects ytmusic identifying

[unbekannt3]

I have a MX Master mouse and a Corsair K95 keyboard here, and on both the media keys or gestures do not work with ytmd

[dstutzman1]

I have a Logitech G810 keyboard, and another Logitech wireless keyboard that uses the Logitech Options software. The problem persists even after uninstalling Logitech Options, so I'm not sure that's the culprit here.

After some additional testing I found that the media keys started to work after I closed out of Chrome completely. I don't know if they'll stop working again at some point, but for now it seems to be working OK.

[HumboShot]

I have the same problem using a Corsair K95, but i have found a workaround for the moment.

If you go in to chrome://flags/ and set "Hardware Media Key Handling" to false, then Chrome won't eat your media key presses.

It would still be nice to see this fixed though 😊

[dansauve]

I have the same problem using a Corsair K95, but i have found a workaround for the moment.

Thanks for the suggestion, but your workaround does not apply to the problem with Logitech keyboards. Even with media key handling disabled in Chrome (or any other application) Logitech hardware doesn't seem to work with the YTM Desktop app for play/pause, next, and previous track.

Your workaround does, however, "fix" another issue whereby your web browser might "steal" the media key clicks that could apply to any keyboard.

[dstutzman1]

Perhaps it depends on the keyboard? I have a G810 and it worked fine with the YTM Desktop app, but I had to completely close out of Chrome first (including any background processes), and then restart the YTM Desktop app. Or maybe something else is consuming the clicks?

[dansauve]

I have a G810 and it worked fine with the YTM Desktop app, but I had to completely close out of Chrome first (including any background processes), and then restart the YTM Desktop app. Or maybe something else is consuming the clicks?

The problem seems to be specifically with the Logitech "Options" software/driver, used for their productivity keyboards (like my Ergo K860).

Am I right in thinking that you didn't use their "Options" software for your G810? If you did have any Logitech software/drivers installed was it their "G HUB" software instead? Seems like their gaming keyboards use different software/drivers (although I just checked the website quickly).

[dansauve]

@dstutzman1 Thanks for the input relating to your gaming keyboard. I've just updated the issue to add that this appears to be related to "Options" software.

[dstutzman1]

Ah, I see. Yeah, I've just tested with Logitech Options and a K830 and can confirm that the media keys don't work with the app.

[adlerluiz]

I'm studying some way to reproduce this problem here but I don't have this keyboard.

I will try to install the "options" driver and check if this problem happens, even if I don't have this keyboard

[leontikos]

What is "funny" in this whole situation is that in my MX Keys Wireless Keyboard the media keys are not working with Google Music tab in Chrome. However, when I use the Duolink option with Wireless Mouse MX Master 3 the "Fn + Gesture" option is successfully controlling previous/next track etc.... So there IS a way to make it work (???)

[NocturnalNick]

Adding to this that my media keys don't work using a MS Surface BT keyboard either (while I have Logitech Options installed for my MX Master mouse).

Weird.

[gsteve3]

I can confirm that uninstalling the Logitech Options software issue fixed the issue for me. Do not think I am missing out on anything without it. Thanks for the app! (K860 keyboard, same as original poster btw)

[rickpalmeira]

hmmmm, this could mean this software is hijacking control of media keys somehow, similar to the problem we had with the #hardware-media-key-handling flag on chrome

[dansauve]

Great to confirm that the issue is not the hardware but the software. Other projects have run into this as well, in particular the GPMDP project, and they somehow got it working... There is this thread that shows some troubleshooting they did with older Logitech "SetPoint" software:

MarshallOfSound/Google-Play-Music-Desktop-Player-UNOFFICIAL-#1306

I tried working through this and editing the XML file to remove the "play pause" hotkey as they suggested, but it didn't work... The location of the XML files is different with the new "Options" software but it was easy enough to find them, but unfortunately it didn't work. ;-(

[ALiAvkaya]

Great to confirm that the issue is not the hardware but the software. Other projects have run into this as well, in particular the GPMDP project, and they somehow got it working... There is this thread that shows some troubleshooting they did with older Logitech "SetPoint" software:

MarshallOfSound/Google-Play-Music-Desktop-Player-UNOFFICIAL-#1306

I tried working through this and editing the XML file to remove the "play pause" hotkey as they suggested, but it didn't work... The location of the XML files is different with the new "Options" software but it was easy enough to find them, but unfortunately it didn't work. ;-(

I had the same problem and I managed to solve it with the workaround provided there and actually the file name was the same as mentioned there "2001001"

I have a K330 keyboard and M545 mouse, thus I have both SetPoint for my keyboard and Options for my mouse installed. When I was looking for a solution and started reading answers here I thought I wasn't going to be able to solve it but thankfully it was SetPoint and I commented out the media keys section, not including the volume controls and it started working fine as soon as I restarted SetPoint. Also they work for Groove Music as well so I suppose they are going to work fine with other programs as well.

I noticed that I was getting the pop up window with basic media control buttons with a vertical sound bar displayed on the upper left side of the screen when trying Groove out. I also had them when I was using YT Music Chrome extension / app or other music players when I had them, such as Spotify or some other radio programs I use sometimes, but not when I use YTM Desktop. So, what I'm trying to say is, is it possible that somehow Windows doesn't recognize YTM Desktop as a media player? (which is why it doesn't show the pop-up window (I'm not sure if I am telling it correctly as I'm neither good with programming nor my native language is English but I think you get what I mean. I can provide pictures if necessary though.))

[adlerluiz]

I believe it can be corrected with the implementation of the nodert, with that the system will understand as a player (#61 too), however whenever I perform the build, an error occurs

https://www.npmjs.com/package/@nodert-win10-rs4/windows.media.playback

[mecart]

Just FYI, I was having the same issue with a Steelseries Apex 350 (Omen version) keyboard. I set the Enable Media Keys flag in Chrome to Disabled, exited out of all chrome and ytm windows, came back and now they work. Let me know if I can help with any more debugging.

Edit: The next time I logged on, i Opened Chrome first, then ytmdesktop, and ytmd was not catching the keys, even though the Chrome flag was still disabled. I had to close everything, and then open ytmd before opening Chrome for it to work.

[rfbird]

I'm having this issue with a Kinesis Freestyle 2 keyboard, it's not to do with chrome eating the key presses (chrome can be closed and it still won't work, etc)

[jarayama]

I'm having this issue also, Microsoft Comfort Keyboard, Chrome media keys disabled. Key is detected fine by Autohotkey key log.
EDIT: looking at AHK there's 4 events, two downs and two ups on the play media key, as suggested in previous comments I uninstalled the Microsoft Keyboard software and now it works.

[rickpalmeira]

Can you please check if this is fixed on v1.12?
We added deeper media integration with the system

[dansauve]

Works for me with Logitech Options software installed, nice!

[rfbird]

I don't think this is working for me on the Kenesis, on OSX (unless I need to re-enable chrome capture, etc)

[dansauve]

This feature, fixed in 1.12.0, is now broken again (not working) in 1.12.1 and 1.12.2 RC4. When I upgraded to 1.12.1 my Logitech keyboard media keys don't work at all anymore (I also tried 1.12.2 RC4 and they don't work there either); downgrading to 1.12.0 fixes the issue and media keys work again.

@adlerluiz FYI

[rickpalmeira]

we might need to re-add windows media as default, and maybe build a separate version without it

[dansauve]

Hi @rickinbsb, I don't understand... With 1.12.1 installed I've checked the preferences and "Enable Windows 10 media service" is enabled, but the media keys do not work. There's nothing in the release notes about a change to media key functionality from 1.12.0 to 1.12.1+

With the same settings on 1.12.0 the media keys on my Logitech keyboard work.

Am I missing something?

[dansauve]

Hi again @rickinbsb I just reinstalled 1.12.0 and see that the "Enable Windows 10 media service" setting isn't there (and I see in the 1.12.1 release notes that there was an improvement to "WindowsMediaService" which wasn't very clear on the change).

Whatever this improvement was seems to have broken the fixed media key support for Logitech keyboards that was in 1.12.0.

Thanks -Dan

[rickpalmeira]

in 12.1 we added the option to disable it, as in 12.0 it is always on, this is probably the source of the problem Em ter., 18 de ago. de 2020 às 13:11, dansauve <notifications@github.com> escreveu:

…

Hi again @rickinbsb <https://github.com/rickinbsb> I just reinstalled 1.12.0 and see that the "Enable Windows 10 media service" setting isn't there (and I see in the 1.12.1 release notes that there was an improvement to "WindowsMediaService" which wasn't very clear on the change). Whatever this improvement was seems to have broken the fixed media key support for Logitech keyboards that was in 1.12.0. Thanks -Dan — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#100 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA7SYANW4RA7ZQKA7OFXP2LSBKR3HANCNFSM4KY2OUDA> .

-- Regards: - Rick Palmeira

[adlerluiz]

version 1.12.0 the integration with windowsMediaService was implemented, and by default it was enabled, but in some cases it was giving an error for not having this integration with the system, we decided by default to leave it disabled and in the settings to enable it, strangely I don't have these problems, I have them enabled and using RC4, I control everything normally with the media keys, I will do some research now and build a new version to try to mitigate this problem, thank you for reporting, it helps a lot

[dansauve]

Hi everyone, this is still broken for me in 1.13RC2. @adlerluiz

[D0minicMck]

I get this error in the event log when I toggle the Windows 10 Media service. Even with app running as admin.

The application-specific permission settings do not grant Local Activation permission for the COM Server application with CLSID
{2593F8B9-4EAF-457C-B68A-50F6B8EA6B54}
and APPID
{15C20B67-12E7-4BB6-92BB-7AFF07997402}
to the user DESKTOP-NNUMPEF\domin SID (S-1-5-21-2676092430-3037254291-3210206928-1001) from address LocalHost (Using LRPC) running in the application container Unavailable SID (Unavailable). This security permission can be modified using the Component Services administrative tool.

[PolarGoose]

I have a very similar problem but with AutoHotkey.
The YtmDesktop doesn't respond to Media_Prev, Media_Next, Media_Play_Pause AutoHotkey events.
All other applications (VLC media player, Google Play Music Desktop Player) work properly.
Enabling integration with "Windows Media Service" doesn't help.
Thus it is not only Logitech "Options" problem. It is a broader issue with how YtmDesktop handles keyboard events.
As Google Play Music Desktop Player works properly, maybe its source code can be used as a reference?

By the way, the issue can be very easily reproduced, you don't need to have any hardware:

• Install AutoHotkey: https://www.autohotkey.com/
• Run a script:

; Ctrl+q
^q::Media_Prev

; Ctrl+w
^w::Media_Next

; Ctrl+e
^e::Media_Play_Pause

[adlerluiz]

thanks, I will test this

[dsaiontz]

Media keys are also not working for me, using a Razer Blade 15. Using v1.13.0. Tried with both the shortcuts disabled and with a shortcut assigned to them. Shortcuts work when enabled but media keys do not work in either scenario.

[ZaeGitHub]

Hi all. This is occurring for me, too. Logitech G910v2. This doesn't use SetPoint, so the fix for GPMDP doesn't work. I tried the Chrome flag, but that also doesn't work. Downloading the keyboard test application from MarshallOfSound in this thread shows the keys:
MarshallOfSound/Google-Play-Music-Desktop-Player-UNOFFICIAL-#1306

Finally, I tried the Windows Media Integration. Also no luck. This leads me to believe this is something with YTMDesktop.

[sadortun]

@adlerluiz This should be reopened. Same issue with K70.

[thusgaard]

I can confirm that uninstalling the Logitech Options software issue fixed the issue for me. Do not think I am missing out on anything without it. Thanks for the app! (K860 keyboard, same as original poster btw)

Uninstalling Logitech Options also fixed for me that the media keys didn't work in Google Chrome. Thanks for sharing.

[Aangbaeck]

Same issue with new MX Master 3. Suddenly I can't control the Media Controls any more. Uninstalled and reinstalled Logitech Options. Now it works. Hopefully for good this time.

[dansauve]

For anyone using Logitech Options software I've found a fix that has worked for me on two separate computers. I stumbled across this fix when I installed Amazon Music for Windows because they were offering a 3-month free trial...

From this thread over at the Logitech support forums, there are 2 offered fixes to the issue. The second comment on the thread mentioned adding a 'divert' attribute set to 0 to the previous, play/pause, and next media keys, and that worked for me.

Reading through the 2 comments should allow you to (mostly) painlessly find the right XML and update accordingly. Good luck!

As for this issue in YTM Desktop Player, there was a version that did fix this (v1.12 I think?) and I wonder if it's possible to permanently fix this for Logitech users without the XML hacking?