In order to get your hands on the keystroke before NAY application got it, you would have to install a low-level keyboard hook. This is done by writing a callback function (one where the system calls you), and using the Win32 API calls to SetWindowsHookEx, UnhookWindowsHookEx, and CallNextHookEx. Documentation on these calls can be found on MSDN starting here[^]. Mind you, hooking into the system isn't really VB's forte'. I've never done it in VB. It just looked MUCH easier to write in C++. I did something similar to prevent the 'Window' key from being used.