Python simulate media keys

Question

How to make Python (3.7) manipulate any media player currently working on Windows?

I want to get functionality similar to media keys on keyboard, for example:

• play_pause.py script which will play or pause music on Spotify or movie in media player (whatever is currently playing).
• play_next.py script which will play next song/movie etc.

To clarify: I don't want Python to virtually press actual media keys on keyboard. I would like to get the functionality of such keys so it might work even without keyboard connected to PC.

Answer 1

The easiest solution is to use win32api.keybd_event from pywin32.

For example, install pywin32:

pip install pywin32

And try play/pause - should work without keyboard:

import win32api
from win32con import VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE, KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY

win32api.keybd_event(VK_MEDIA_PLAY_PAUSE, 0, KEYEVENTF_EXTENDEDKEY, 0)

Virtual-Key Codes: here and here.

NOTE:
At this link about keybd_event function, you can see message: "Note This function has been superseded. Use SendInput instead".
So if you want/need to use SendInput, you probably need to use ctypes. I suggest you to check the example here. I've tried that code too and it works. If you need any further help, let me know.