Can we disable the charms bar in Windows 8?

Anonymous
2013-01-22T14:37:05+00:00

Old Title: when I move the mouse around the right hand side bar keeps appearing, when I don't want it to.

I recently bought a new computer with Windows 8 and have managed to work with it OK.  The thing is that when I move the mouse around, the right hand sidebar with the Search, Share, Start, Devices and Settings buttons (and the date and time, bottom left),  keeps appearing.  It is so frustrating as I keep having to click to get rid of it. Ironically, when I am ready to close the computer down, I have to fiddle around with the mouse trying to get the damn bar to appear so that I can get the settings button to shut it down. Are there any solutions for this?

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Anonymous
2013-06-05T09:31:15+00:00

"I am sorry to inform you that we do not have any option to disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8."

OMG, when I pay hundreds of my hard-earned dollars, especially in this economy, I expect to customize my product after purchasing. Did Microsoft have regular people try Win 8 for awhile before releasing it?

Got it!!! Its simple, go to control panel, synaptics touchpad and disable side swipe function, simples. it was really beginning to annoy me.

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Anonymous
2013-01-23T10:24:36+00:00

Hi Deborah,

Thank you for choosing Windows 8 and posting your query on Microsoft Community Forums.

It seems that you are not happy with the “Charms Bar” in Windows 8 as it always appears when you move the mouse pointer to the right hand side of your computer screen and would like to know if we can disable it.

I am sorry to inform you that we do not have any option to disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8. I can definitely forward your suggestions to the concerned department.

Microsoft has designed it for making things faster and easier. The charms bar help you do the things you do most often, like search, share links and photos, connect devices, and change settings without any difficulties.

For more information, please check this link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/charms#1TC=t1

Hope this information is helpful.

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Anonymous
2013-07-31T18:02:19+00:00

"I am sorry to inform you that we do not have any option to disable the Charms Bar in Windows 8."

OMG, when I pay hundreds of my hard-earned dollars, especially in this economy, I expect to customize my product after purchasing. Did Microsoft have regular people try Win 8 for awhile before releasing it?

Got it!!! Its simple, go to control panel, synaptics touchpad and disable side swipe function, simples. it was really beginning to annoy me.

This issue was driving me crazy with my new week old inspiron 7720 windows 8.  I even spent time on the phone with tech support who suggested using an external mouse. I followed your suggestion to disable side swipe function and it worked perfectly.  Thank you.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-17T18:29:35+00:00

    I suspect that Microsoft (if they are smart and actually listen to consumers) will need to continue to provide both text and graphics. Because trying to figure out wtf icons are meant to indicate usually wastes a lot of my time--I prefer clear, unambiguous written words. You clearly are more coomfortable with graphics. Personally, I don't think that either of us should have to change. Ultimately, a computer is a tool -- it should be able to be customized to the user's preferences. I notice that with each new OS, while I gain a few functions I like, many more are useless to me, while functions I liked and relied on are removed. Very frustrating.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-17T14:44:58+00:00

    I prefer Metro over the traditional interface. And I for one would not be happier if everything were dumped back into a ghastly Start Menu. A text menu has no place in a graphical user interface - this sort of thing should have been retired when we moved on from DOSShell.

    Note I'm not saying you're wrong for not liking the new design - tastes do differ. I personally find that 8.x is the most versatile UI Microsoft has come up with - works with newer computing form factors, but is still backward compatible with traditional stationary machines. It's not a perfect mix, but it works and will hopefully be refined rather than killed in an attempt to placate those who think UI design peaked in 1995.

    You don't like it - nothing wrong with that. But don't assume that nobody does.

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