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
    2014-07-08T20:06:21+00:00

    Did that. Didn't work. I also can't get the downloads to work. Originally it told me it couldn't comoplete the changes. Now it tells me the update isn't applicable. I have made all the changes that all the recommendations tell me to try so that it will then work, and it still doesn't. Some changes tell me to try the preview instead, and the program is no longer available! I am so sick and tired of this headache, piece-of-**** machine. I have never, ever had a single problem with any MS product in the past and have always sworn I would never use an Apple product because I hate them, but right now, a MAC is looking pretty darned awesome after the nightmare of this OS.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-08T18:44:51+00:00

    I don't believe anyone said it doesn't happen.  Just like you, but in the opposite direction obvious, most people Drew1903 knows don't have it happening to them.  Different people, different experiences.

    I agree with what JeanKluge implies (perhaps not directly, but leading to it) may be happening in your particular case - this sounds like an issue with a driver/software more than the operating system.  The operating system itself has built-in methods of making the CHARMS appear.  If your touchpad has expanded on that with their software and drivers, then the issue lies with them - not the operating system itself.  I know many gestures that do various things and can be programmed to do even more... but I wouldn't blame the operating system if I programmed the gestures to open up the Control Panel every time I did a certain move that happened to be something I did often.  :-)

    Giving what you said, "If I wanted to be tethered to an external mouse, I'd be using a desktop computer.  I can have my cursor in the middle of the screen and have that F-ing bar jump out at me." and a later response including this sentence, "It still pops up randomly, even when I am nowhere near the right side of my screen." leads me to further believe this to be true as it indicates exclusive use of the touchpad, some testing with a mouse that resulted in less (no?) popping up of the CHARMS and towards gestures being the culprit completely (because the location of the pointer on the screen doesn't matter when it comes to gestures.)

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