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
    2014-06-24T18:30:43+00:00

    On Tue, 24 Jun 2014 17:20:57 +0000, Rose Elizabeth wrote:

    Unrelated. I hate not having the start button on the regular desktop as opposed to the desktop where all the apps are. This is the worst design ever, and I can't wait until I can purchase windows 7 again. No one I know likes this version, not even my computer geek friends who want the newest tech available.

    I like it fine.

    Let me point out something that you perhaps don't realize: Windows 8
    has two interfaces; the Modern/Metro Interface (which may be all
    you've looked at) and the traditional Desktop Interface. You can use
    either one or both. That traditional  Desktop Interface is almost
    identical to Windows 7's interface; the biggest difference is that
    there is no Start Orb to click to bring up the Start menu.
    But note that you can get the Start Orb back by using one of several
    third-party programs, either free or very inexpensive (Classic Shell
    at  http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ and Start8 at
    http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/; my personal preference is
    Start8, but they are both very good). 
    And going from one interface to  the other is very easy; there are
    several ways, but simply pressing the Windows key is perhaps the
    easiest. Simply installing one of those two and using the traditional
    desktop  interface may be a better choice for you than going to
    Windows 7.
    I use Windows 8, almost exclusively with the traditional desktop
    interface, and with Start 8 installed. If you were to look at and use
    my computer, you would have a hard time realizing that it's not
    Windows 7.
    And another new third-party program that I like and you might want is
    the $4.99 ModernMix at http://www.stardock.com/products/modernmix/
    I also recommend that you read "How to Make Windows 8 or 8.1 Look and
    Feel Like Windows 7" at http://www.howtogeek.com/elk/298/45121/4206

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-06-24T18:29:31+00:00

    I wanted to add that the charms bar also makes it impossible to play any game that requires edge-scrolling. As soon as I touch the side my game gets minimized. I can't say enough how much I despise this function.

    Then simply set so such behavior does not occur.  I never see mine unless & until I ask for it.

    Cheers,

    Drew

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