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
    2014-05-21T11:38:04+00:00

    You realize I did not disagree or agree with your decision, I just made a suggestion and told you to do whatever worked for you, right?  That's a fairly defensive response for and indifferent reply with a passive attempt to assist you and others in it.  :-)

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-05-21T09:17:37+00:00

    Just to agree that Win 7 is faster to use, has less bloatware than Vista and Win 8, and looks good. Last week I got out from storage an older laptop which has Win 7 on it, and am so pleased with it that I am considering transferring my data from this touch screen Win 8 laptop. I hate touching the screen, because it is more effort to stretch out your arm repeatedly than touching a mouse or mouse pad, and the screen gets finger marks on it. Now I never touch the screen and keep it clean. Touch mobile phone yes, touch computer no.

    Win 7 even looks better, because you can have the classic Win 95 window shapes and colours (yeah, I know I'm a dinosaur). MS got it right with Win 7.

    You can fix the charms bar if you uncheck enable edge swipe in the mouse pad settings, as described several times in this thread. If your mouse pad driver does not show this option, you may be able to download an older driver which does.

    But, even with the infernal charms bar gone, I find Win 8 still is incredibly slow to load programs. Also it seems to have lots of key combinations which do things, so when I am typing I find things popping up and windows closing or text being deleted just because I hit a key or pair of keys by mistake.

    Win 8 really is a crock.

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