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?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Email and communications

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

1 person found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

737 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
  1. Anonymous
    2015-05-11T12:27:50+00:00

    Again, nothing you have said disagrees with what I said...

    Shouldn't the end user be responsible for some of their own choices - and when they don't like something (even if they likely should have discovered that in a variety of ways before spending money on a product) take up some of that responsibility and either use solutions given or return the product with an expression (public is fine) of the particulars of their reasons?

    Especially when the reality that this is a non-necessity by default - only possibly made a necessity to an individual by choices they have made previously (making me think it would be all that more important to the particular individuals in such situations to keep abreast of changes and developments in said line of products - perhaps even be involved somewhat - given their self-imposed dependencies.)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-11T08:40:51+00:00

    the issue is not the feature itself its that you cannot decide if you want it turned off the calculator is a prime example who needs a 28 inch calculator as its full screen and won't shrink so you look on the help forum and the solution is there, so are hundreds of complaints.

    you create the one you had is the fix ..... so why not leave it as it was on anything other than a phone

    they trumpet intuitive layout and design but this site has hundreds maybe thousands of issues which really boil down to why was this changed as it worse/ harder to use / now takes 4 more clicks than it did before,  the problems are legion and are being solved in win 10 but should have been headed off earlier its simply good business

    millions spent on consumer research wasted it seems

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments