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
    2013-06-09T16:25:39+00:00

    I just bought a computer w/ Windows 8--because it was actually significantly cheaper to get it that way than to keep Windows 7 on it. By nearly $150 difference.  I seriously should have taken the cue on this.  I am soooo frustrated with it for the same reasons others have mentioned.

    It makes the entire windows programming very, very touchy.  I end up miles away from the stuff I'm doing because I wandered too close to the charms bar and it took me into just about anything I'm not interested in. 

    So I went and turned off the feature in the Synaptics touch pad. Once I did that, I couldn't turn the damned thing off without being a rocket scientist. 

    So I ended up having to turn it back on, most reluctantly, so I could turn my computer off when I was done with it. 

    GAH!!!!! (*ripping hair out*)

    Microsoft, please!  Fix this thing!  Not every computer comes with a touch screen, and for those who don't have it, this charms bar is far more trouble than its worth.  Honestly, I really want my computer to do what I want it to do, and not have it doing whatever it darned well pleases. 

    I seriously want Windows 7 back.  I don't mind the new start feature. That's rather nice. But the charms thing? Honestly, it has to go.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-06-07T08:53:14+00:00

    Hey, I totally agree with you. The same exact thing happens to me on my windows 8 machine - it's so annoying especially when I'm trying to work.

    I found something that makes it possible to customize the charms bar. It also makes possible to disable the charms bar.

    http://www.thewindowsclub.com/customize-windows-8-charms-bar-wcp-charmbar-customizer

    Charms bar POPING UP problem:

    Problem: You have a touch pad and everytime you move the cursor from right to left the charms pops up.

    Cause: You have a synaptics touchpad (Synaptics is the manufacturer). They have a feature built in thier software that causes this behaviour.

    Solution: Deactivate the synaptics "Swipe" feature in the synaptics software. If you cannot find this option, then you dont have thier "settings software" installed. Install this -> http://drivers.synaptics.com/Synaptics\_v16\_3\_15\_1\_C\_XP32\_Vista32\_Win7-32\_XP64\_Vista64\_Win7-64\_Signed\_Acme\_Inc.zip

    Problem solved and this is not a Win 8 problem. Its a synaptics problem.

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