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
    2014-11-01T14:48:41+00:00

    On Sat, 1 Nov 2014 05:50:02 +0000, Drew1903 wrote:

    On Sat, 1 Nov 2014 01:42:24 +0000, Rocket91 wrote:

    I am very unhappy with the Charms Bar in Windows 8.  It is very distracting and annoying. 

    Download and install the $4.99 Start8 at
    http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/ It comes with a free 30-day
    trial, so see how you like it. I like it a lot; that's only one of the
    many useful things it does.

    No need to install or buy any 3rd Party stuff.  Just have patience as this issue will no exist for you in Windows 10. :)

    I disagree, for several reasons:

    1. Not everyone will move from Windows 8 to Windows 10.
    2. Nobody knows for sure when Windows 10 will be released.
    3. Not everyone who moves from Windows 8 to Windows 10 will do it as
      soon as it's released. For some people it might be a long time.
    4. Even if Windows 10 is released early next year, and you move to it
      from Windows 8 immediately, as far as I'm concerned it's worth the
      small sum of $4.99 to make it better for the that interim period.
    5. Besides Start8, there are other third-party programs that make
      similar improvements to Windows 8. Classic Shell is one, and it's
      free; it's also a good choice, although in my view not quite as good
      as Start8.
    6. It remains to be to what extent Start8 (or the others) will make
      useful improvements to Windows 10.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-01T12:11:30+00:00

    Having the Charms Bar is just making my time more stressful when I use my Dell Laptop.

    If you do not have a Precision Touchpad you should get a real mouse and either disable your Touchpad completely or only use it for its Touch Screen emulation features (which evidently you have but haven't been able to control.)

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/touchpad

    Good luck

    Robert Aldwinckle

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