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
    2014-11-01T01:42:24+00:00

    I am very unhappy with the Charms Bar in Windows 8.  It is very distracting and annoying.  I do not want it to constantly pop-up when I have doing something.  I do not know why Microsoft would not give the capability of disabling or having more control over.  As a user I should be able to decide when I want to see the Charms Bar.  While I understand that the charms bar is to allow for better access to programs quicker, however, it does not make what I am doing faster or more efficient.  It just slows down my work and even causes my computer to freeze up. 

    Having the Charms Bar is just making my time more stressful when I use my Dell Laptop.  Upon designing it, there should have been an option to disable or minimize it.  If there is no way to disable or tone it down so that it is not so touchy, hopefully, the Microsoft team whether it be the programmers or engineers, etc. can AND will find a way to change it in the updates.  I really miss Windows XP!

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-10-01T20:20:22+00:00

    When it happens as you describe - it is usually a touchpad issue and not a Windows 8.1 one. 

    Yes - the CHARMS exist because of Windows 8/8.1 - but usually people can minimize seeing it with two things:

    First - choose a method to accomplish it and do it (METHOD 1 or METHOD 2 shown below...)

    METHOD 1: Using the taskbar Properties

    [VIDEO LINK]

    1. Right-click on the taskbar and select Properties option.
    2. It'll open the Taskbar and Navigation properties window.
    3. Go to "Navigation" tab and uncheck following options present in "Corner navigation" section:
    • When I point to the upper-right corner, show the charms
    • When I click the upper-left corner, switch between my recent apps

    The 1st checkbox (being empty) will disable the Charms and the 2nd checkbox (being empty) will disable App Switch list.  Apply the changes and it'll immediately disable those hot corners in Windows 8.1.

    METHOD 2: Using PC Settings

    [VIDEO LINK] 

    You can also disable hot corners using PC Settings (via the modern UI Control Panel).

    1. Move your mouse cursor to top-right or bottom-right corner of screen and click on Settings icon present in Charms Bar.
    2. Now click on "Change PC settings" option.  It'll open PC Settings page.
    3. Now go to "PC & devices **** --> Corners & edges" section.
    4. As you can see in the screenshot below, you can disable the hot corners by setting both options present in "Corner navigation" section to Off.

    Second, a 'registry value' that seizes a bit more control for the user:

    ** Note - the above solutions only disables access to the charms from the upper corner.  If your problem is it appears at all/when you move your mouse to the lower right corner - it's a registry value change...

    [VIDEO LINK]

    1. Open the notepad application (Windows Logo Key + R, type in NOTEPAD and click OK.)
    2. Paste the following into notepad:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\EdgeUI]

    "DisableCharmsHint"=dword:00000001 3. From the Notepad menu, choose "File" --> "Save As". 4. Choose the "Desktop" from the left pane. 5. Change the "Save as type" and the bottom to "All Files (*.*)". 6. For a File Name type:

    DisableCharms.reg 7. Click on "Save". 8. Close the notepad application. 9. Locate the file (DisableCharms.reg) on your desktop and double-click it. 10. Answer in the affirmative to all questions.

    Now the upper and lower right corners are inactive for the charms. 

    You can still open the charms by going to the lower/upper right corner with the pointer and dragging straight up/down.  It's just a little more effort than hitting that corner was.

    If you are seeing the CHARMS when not even trying - it is likely a setting in your touchpad (meaning you have a laptop in most cases) configuration and/or you need to update your drivers from the touchpad manufacturer manually (and find/change that setting.)

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