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
    2014-08-14T23:06:13+00:00

    Every few generations of... well, anything invented, grown or thought, ... a mutation springs up. Ford had the Pinto, for instance. Germany had that silly little house painter/corporal with the moustache. It happens.

    Sadly, Microsoft has had at least two. First there was Windows ME. Then they gifted us with Windows 8. A hybrid desktop, laptop, touch program. Just like anything else hybrid, that tries to be all things for everybody, all work somewhat but none work as well as they would if separate.

    It appears that not enough thought and user experience went into the development. At least not as much as went into the best ever MS product - XP. In that, at least, there was at least 2+ years of broad, global user experience with feedback, prior to issuing the Gold and OEM versions. I know, because I had a part in the testing.

    Maybe MS will look at the user forums and see all the complaints and make suitable updates and changes in Windows 9. At least give the user back better control of the appearance and interface. But I'm not holding my breath.

    Good thing I still have a working XP going.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-14T17:36:50+00:00

    As for turning it off

    In an elevated cmd window enter:   taskkill  /im  explorer.exe  /f

    Then go back to using Windows the way it first was available in NT 3.

    Need a File Explorer then?   explorer.exe  c:

    Just don't enter it again without operands.

    Anything you start from the elevated cmd window would be elevated too, so you might want to get Task Manager going too.  Practice doing this in case you ever accidentally closed your cmd window.   Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

    Enjoy your immersive free computing experience!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments