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
    2014-08-14T01:59:09+00:00

    Here's a decent list of shut down options with CURRENT (fully patched thru end of JULY, not necessarily AUGUST even...) Windows 8.1...

    @ Shenan

    Here's a new one I discovered only yesterday (coincidentally):   Win-T, Backtab, Backtab, Alt-Space C

    I doubt I would have tried the  Alt-Space  if  Menu (or Shift-F10)  had been working.   <eg>

    OTOH  Win-Ctrl-Tab,  Backtab, Menu  does work but not  Alt-Space.   Consistency?

    W8 is frequently (irritatingly) inconsistent IME.  It's like playing Adventure:  "twisty passages all different."

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-08-13T22:45:22+00:00

    Drew, what doesn't "jibe" is your ongoing condescension toward those who are having real issues with the charms bar. If you use the touchpad, the charms bar pops up consistently. I have done everything this forum has recommended and it still pops up, unwanted, dozens (if not hundreds) of times per hour. It doesn't matter that I went into setting and changed things. It doesn't matter that I made it so it is supposed to pop out at the bottom right corner. 

    The biggest idiocy of the charms bar is what several users have said, that if it was a "must keep" item  in MS thoughts, then it should not have been placed on the side of the screen that is frequently used to scroll, access the taskbar tray, minimize or delete window screens, etc. Further, since you say it works just fine when you use a mouse and you do not see it when doing so unless you wish to, then the touchpad should have been better designed to have the same effect as using a mouse. I, like many users, do not want to have to drag around a set up akin to a desk top in order to effectively use our laptops. The beauty and freedom of the laptop is having all the items you need inclusive to the machine you are using (save for the power cord when charging).

    You are allowed your opinion, but your sanctimonious attitude that is dripping with sarcasm and disdain for anyone who criticizes and dislikes the charms bar is palpable. Whether or not you like it, whether or not you have hundreds of customers who don't complain about it, there are more than 500 pages of people complaining about it in this thread alone. And this is one thread in one forum in the vast sea of internet users. You can like it all you want, others can hate it all they want, the point remains that the charms bar should have been optional from the get go, and that a program like metro should have been kept for touch screen use because it doesn't work well with a standard laptop.

    People are not idiots because they don't like it, so please quit talking down to us as if we are. Your know-it-all snottitude is beyond annoying at this point.

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