How to disable gestures (charms bar, edge swipes, etc...) without changing the registry

Anonymous
2012-12-23T17:49:41+00:00

I've had a Windows 8 laptop for a few days and the charms bar/settings pages that kept popping up out of nowhere were driving me absolutely insane.  BUT, I finally figured out how to turn them off. 

I went into control panel>hardware and sound>mouse>device settings>settings.  From there you can adjust a lot of the trackpad settings, including DISABLE EDGE SWIPES. 

I have a Toshiba Satellite with a synaptics mouse/trackpad, so i cant guarantee this works with all models, devices, etc. 

Windows 8 for laptop is now tolerable!  Hope this helps!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2013-05-23T18:33:46+00:00

Try this; maybe it will work:

Control Panel>Mouse>UltraNav>TouchPad Settings>Application Gestures>Edge Swipes>Deselect “Enable Edge Swipes”

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

199 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T15:35:36+00:00

    This is a Windows 8.1 fix so should be independent of the make of computer. This is  the sequence I followed using the Techattend tutorial.

    1. Open Charms menu - go to SEARCH and type in Regedit.exe. A User Account Control screen opens and asks for an OK to proceed - click YES.

    The screen  should now show the paths on the left hand side of the screen.

    1. Find HKEY_CURRENT_USERS and click arrowhead to the left of this to open the path.
    2. Similarly open SOFTWARE then MICROSOFT then WINDOWS then CURRENT VERSION then IMMERSIVE SHELL.
    3. Right Click IMMERSIVE SHELL - follow NEW across to KEY and Left Click. A folder called NEW KEY opens up. Overwrite the name NEW KEY with EDGE UI.
    4. Right Click the new folder EDGE UI and follow NEW across and down to DWORD(32 BIT)VALUE
    5. The screen shows a box with NEW VALUE highlighted in blue. Overwrite NEW VALUE as DISABLECHARMSHINT
    6. Double click on DISABLECHARMSHINT to open the EDIT DWORD menu. Overwrite the value 0 as value 1.
    7. Click OK - exit the registry and RESTART the computer

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-09T05:34:14+00:00

    I have a Dell computer and the steps I was trying to follow did not work for my computer. I was missing a step. I have been reading this thread and haven't seen any instructions for a Dell yet. I guess all computers are different.

    Should I just install Windows 7 or Windows XP. I am done with this charms bar. It is ****. :)

    Hope you can help me. If I can't turn off the charms I will buy a new operating system.

    Thanks in advance. Vickie

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-08T23:43:29+00:00

    Did you Restart after making the change?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-08T23:01:45+00:00

    I just tried this and it did not work for me!  I HATE THE WINDOWS CHARMS.  HATE, HATE, HATE.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments