How to Disable Your Touch
Screen in Windows Using Device Manager (devmgmt.msc)
Disabling the touch
screen on your Windows device through the Device Manager is a straightforward
process that can be beneficial for various reasons, such as reducing accidental
touches, extending battery life, or troubleshooting hardware issues. Here is a
detailed step-by-step guide on how to accomplish this using the Device Manager
interface.
Step 1: Open Device
Manager
To begin, you need to
open the Device Manager on your Windows computer. There are several ways to do
this:
Method 1:
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box, type devmgmt.msc, and
press Enter. This command launches Device Manager directly.
Method 2:
Click on the Start menu or press the Windows key, type "Device
Manager," and select it from the search results.
Method 3:
Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager” from the context menu.
Step 2: Locate the Touch
Screen Driver
Once Device Manager is
open, you will see a list of categories for all the devices installed on your
PC. Perform the following steps:
Scroll through the list
and expand the “Human Interface Devices” category by clicking on the arrow next
to it, or double-clicking on the category name.
Look for the entry that
includes the term “HID-compliant touch screen” or similar. This is the driver
that controls your touch screen functionality.
Step 3: Disable the Touch
Screen
To disable the touch
screen:
Right-click on the
“HID-compliant touch screen” entry.
From the context menu
that appears, select “Disable device.”
A confirmation dialog box
will appear asking if you are sure you want to disable the device. Click “Yes”
to confirm.
Step 4: Verify the Touch
Screen is Disabled
To ensure the touch
screen has been disabled:
Attempt to touch your
screen and see if it responds to input. If it no longer responds, the touch
screen is successfully disabled.
If it still responds,
return to Device Manager and double-check that you disabled the correct device.
Sometimes there may be multiple touch-related entries under Human Interface
Devices.
Step 5: Re-enable the
Touch Screen (if needed)
If you wish to re-enable
the touch screen at any point:
Return to the “Human
Interface Devices” section in Device Manager.
Right-click on the
“HID-compliant touch screen” entry (which might now be listed as disabled).
Select “Enable device”
from the context menu.
Conclusion
Using Device Manager to disable or enable the touch screen of your Windows device is an effective and reversible method. This technique is particularly useful for users experiencing issues with their touch screen or for those who prefer using traditional input devices like a mouse and keyboard. It is always advisable to proceed cautiously when making changes in Device Manager to avoid unintentionally affecting other device functionalities.