How to disable touch screen on Windows 11

• On Windows 11, you can disable the touch screen feature through Device Manager, PowerShell, or the Registry Editor.
• In Device Manager, expand Human Interface Devices, right-click HID-compliant touch screen, and select “Disable device.”
• In PowerShell (admin), run the Get-PnpDevice | Where-Object { $_.FriendlyName -like '*touch screen*' } | Disable-PnpDevice -Confirm:$false command.
• In the Registry, open HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Wisp\Touch, create a DWORD (32-bit) named TouchGate, and set its value to 0.

On Windows 11, it’s possible to disable the touch screen capability of your laptop or tablet, even if the Settings app doesn’t offer an option, and in this guide, I’ll outline the steps to complete this configuration.

If you have a laptop or tablet, it probably features a touch-enabled screen that lets you interact with its elements with your fingers or a stylus, which is usually an alternative to using the mouse and keyboard.

In the case that you prefer using a keyboard and mouse, you can disable the touch screen (or touchscreen) using Device Manager, PowerShell, or the Registry.

In this guide, I’ll outline the methods you can use to turn off the touch screen capability on your laptop or tablet.

• Disable touch screen on Windows 11 using Device Manager
• Disable touch screen on Windows 11 using PowerShell
• Disable touch screen on Windows 11 using Registry
• FAQs about disabling the touch screen on Windows 11

Disable touch screen on Windows 11 using Device Manager

To disable the touch screen on Windows 11 using the Device Manager, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for Device Manager and click the top result to open the app.

3. Expand the Human Interface Devices branch.

4. Right-click the HID-compliant touch screen element and choose the Disable device option.

   

5. Click the Yes button.

6. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the touchscreen will stop working on Windows 11.

If you change your mind, you can undo the changes with the same instructions, but on step 4, choose the “Enable device” option.

Disable touch screen on Windows 11 using PowerShell

To turn off the touch-enable feature on the screen using PowerShell, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for PowerShell (or Terminal), right-click the top result, and choose the Run as administrator option.

3. Type this command to disable the touchscreen on Windows 11 and press Enter:​

   Get-PnpDevice | Where-Object { $_.FriendlyName -like '*touch screen*' } | Disable-PnpDevice -Confirm:$false

   

After you complete the steps, the touch screen capability will be disabled on your device, but the display will continue to work.

If you want to re-enable the feature, while in PowerShell (admin), run this Get-PnpDevice | Where-Object { $_.FriendlyName -like '*touch screen*' } | Enable-PnpDevice -Confirm:$false​ command.

Disable touch screen on Windows 11 using Registry

To disable your PC’s touch screen through the Registry Editor, follow these steps:

1. Open Start.

2. Search for regedit and click the top result to open the Registry.

3. Open the following path:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Wisp\Touch

4. Right-click the Touch folder, select New, and choose the “DWORD (32-bit) Value” option.

   

5. Confirm the TouchGate name and press Enter.

6. Right-click the newly created key and choose the Modify option.

7. Confirm the value is set to 0.

   

8. Click the OK button.

9. Restart the computer.

Once you complete the steps, the Registry key will turn off the touch screen on Windows 11.

If you want the touchscreen experience re-enabled, follow the same instructions, but at step 7, set the value to 1.

FAQs about disabling the touch screen on Windows 11

Here’s a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers about the steps to disable the touchscreen on Windows 11.

Why would I want to disable the touch screen on Windows 11?

Disabling the touchscreen may be useful if you prefer using only keyboard and mouse, if you find accidental touch input disruptive (for example, when typing or using an external monitor), or in environments like kiosks or shared devices where you want to restrict input methods.

Will disabling the touch screen stop the display from working?

No. Disabling the touchscreen only removes or disables the touch input capability. The screen will still work normally with a mouse, keyboard, or other pointer devices.

Is disabling the touchscreen permanent? Will it persist through reboot or updates?

It depends. Methods such as using Device Manager will disable touch input and typically persist through reboots, but driver updates or system restores may re-enable the device. Registry edits may offer more persistence, but still carry risks and might be reversed by major updates.

What if I don’t see “HID-compliant touch screen” listed in Device Manager?

If you don’t see the “HID-compliant touch screen” entry under Human Interface Devices, it may mean your hardware uses a different driver name (for example, “Intel Precise Touch and Stylus driver” on some devices). In such cases, disabling that driver may also disable touch.

Will disabling the touch screen affect other features?

It may. On devices that share touch input drivers with stylus or pen input, turning off the driver may also disable pen or stylus input. Additionally, if the device is convertible and uses “tablet mode” features, disabling touch may affect the expected behavior of that mode. It’s wise to test after disabling and document any side effects.

Is there an easier toggle in the Settings to disable touch input?

No, Windows 11 currently does not offer a simple toggle switch in Settings to disable touchscreen input entirely. The built-in option is available through Device Manager or via advanced methods such as PowerShell or Registry edits.