Disable your touchscreen through Device Manager or BIOS depending on your system

You can turn off your touchscreen without removing hardware or reinstalling Windows. The fastest method is Device Manager, where you can disable the touchscreen driver in about 30 seconds. If you want it completely off at startup, you can disable it in your computer's BIOS instead. Both methods let you turn it back on whenever you need it.

The reason to disable rather than uninstall: if you uninstall the driver, Windows may reinstall it automatically on the next restart. Disabling keeps the driver in place but stops it from running, so you keep full control.

Key Takeaways

  • Device Manager is the quickest way to disable your touchscreen — right-click the device, select Disable, and it stops working when ready.
  • Disabling through Device Manager survives a restart, so you only have to do it once unless you re-enable it.
  • If you want the touchscreen off every time you start your computer, disable it in BIOS instead, which requires restarting into your system settings.
  • You can re-enable your touchscreen the same way you disabled it — through Device Manager or BIOS — whenever you want to use it again.
  • Disabling the touchscreen saves battery life on laptops and stops accidental touches from interfering with keyboard and mouse work.

Disable through Device Manager on Windows

Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting Device Manager, or type "Device Manager" into the Windows search box. Look for the category called Human Interface Devices and click the arrow next to it to expand the list.

Find the entry that says "Touch Screen" or contains the word "Touch" — on some systems it may say "HID-compliant touch screen". Right-click it and select Disable device. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Yes. The touchscreen stops working when ready.

Your touchscreen stays disabled until you re-enable it or restart your computer. If it re-enables after a restart, go back to Device Manager, right-click the same device, and select Disable again — then check the box that says "Do this automatically if I disconnect this device" to keep it off permanently.

Disable through BIOS for permanent off at startup

If you want your touchscreen off every time you turn on your computer, you can disable it in BIOS, which is your computer's firmware settings. Restart your computer and watch the screen during startup — you will see a message like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del to enter BIOS". The key varies by manufacturer (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc.), so look for that message on your screen.

Press that key repeatedly as your computer starts. You will enter a blue or gray menu with options like Main, Advanced, Security, and Boot. Look for a section called Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, or Advanced. Inside that section, find an option for "Touch Panel", "Touch Screen", or "Integrated Peripherals" and change it from Enabled to Disabled.

Save your changes — usually by pressing F10 or selecting Save and Exit — and your computer will restart. The touchscreen will not set up on any future startup. You can re-enable it the same way by going back into BIOS and changing the setting back to Enabled.

What to do if you cannot find the touchscreen in Device Manager

Some touchscreens use generic driver names that do not say "Touch" anywhere. If you do not see an obvious touch screen entry, look for devices with names like "Integrated Touch", "Precision Touchpad", or the manufacturer name (Synaptics, Elan, Wacom). If you are not sure which one it is, you can check the device properties: right-click each suspicious device, select Properties, and look at the Details tab to see what it actually is.

If you still cannot find it, your touchscreen may be built into your display and controlled by a monitor driver rather than a separate device driver. In that case, check your monitor's on-screen menu — many monitors have a setting to disable touch input. Press the menu button on your monitor's bezel and look for Touch, Input, or Sensitivity settings.

Re-enable your touchscreen when you need it again

To turn your touchscreen back on, open Device Manager again, find the same device you disabled, right-click it, and select Enable device. It will start working when ready. If you disabled it in BIOS, restart your computer, enter BIOS the same way you did before, find the touch setting, and change it back to Enabled.

You can disable and re-enable your touchscreen as many times as you want without any risk to your system. There is no limit to how often you can toggle it.

Why you might want to disable your touchscreen

If you use a keyboard and mouse or trackpad for work, an active touchscreen can get in the way. Your palm or sleeve might brush the screen and trigger unwanted clicks, especially if you are typing for long periods. Disabling it removes that distraction without affecting your keyboard or mouse.

On a laptop, disabling the touchscreen also extends battery life slightly, since the touch sensor uses power even when you are not touching it. The savings are small — usually a few minutes per charge — but they add up over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling my touchscreen affect my keyboard or mouse?

No. Your keyboard and mouse work through completely separate drivers and hardware. Disabling the touchscreen only stops the touch input — everything else on your computer works normally.

What if I disable the wrong device in Device Manager?

If you disable something that is not your touchscreen, your computer will tell you when ready — something will stop working. Just go back to Device Manager, right-click the device you disabled, and select Enable device to turn it back on. There is no permanent damage from disabling the wrong thing.

Can I disable my touchscreen permanently so I never have to do this again?

Yes. Disabling it in BIOS keeps it off at every startup. You can also disable it in Device Manager and check the box that says "Do this automatically if I disconnect this device", which tells Windows to keep it disabled even after updates.

Does disabling my touchscreen affect my monitor's display quality?

No. The touchscreen is an input device — it has nothing to do with how your monitor displays images. Disabling it does not change brightness, resolution, or any visual settings.

Can I disable just part of my touchscreen, like the edges?

Not through Device Manager or BIOS. You can only turn the entire touchscreen on or off. Some touchscreen drivers have their own control panel where you might find sensitivity or edge settings, but most do not. Your best option is to disable it completely if accidental touches are the problem.