The fastest way depends on your device type
Most laptops and tablets let you disable the touchscreen through Device Manager on Windows or System Preferences on Mac, which takes about two minutes. Some devices also have a physical keyboard shortcut or a toggle in settings. The method that works for you depends on whether you have a Windows machine, a Mac, a Linux system, or a tablet — and whether you want to turn it off temporarily or permanently.
Before you start, know that disabling the touchscreen does not affect your keyboard, trackpad, or mouse. You are only turning off the ability to control the device by touching the screen itself. If you change your mind later, you can turn it back on using the same method.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users can disable the touchscreen by opening Device Manager, finding the touch input device, and selecting "Disable device" from the right-click menu.
- Mac users can turn off the trackpad in System Preferences under Accessibility, though this affects the trackpad rather than a separate touchscreen.
- Some laptops have a keyboard shortcut (often involving Fn and a function key) that toggles the touchscreen on and off without opening settings.
- Disabling the touchscreen does not affect your keyboard, mouse, or trackpad — only touch input stops working.
- If you cannot find the touchscreen in Device Manager, your laptop may not have one, or the driver may not be installed.
Disabling the touchscreen on Windows
Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button and selecting it from the menu, or by typing "Device Manager" into the search box. Once it opens, look for a category called Human Interface Devices and click the arrow next to it to expand the list.
Scroll through the list until you find an entry that includes the word "Touch" — it might say "Touch Screen", "Touchscreen", or "HID-compliant touch screen". Right-click on it and select Disable device. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Yes. The touchscreen is now off.
To turn it back on later, open Device Manager again, find the same device (it will now show a down arrow or "disabled" label), right-click it, and select Enable device. This method works on most Windows 10 and Windows 11 machines with built-in touchscreens.
Disabling the touchscreen on Mac
Most Mac laptops do not have a separate touchscreen — they have a trackpad instead. If your Mac has a touchscreen (which is rare on laptops but common on iPad), you cannot disable it through settings the way you can on Windows.
If you want to prevent accidental touches on your Mac's trackpad while typing, you can turn on Ignore trackpad when typing in System Preferences. Open System Preferences, go to Trackpad, click the Pointing & Clicking tab, and check the box next to "Ignore trackpad when typing". This does not disable the trackpad entirely, but it stops it from registering touches while you are actively using the keyboard.
Using a keyboard shortcut to toggle the touchscreen
Some laptop manufacturers, including Dell, Lenovo, and HP, include a keyboard shortcut to turn the touchscreen on and off without opening settings. The shortcut varies by brand and model, but it often involves holding the Fn key and pressing a function key (F1 through F12) that has a touchscreen icon on it.
Check your laptop's manual or search online for "[your laptop model] disable touchscreen keyboard shortcut" to find the exact combination. If a shortcut exists for your device, it is usually the fastest way to toggle the touchscreen on and off. If you cannot find one, the Device Manager method works on all Windows machines.
Why you might want to disable the touchscreen
People disable their touchscreen for several reasons. If you use a stylus or pen with your device, accidental palm touches can interfere with your work. If you have a two-in-one laptop that folds into tablet mode, you might want touch off when using it as a laptop. Some people find that disabling the touchscreen slightly improves battery life, though the difference is usually small.
Disabling the touchscreen is also useful if the touch sensor is malfunctioning and registering phantom touches, or if you simply prefer not to use touch input and want to avoid accidental activation.
What to do if you cannot find the touchscreen in Device Manager
If you open Device Manager and do not see a touchscreen device under Human Interface Devices, your laptop may not have a built-in touchscreen. Some devices sold as "touchscreen laptops" actually have a touch-sensitive trackpad rather than a touch-sensitive display.
Another possibility is that the touchscreen driver is not installed or is not showing up in Device Manager. Try updating your chipset drivers or display drivers from your laptop manufacturer's support website. If the touchscreen still does not appear after updating drivers, contact the manufacturer to confirm whether your model includes a touchscreen.
Disabling touch input on external touchscreen monitors
If you have an external touchscreen monitor connected to your computer, you can disable it the same way you disable a built-in touchscreen — through Device Manager on Windows. The external monitor will appear as a separate device in the Human Interface Devices list.
Some external touchscreen monitors also have a physical button or menu option on the monitor itself to turn touch input on and off. Check your monitor's manual to see if this option is available. Disabling it through the monitor's own controls is often faster than using Device Manager.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling the touchscreen affect my keyboard or trackpad?
No. Disabling the touchscreen only turns off touch input on the display. Your keyboard, trackpad, mouse, and all other input devices will continue to work normally. You are only removing one input method.
Can I disable the touchscreen on an iPad or Android tablet?
Not in the traditional sense. iPads and Android tablets do not have a setting to disable the touchscreen because touch input is their primary control method. If you want to prevent accidental touches, you can use a case with a cover that blocks the screen, or look for accessibility settings that reduce touch sensitivity.
Does disabling the touchscreen save battery life?
The battery savings are minimal — usually less than one percent. The touchscreen uses very little power compared to the display itself. If you are trying to extend battery life, reducing screen brightness or closing background programs will have a much larger effect.
What if I accidentally disabled the wrong device in Device Manager?
You can re-enable it the same way you disabled it. Open Device Manager, find the device (it will show a down arrow), right-click it, and select "Enable device". If you are not sure which device you disabled, you can enable all devices and then try disabling them one at a time to find the right one.
Can I disable the touchscreen on a Chromebook?
Chromebooks do not have a built-in setting to disable the touchscreen through the operating system. If your Chromebook has a touchscreen and you want to turn it off, your best option is to contact the manufacturer to see if they offer a firmware update or hardware solution. Some Chromebook models allow you to disable touch through developer mode, but this is not a standard feature.