Yes, you can disable your laptop's touchscreen in a few different ways

Most laptops with built-in touchscreens can be turned off through Windows settings, the device manager, or BIOS — the firmware that runs before your operating system loads. Which method works depends on your laptop model and whether you want a temporary or permanent solution. Disabling it is useful if the touchscreen is unresponsive, drains battery faster than you'd like, or you simply prefer using the trackpad and keyboard.

The easiest route for most people is Windows settings, which takes about two minutes and doesn't require restarting. If that doesn't work, the Device Manager approach is more thorough but still straightforward. BIOS changes are the most permanent but also the most technical, and you should only try this if you're comfortable with your laptop's firmware.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Settings is the quickest way to disable a touchscreen — go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touch, then toggle the touchscreen off.
  • Device Manager lets you disable the touchscreen driver itself, which is more reliable if Windows Settings doesn't work.
  • Disabling through BIOS is permanent until you re-enable it, but requires restarting your laptop and navigating firmware menus.
  • Some laptops have a physical keyboard shortcut (often Fn + a function key) that toggles the touchscreen without changing any settings.
  • If you only want to disable touch temporarily while using a specific program, you can use third-party tools like TouchFreeze or disable it per-application.

Disabling the touchscreen through Windows Settings

This is the method most people should try first. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then navigate to Bluetooth & devices on the left sidebar. Look for Touch in the list of options — if you see it, click it and toggle the switch to off. Your touchscreen will stop responding immediately, and you can turn it back on the same way.

If you don't see a Touch option in Bluetooth & devices, your laptop may not have a built-in toggle for this. Some manufacturers don't expose this setting in Windows, which means you'll need to use Device Manager instead. Check your laptop's manual or the manufacturer's support page to see if there's a dedicated touchscreen app — Dell, Lenovo, and HP sometimes include their own control panels for this.

Disabling the touchscreen through Device Manager

Device Manager gives you direct control over the hardware drivers that make your touchscreen work. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager, or search for it in the Windows search bar. Look for Human Interface Devices in the list and click the arrow to expand it.

You should see an entry that says something like "HID-compliant touch screen" or just "Touch screen." Right-click it and select Disable device. Windows will ask you to confirm — click yes. The touchscreen will stop working immediately. To turn it back on later, right-click the same device and select Enable device.

If you have multiple touch-related devices listed, you may need to disable more than one. Look for anything with "touch" in the name. If you're unsure which one controls your screen, you can safely disable one at a time and test whether the touchscreen still works.

Disabling the touchscreen in BIOS

BIOS is the firmware layer that runs before Windows starts up. Disabling the touchscreen here is more permanent and survives restarts, but it's also more technical. Restart your laptop and watch for a message during startup that says something like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del to enter BIOS" — the key varies by manufacturer (common ones are F2, F10, Del, or Esc).

Once you're in BIOS, look for a menu called Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, or Advanced. Inside, search for an option labeled Touchscreen, Touch Panel, or Integrated Peripherals. Change it from Enabled to Disabled, then save and exit — usually by pressing F10 or selecting Save and Exit from a menu.

The exact names and locations vary widely between laptop manufacturers. If you can't find the touchscreen option in BIOS, check your laptop's manual or search "[Your laptop model] disable touchscreen BIOS" online. Be careful not to disable anything else while you're in BIOS, since changing the wrong setting can cause problems.

Using a keyboard shortcut to toggle the touchscreen

Some laptops have a built-in keyboard shortcut that toggles the touchscreen on and off without opening any menus. This is usually a function key (F1 through F12) combined with the Fn key. Look for a key with a touchscreen icon — it might look like a hand or a small square. Try pressing Fn + that key to see if your touchscreen turns off.

If you're not sure which key it is, check your laptop's manual or search "[Your laptop model] touchscreen toggle" online. This method is the fastest if it's available on your device, since it works instantly and doesn't require navigating settings.

Disabling touch for specific programs only

If you want to keep your touchscreen on overall but disable it while using certain programs, third-party tools like TouchFreeze (free) or Disable Touchpad can help. These programs let you set rules — for example, "disable touch when I'm using Photoshop" — so the touchscreen stays off while you're working but turns back on when you switch programs.

Download TouchFreeze from its official website, install it, and add the programs where you want touch disabled to its list. The program runs in the background and handles the toggling automatically. This approach is useful if you like having a touchscreen for browsing but find it gets in the way when you're doing detailed work.

What to do if disabling doesn't work

If you've tried Windows Settings and Device Manager but your touchscreen still responds to touch, the problem might be a driver issue. Visit your laptop manufacturer's support website, search for your model number, and download the latest touchscreen driver. Uninstall the current driver through Device Manager, restart your laptop, and Windows will automatically reinstall the updated version.

If the touchscreen still won't disable, it's possible the hardware itself is malfunctioning or the driver is corrupted beyond a simple fix. At that point, you may need to contact your laptop's manufacturer for support or take it to a technician. In the meantime, you can reduce accidental touches by adjusting your touchscreen sensitivity in Windows Settings under Bluetooth & devices > Touch — look for a sensitivity slider if your device has one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling the touchscreen save battery life?

Slightly, but not dramatically. The touchscreen uses power, but it's usually a small fraction of your laptop's total power draw — the display itself uses far more. You might see a few extra minutes of battery life, but it won't be transformative unless your touchscreen is actively malfunctioning and drawing excessive power.

Can I disable the touchscreen permanently without BIOS?

Device Manager disables it until you re-enable it or restart and Windows reinstalls the driver. If you want it permanently off without using BIOS, you can uninstall the touchscreen driver entirely through Device Manager — right-click the device and select "Uninstall device" instead of "Disable device." Windows won't reinstall it automatically, though it may do so during a major update.

What if my laptop doesn't have a touchscreen?

If you don't see a touch option in Windows Settings or Device Manager, your laptop doesn't have a built-in touchscreen. Some external USB touchscreens can be disabled the same way through Device Manager, but internal touchscreens are the only ones you can control through Windows or BIOS.

Is it safe to disable the touchscreen?

Yes, completely safe. Disabling it doesn't affect any other hardware or software on your laptop. You can turn it back on anytime using the same method you used to turn it off, and there's no risk of permanent damage.

Why is my touchscreen still responding after I disabled it?

Windows Settings sometimes doesn't work if your manufacturer didn't enable that toggle. Try Device Manager instead. If Device Manager shows the device as disabled but touch still works, the driver may have automatically reinstalled — uninstall it completely rather than just disabling it, or check whether your laptop has a dedicated touchscreen control app from the manufacturer.