disable tablet mode in windows 11

Daniel Shah 21

Hi.
I already know there is no dedicated tablet mode in win 11 anymore which you can activate or deactivate.
My problem is that I want to use my windows tablet DETACHED from its own keyboard, connected with a bluetooth keyboard, mouse and external monitor. I have used this setup for years with windows 10 and had deactivated tablet mode because I am clearly not using the device as a tablet but as a desktop.

In win 10 I cannot deactivate the UI changes that come about once I detach the included keyboard. Is there any way to NOT have windows change my UI even though I detach the keyboard? I don't want to work in tablet mode (though it may no longer be called that), even when I detach my keyboard and work with an external one.

Can somebody help me with this?

Karlie Weng 14,031 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-12-01T03:22:59.317+00:00

hi
can your win11 tablet using Bluetooth keyboard directly without detach the included keyboard?
H, MD 15 Reputation points

2023-01-12T21:00:24.31+00:00

I'm having the same problem. I can't attach the keyboard because I use a tablet stand.
Joe Campbell 75 Reputation points

2023-03-22T09:30:47.81+00:00

Same problem. My Surface Signature Typecover died and I'm using a Brydge 12.3 Pro+ - I'm using the Surface as a laptop, but it does not register the Brydge Keyboard so it switched to tablet UI - which sucks by the way!
Joe Campbell 75 Reputation points

2023-03-22T09:40:57.2533333+00:00

I found the solution! Personalization-Taskbar Behaviors - UNCHECK Optimize taskbar for touch interacations - THIS SOLVED IT FOR ME!
Daniel R 0 Reputation points

2023-03-26T04:12:40.9033333+00:00

What Joe said!
Dean Heistand 0 Reputation points

2023-04-01T17:01:16.8066667+00:00

Thank you Joe Campbell, this solved the problem!
Joachim Ostermann 0 Reputation points

2023-07-09T15:34:36.1866667+00:00

It would be even better if Windows 11 would recognized that the tablet mode should be off when a bluetooth keyboard is connected! Seems like something that ought to fit into the overall concept for Surface 2-in-1s.
William Buerger 0 Reputation points

2023-08-22T12:11:45.85+00:00

The "Optimize for touch interactions" on the taskbar only affects the look of the taskbar when windows "decides" to switch to tablet mode. It doesn't affect other things like the checkboxes on explorer. I haven't seen any way to disable that since Microsoft decided that we don't need to be able to decided for ourselves if we want tablet mode and just do that for us without asking.

3 answers

Joe Campbell 75 Reputation points

2023-03-22T09:43:58.6766667+00:00

In Settings - Go to Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors > Uncheck "Optimize taskbar for touch interactions when the device is used as a tablet"

This solved the issue for me - Surface Pro 7 using Brydge 12.3 Pro + Keyboard
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5 people found this answer helpful.
Jeremiah Ramsey 0 Reputation points

2023-04-05T19:10:00.7833333+00:00

Thank you!

Arya Thampi 0 Reputation points

2023-06-09T09:10:27.9766667+00:00

This worked on my Surface Go 3 with Windows 11 Pro!
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Quisco Mena 5 Reputation points

2023-01-16T12:43:54.5166667+00:00

I am using a ROG Flow X13 in tent mode to improve ventilartion, but windows decides it's in tablet mode an limits its power draw.

Unnaceptable.
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1 person found this answer helpful.
Astrid Hoel 5 Reputation points

2023-03-17T10:09:12.3433333+00:00

I have the exact same problem, and it's pretty frustrating I cant permanently turn of tablet mode in settings anymore.
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Limitless Technology 43,931 Reputation points

2022-12-02T10:04:36.843+00:00

Hello there,

As per Microsoft, Tablet mode in Windows 11 is removed and new functionality and capability are included for keyboard attach and detach postures.

So to turn off Tablet mode, physically convert the tablet back into a laptop by reattaching the keyboard or rotating the screen back into a laptop orientation.

But in your case, you can do this by editing the registry but make sure you have created a restore point or backup of the registry.

-Navigate to the following key in the Registry Editor:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell
-In the right pane, you should see a DWORD value named TabletMode. In order to turn off tablet mode, double-click on TabletMode and set it to 0. Or set it to 1 if you want to turn on tablet mode.

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--If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept it as an answer–
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Bill Stewart 6 Reputation points

2023-01-07T18:17:32.387+00:00

This is not a useful or acceptable to the question. I have exactly the same setup as the original questioner.

I use the Surface Pro as my work computer at my desk, where it's plugged into 2 large screens and has bluetooth connections to full keyboard and mouse.

The computer is always used as a computer, never as a tablet, but I draw on the surface screen while using my large screens to do normal computer stuff. The entire point of using a wireless bluetooth keyboard instead of the attached keyboard is so that I can move the keyboard away from the screen. This allows me to draw on the surface screen naturally, without trying to keep my wrist from touching the attached keyboard. Drawing with the pen is fantastic. It's actually the entire point of a surface pro, but it's ruined when the Surface thinks its in tablet mode and forces the onscreen keyboard to appear from accidental touches. This could be fixed if you allowed the touch keyboard to be permanently disabled on Windows 11 and/or a way to permanently disable tablet mode on Windows 11.

Please advise?

Abdul Ahmad 0 Reputation points

2023-01-11T15:22:20.3766667+00:00

hi i have a lenovo idea pad c340 window 11 which i upgraded from windows 10 to 11. the issue is that i want to use my built in laptop key board but i cannot when i rotate 270 (from normal viewing angle, so the screen folds underneath key board) the degrees? is there a function so i can use normal key board with out it being dectivated when folded

H, MD 15 Reputation points

2023-01-12T21:05:15.9766667+00:00

The registry instructions does not solve the problem. Setting TabletMode to 0 does not disable TabletMode.

Joe Campbell 75 Reputation points

2023-03-22T09:36:59.3566667+00:00

As the last comment states, registry change did nothing

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