Permanently disable Touchscreen in Windows 10 [Solution inside!]

Question

In this forum there are a dozen threads that ask the same question: How can I permanently disable a defective touchscreen in a Windows 10 device so that I can continue using the device without being disturbed by the faulty signals from the touchscreen.

Unfortunately in none of those threads (at least not those I've found) the question is answered properly. Instead the helpers fantasize about the device manager (which doesn't work since Windows just reenables the disabled device at the latest when rebooting) and claim that there is no other solution in Windows.

Luckily there actually IS a solution which I'll explain now:

1. Open regedit
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Wisp\Touch
3. Create a new DWORD (32 bit) with the name TouchGate
4. Doubleclik on the newly ceated DWORD and make sure it has the value 0

(0 = touch disabled, 1 = touch enabled)

After rebooting the touch functionality should be disabled permanently and therefore your problem solved.

(I could not give this solution to the already existing threads because unfortunately they have been closed with no correct answer... hope someone in the future finds this ...)

Answer 1

Hi, 

Suggest using Robert's suggestion given earlier to disable under this registry.  I think when you go under recovery mode it might not be applying for the user you are logging after reboot. 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wisp\Touch

Thank you Shay!!!!!!

This worked well (and the touch screen stayed off through reboot!!).

Here's what I used for the touchgate.reg file contents - per your last post:

     Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wisp\Touch]

     "TouchGate"=dword:00000000

The only thing I forgot to do was to make a backup copy of the registry before I modified it (so if I want to turn on the touch screen I can back out of this change).

Can you tell me the proper way to reverse this change?

Do I need to make another touchgate.reg file using notepad with the dword changed to 1?  Or, is there an easier way (like to just directly edit the registry, or delete the new existing touchgate.reg file I just made?  Please advise.

If I need to make another touchgate.reg file (maybe using a different name?), what should I use to replace the dword setting shown above as "00000000"? (maybe I should use 00000001 ?)

 Please advise.

Best regards,

Mike

Answer 2

Mike, 

The touchgate.reg  is just a file that updates the registry from command prompt. Since you can login using any account suggest just opening the registry and update as needed.  The 0 is to disable and 1 is to Enable in the registry.  If you plan to update using the touchgate.reg , than can use

"TouchGate"=dword:00000000  to disable and "TouchGate"=dword:00000001 to enable.

Glad you got the system working.

Answer 3

Hi, 

Suggest using Robert's suggestion given earlier to disable under this registry.  I think when you go under recovery mode it might not be applying for the user you are logging after reboot. 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wisp\Touch

Answer 4

Mike, 

The touchgate.reg  is just a file that updates the registry from command prompt. Since you can login using any account suggest just opening the registry and update as needed.  The 0 is to disable and 1 is to Enable in the registry.  If you plan to update using the touchgate.reg , than can use

"TouchGate"=dword:00000000  to disable and "TouchGate"=dword:00000001 to enable.

Glad you got the system working. 

Thanks Shay!

I appreciate your patience.

Perfect answer.  Clear and easy to understand.

Please consider going to work consulting for MS, they need you.

Best regards,

Mike

Answer 5

BingGo !  yes this finally works.  Windows update and the tablet driver keep re enabling themselves after an update.