How can I disable the touch screen on a Chromebook?

I occasionally use my Chromebook’s touchscreen, but it started malfunctioning recently, causing random touches and swipes. This makes it hard to use the device properly. Is there a way to turn off the touch screen?

Disabling the Touchscreen on a Chromebook

Hey there! I totally get where you’re coming from. The touchscreen on my Chromebook was acting up a while ago, and it drove me nuts. But good news, there are a few ways you can disable it. I’m gonna walk you through different methods so you can pick what works best for you.

Using Chrome OS Developer Mode

This method’s pretty straightforward, but it requires going into the developer settings. Just follow these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the Crosh Terminal.
2. Type shell and hit Enter.
3. Then, type xinput and press Enter. This will display a list of input devices connected to your Chromebook.
4. Find the touch screen in the list and note down its ID number. It’ll usually look something like "Elan Touchscreen" or similar.
5. To disable it, type xinput disable [ID number] and hit Enter. Replace [ID number] with the actual ID number from the list.

To enable it again, just type xinput enable [ID number].

Using Chrome Flags

Another way you could try is using Chrome’s experimental flags. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Chrome and type chrome://flags in the address bar and hit Enter.
2. In the search bar on the flags page, type “touch.”
3. Look for the flag named Disable Touchscreen or similar and change its setting to Disabled.
4. Restart your Chromebook for the changes to take effect.

Keep in mind, Chrome flags can be experimental, so this might not be a permanent fix or could behave differently across different versions of Chrome OS.

Third-Party Extensions

If you’re not comfortable tinkering with developer settings or Chrome flags, you might want to try a third-party Chrome extension. Here’s a popular one:

• Head to the Chrome Web Store and search for an extension like “Touch Blocker” or similar.
• Install the extension and follow the on-screen instructions to disable your touchscreen.

Extensions can be hit or miss, but they’re worth a shot, especially if you want a quick and user-friendly way to deal with the problem.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Some Chromebooks have a built-in keyboard shortcut to toggle the touchscreen. Try this:

• Press Search + Shift + T at the same time.

If this works, you’ll see a confirmation message stating that the touchscreen is disabled or enabled.

Adjusting Accessibility Settings

Another approach is to dive into the accessibility settings. It’s a bit of a workaround but can help limit some touchscreen functionalities:

1. Click on the time in the bottom right corner to open the system menu and go to Settings.
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced to expand more settings.
3. In the Accessibility section, look for anything related to touch input and adjust settings appropriately.

This won’t fully disable the touchscreen but can help mitigate some issues.

Factory Reset

As a last resort, if everything else fails, you can factory reset your Chromebook. Be warned, this will wipe all of your data, so make sure to back up important files.

1. Go to Settings and scroll down.
2. Click on Advanced to expand more options.
3. In the Reset Settings section, click on Powerwash, then Restart.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.

After the reset, you can try re-enabling the touchscreen to see if it works properly again. However, this is a bit of a drastic measure for a touchscreen issue.

Contacting Support

If nothing seems to work, it might be a good idea to contact Chromebook support. They can offer more targeted troubleshooting steps or might even advise on a repair if it’s a hardware issue.

I hope one of these methods helps you out. It can be frustrating dealing with a funky touchscreen, but there’s usually a way around it. Good luck!

FAQ

How do I disable the touchscreen on my Chromebook using a quick keyboard shortcut?

Access the touchscreen disabling feature by pressing Ctrl + Shift + T. This shortcut toggles the touchscreen functionality on and off. Ensure you’re logged into your Chromebook before attempting this method.

What steps should I follow to turn off the touchscreen from the Chromebook’s settings?

Go to Settings > Device > Displays > Manage touch & stylus, and from there, toggle off Enable Stylus Tools. This will disable the touchscreen capabilities. Note that this method depends on the Chromebook’s specific settings version.

Is there a command to disable the touchscreen in the Chrome browser’s developer tools?

Yes, open the Chrome browser and press Ctrl + Alt + T to pull up the crosh terminal. Type shell followed by sudo sh -c ‘echo 0 > /sys/class/hidraw/hidraw0/device/power/control’ to disable the touchscreen.

How can I turn off the touchscreen using crosh commands?

Launch the crosh terminal using Ctrl + Alt + T, enter shell, then type xinput list to find the touchscreen device. Disable it with the command xinput disable [device ID].

Is it possible to disable the touchscreen through the device settings?

Navigate to the device settings and check for touch settings under the Displays section. Here you can find options to toggle the touchscreen on or off depending on your model.

Can I use an external browser extension to disable the touchscreen on a Chromebook?

While there are various browser extensions available, they typically don’t offer the capability to disable the touchscreen. It’s better to use built-in settings or hardware options for this purpose.

Are there hardware modifications to disable the touchscreen permanently?

Disabling the touchscreen may require hardware modifications like disconnecting the touchscreen cable. This task should only be performed by someone knowledgeable in Chromebook hardware, as it could void the warranty or cause damage.

How do I disable the touchscreen on a convertible Chromebook?

Convertible Chromebooks often have settings within the device management section that allows touchscreen functionalities to be toggled. Check Settings > Device > Displays and look for touch or tablet mode options.

Can a third-party software be used to manage touchscreen settings on Chromebooks?

Third-party software specifically designed for Chromebooks is rare, and using such programs can compromise device security. Stick to built-in settings and Chrome OS commands to manage touchscreen features effectively.

Is there a way to automate touchscreen disabling during specific times of day on a Chromebook?

Automation features are limited on Chromebooks, but third-party task schedulers or scripting via the crosh terminal may help. Execute disabling commands at set times by writing scripts and using cron jobs.

For more information on managing Google devices, visit the official Google homepage or explore troubleshooting tips on the Google Support site.