Touch Keyboard Toolbar - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

How to Enable or Disable Touch Keyboard Toolbar in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

You can use different keyboards with Windows to fit your needs. The most common is a physical, external keyboard that you plug into your PC. Windows 8 also include a touch keyboard for PCs with touch.

On touch PCs (ex: laptops or tablets), you will notice that if you turn off the "Touch Keyboard" toolbar, it may automatically be turned back on again after a restart.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or completely disable the Touch Keyboard toolbar on the taskbar for all users in Windows 8 and 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Tip

If you disable the Touch Keyboard toolbar, you can still use the Touch Keyboard as needed by running the TabTip.exe file OR using the shortcut below if you like.

Touch Keyboard Shortcut - Create in Windows 8

   Warning

If you run the SFC /SCANNOW command after doing this tutorial to rename the system file, then you will need to repeat this tutorial again since SFC will restore the default file.

EXAMPLE: Touch Keyboard toolbar on taskbar






Here's How:

1. In File Explorer, navigate to and open the ink folder at the location below.

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C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ink​

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2. Do step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.


3. To Enable Touch Keyboard Toolbar
NOTE: This is the default setting.

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A) Rename the TipBand.dll.bak file back to TipBand.dll, and go to step 5 below.​

4. To Disable Touch Keyboard Toolbar

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A) If you have not already, close the Touch Keyboard below if opened, and remove the "Touch Keyboard" toolbar from the taskbar.​

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B) If you have not already, change the owner of the TipBand.dll file to Administrators, and set permissions for Administrators to "Allow" "Full control". (see screenshot below step 1)​

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C) Rename the TipBand.dll file to TipBand.dll.bak, and go to step 5 below. (see screenshot below)​

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   Note

If you ever run the SFC /SCANNOW command, it will restore the TipBand.dll file. You would then just need to repeat this step afterwards to disable it again.

   Note

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If you would like to completely disable the Touch Keyboard itself instead, then you could repeat step 4 for the TabTip.exe file to do so.​

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5. Click/tap on Yes to confirm. (see screenshot below)

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6. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

7. When finished, you can close File Explorer if you like.


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Create a "Touch Keyboard" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Make Standard Keyboard Layout Available in Touch Keyboard in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off to Play Click Sounds as you Type on Touch Keyboard in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Brink]

Thanks-- I think actually I just did not scroll down to find the TabTip file, and I went into the en-US folder.

I changed tabtip to tabtap.bak. However, there was no .exe extension visible-- is that ok? It is not the same exact file as in the instructions.

View attachment 59246

Also, do I need to go back and change the permissions/ remove the .bak from those other files I changed in the en-US folder?

If I just want to stop the keyboard from popping up, is it sufficient to just change tabtip, or do I have to change tipband.dll also?

Thanks again,

Yep, that looks like the correct one. You just don't have it set show known file extensions to see the .exe after it.

Yeah, it would be best to also add .bak to the tipband.dll file as well.

Since you wanted to disable the Touch Keyboard, it's fine to leave .bak on the other files. You'll just need to remove .bak if you wanted to enable it again.

 

[lilyYH]

Ok thank you. I changed TipBand.dll as well.

If I want to use the onscreen keyboard, all I need to do is delete the .bak extensions? Will I need to restart?

Thanks so much for your help. That keyboard was driving me nuts.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

Yep, that's correct. You'll only need to remove the .bak file extension, and no need to restart to enable it again.

 

[lilyYH]

The keyboard is back. I haven't used my computer since the other day.. There were some windows updates.... maybe that was it?

I looked in the folder and there seems to be another copy of the file with a different date on it.

 

[lilyYH]

sorry I tried to edit this into my previous post but couldn't get it to work.

 

[lilyYH]

nvm, I just renamed those files too. can I delete the ones from march 2014?

 

[Brink]

Yes, you can delete the old ones renamed with .bak, and rename the current ones to have .bak.

A Windows Update may have restored them. If you ran a SFC scan, then that would have as well.

 

[Joycekyle]

Thx for sharing, that's really cool!

 

[Brink]

I'm glad you like it Joycekyle.