Touch Keyboard Toolbar - Enable or Disable in Windows 8

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


information   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   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   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

Touch_Keyboard_Toolbar.jpg




Here's How:

1. In File Explorer, navigate to and open the ink folder at the location below.
C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ink
TipBand.dll.png

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

4. To Disable Touch Keyboard Toolbar
A) If you have not already, close the Touch Keyboard below if opened, and remove the "Touch Keyboard" toolbar from the taskbar.​
13973d1357017664-touch-keyboard-shortcut-create-windows-8-touch-keyboard.jpg

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

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.​

TipBand.dll.bak.png

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

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


 

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Thanks for the tip Shawn!
When running Windows in a VM, it always seems to include 'touch' options!
This takes care of that! :)
 

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You're welcome Edwin. I found it a pain that kept coming back on my laptop that this finally killed.
 

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Hello Jason,

You would just need to be in your "Program Files" folder instead of the "Program Files (x86)" folder. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
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    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
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Thanks but this doesn't work for me. I followed through all the steps and successfully renamed the file, but the keyboard still pops up every time I select a text box using the touch screen on my Surface Pro 2 and Vaio Duo 13. I'm getting really tired of Windows at this point...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows f 8.1
Hello gamegurunaga, and welcome to Eight Forums.

This tutorial doesn't disable the Touch Keyboard itself. It will still work as usual. Instead, it only disables the Touch Keyboard icon on the taskbar notification area.

If you like, renaming the TabTip.exe file, should disable it though. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
You're most welcome. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
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    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Please direct me to the ink folders so I can kill the pop up keyboard. Thank You
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
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    ASUS
    Memory
    forget
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    windows 8.1
Please direct me to the ink folders so I can kill the pop up keyboard. Thank You

Hello 63panhead, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you mean for the Touch Keyboard that's in this tutorial, then renaming the TabTip.exe file will disable it. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
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    PC/Desktop
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    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
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    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks Brink sorry I still dumbfounded need to get to this.........1. In File Explorer, navigate to and open the ink folder at the location below.

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


How do I get there?
 

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No problem. You would just need to open File Explore, then browse to and open each folder in that path until you have the ink folder open.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
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    Custom self built
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello gamegurunaga, and welcome to Eight Forums.

This tutorial doesn't disable the Touch Keyboard itself. It will still work as usual. Instead, it only disables the Touch Keyboard icon on the taskbar notification area.

If you like, renaming the TabTip.exe file, should disable it though. :)


Rename it to what though? Im about to freak out this keyboard pops up every time I touch the screen. I dont have a tablet this is a touchsmart laptop. Why would I use that keyboard when there is a perfectly fine back lit keyboard right in front of me? Why is it so hard to disable this? I have to touch the screen to navigate since the built in touchpad has a mind of its own.
 

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Hello giants8493, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You can rename it to whatever you like, but I'd recommend to rename it as TapTip.exe.bak so you will be able to easily recognize it and rename it back to default if you so wish in the future. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
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    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
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    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
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    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
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    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
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    Logitech wireless K800
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    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Unable to rename the file.

I'm logged in as the administrator on my computer, running Windows 8.1.

While renaming the file, "TipBand.dll", I get the following error:

You need permission to perform this action.

You require permission from TrustedInstaller to make changes to the file.

Options are: Try Again and Cancel.

Please help me. Thanks.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Hello devilstrings, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It sounds like you may have just missed doing step 4B first. You won't be able to rename the file unless you did to set the proper permissions. :)

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)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi,
I tried this and it didn't work. Is it because of the .mui extension? I didn't know whether to add the .bak to the very end of the file name or what.

Screenshot (8).png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 (I think)
Hello Lilly, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Those file should not have the .mui file extension. See if running a sfc /scannow command may restore them.

If so, then try the tutorial again. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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.

Screenshot (15).jpg

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,
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 (I think)
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