How to Disable Edge Swipe in Windows 11

The Windows Edge swipe feature lets you open menus by swiping from the sides of your touchscreen. Swiping from the right opens the Notification Center, and swiping from the left opens the Widgets. While this is helpful for some, it can be annoying if you trigger it by accident while working. Disabling it stops these accidental swipes.

What happens when done? Your touchscreen will no longer respond to edge swipes, keeping your workflow uninterrupted.

Disable via Windows Settings

For most users, you do not need complex tools. You can often manage gestures through the Windows 11 settings menu. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touch. Here, you can toggle off specific touch gestures if your device driver supports it. This is the safest way to customize your experience without touching system files.

Touchpad vs. Touchscreen

It is important to know the difference. A Precision Touchpad uses different drivers than an HID-compliant touch screen. If you want to disable touchpad swipes, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. You can uncheck boxes for three-finger or four-finger gestures. This does not affect your touchscreen edge swipes, which are handled by the Windows UI layer.

Disable Edge Swipe using Group Policy

Note: This method requires administrator privileges.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor by searching for “Edit group policy” in the Start menu.

   

2. In the left menu, go to this path: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Edge UI
3. On the right side, double-click Allow Edge swipe.

   

4. To turn it off, select Disabled. To turn it on, select Enabled.

   

5. Click OK and close the editor.

Disable Edge Swipe using the Registry

Note: This method requires administrator privileges. Always create a System Restore point before editing the registry.

1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard.
2. Type regedit in the box and press Enter.

   

3. Go to this folder path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\EdgeUI
4. Find the AllowEdgeSwipe value. Double-click it and set it to 0 to turn it off.

   

5. Finally, restart Windows Explorer, or restart your PC to save your changes.

Troubleshooting Persistent Gestures

If your edge swipe gestures keep re-enabling after an update, it is likely because Windows is resetting your policy settings. You can check the Device Manager to ensure your HID-compliant touch screen driver is up to date. If the issue persists, re-apply the Group Policy settings, as Windows updates sometimes overwrite local modifications to the UI behavior.

Summary

The edge swipe feature is designed to make navigating Windows 11 faster on touchscreens. If you find yourself opening menus by mistake, you can turn this feature off using the Group Policy Editor, the Registry, or standard Windows Settings. These steps ensure your touchscreen behaves exactly how you want it to, preventing accidental interruptions while you work.