Skip to main content

How to turn off the Charms menu in Windows 8.1

how to turn off the charms menu in windows 8 1
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Windows 8.1’s user base is small, especially when compared to the now-ancient Windows XP, and Windows 7, which is approaching five years of age.

Part of the reason for this is due to the introduction of features like the Charms menu, which turned a lot of Windows devotees off when it debuted with Windows 8 in 2012. Many of the Charms menu’s detractors feel that it was an unnecessary addition that just made Windows 8 and 8.1 a bigger headache to use.

Related: How to change the Start screen background in Windows 8 and 8.1

Thankfully, with the use of a simple program, there’s a way to disable the Charms menu once and for all.

By the way, if you think the site/author may be iffy, don’t worry. We scanned the folder and the app’s execute-able with Malwarebytes. They both came out clean.

How to turn off the Charms menu in Windows 8.1

Step 1. Click here and download the Winaero Charms Bar Killer by clicking the gray button labeled “download.”

Turn off Charms (3)
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 2. Install the program once you finish downloading it. It should take less than a second to download, considering it’s less than a megabyte.

Turn off Charms (4)
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 3. Once you install the Winaero Charms Bar Killer, it will take up residence in your System Tray. Find the green icon, and right-click on it.

Turn off Charms (5)
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 4. Click “Kill Charms Bar” when you right-click on the bar killer’s system tray icon. Also, click “Run at startup.”

Turn off Charms 7
Image used with permission by copyright holder

That’s it! From here on out, the Charms menu should not pop up again.

Editors' Recommendations

Konrad Krawczyk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…
How to record your screen in Windows 11
Windows 11 on laptop screen

Recording your screen is an incredibly useful feature available on Windows 11. In a professional capacity, it allows you to capture your screen to highlight issues or show off a new workflow to your colleagues. You can also record a presentation that can be shared throughout the company. For gaming, it lets you record a clip of action that can then be shared with friends or posted online. If you're trying to figure out how to record your screen on Windows 11, you'll be glad to know the process is simple (at least, once you know where to look).

Here's a look at how to record your screen in Windows 11 using Screen Recorder, Xbox Game Bar, and more.

Read more
How to download Windows 10 for free
windows 10 october update

Microsoft has officially moved on to Windows 11, having launched the operating system in 2021. However, some folks are still using Windows 10, and if you're looking to jump back in time and use the old software, there's really nothing stopping you. Though the period of free upgrades and workarounds have long expired, there are still ways to download Windows 10 for free.

Read more
How to change keyboard language in Windows
The Surface Pro 9 with the Type Cover keyboard lifted up.

If you’re a Windows user, you’ll know just how many customizations the operating system provides to match the user. Even multilingual PC owners have the ability to personalize their Windows typing setup, simply by changing the keyboard language. If this sounds like a feature you’d take advantage of, you’ll be glad to know that it’s incredibly easy to set this up, both for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Read more