To turn off the touchscreen on a Chromebook, enable the Debugging keyboard shortcuts flag at chrome://flags/#ash-debug-shortcuts, restart, then press Search + Shift + T. There is no way to fully turn off the touchscreen without that flag. If you can’t use flags, for example on a school Chromebook, you can still block touches by locking the screen with Search + L or closing the lid and using an external monitor.
Before you start
- Applies to: Any Chromebook with a touchscreen or touchpad.
- You need: A restart. The flag does nothing until the Chromebook reboots.
- Time: About 2 minutes.
- Note: On a school or work Chromebook, your admin may block chrome://flags.
Can I turn off the touchscreen without flags?
Not completely. ChromeOS has no touchscreen switch in Settings, so the flag shortcut is the only true off switch. These workarounds stop stray touches in the cases people care about most:
- Lock the screen for a moment. Press Search + L. A locked Chromebook ignores every tap until you sign back in. This is the easy fix for wiping the screen or handing the laptop to a child. See how to freeze the screen on a Chromebook.
- Close the lid and use an external monitor. Connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and keep the Chromebook plugged in. With the lid shut, nobody can touch the built-in screen.
- Ask your admin. On a school or work Chromebook, only IT can change this. Tell them why you need the touchscreen off.
What doesn’t turn off the touchscreen?
- Turning brightness all the way down. The screen goes dark but still reacts to touch.
- Folding back to laptop mode. The layout changes, but touch keeps working.
- Searching Settings for a switch. Settings has touchpad and stylus options, but no touchscreen on/off switch.
How do I turn on the Debugging keyboard shortcuts flag?
A note on flags: chrome://flags holds test features that Google can change or remove. This one has been around for years and is safe to switch on, but don’t change flags you don’t recognise while you’re there.
- Open a new tab and go to chrome://flags/#ash-debug-shortcuts. You can also open chrome://flags and search for Debugging keyboard shortcuts.
- Open the drop-down next to Debugging keyboard shortcuts and pick Enabled.
- Click Restart.
How do I turn the touchscreen off and on?
After the restart, press Search + Shift + T. The Search key sits where Caps Lock is on other keyboards. Newer Chromebooks call it the Everything button or Launcher key.
Press the same keys again to turn the touchscreen back on. You won’t see a message, so tap the screen to check.
How do I turn the touchpad off and on?
The same flag adds a second shortcut. Press Search + Shift + P to turn the touchpad off, and press it again to bring it back. This is handy with an external mouse, since your palm can’t cause stray clicks.
Why is the shortcut not working?
- Restart the Chromebook. Closing the browser isn’t enough. The whole device has to reboot.
- Check the flag is still Enabled. A powerwash or a big ChromeOS update can reset flags.
- Press the Search key, not Ctrl or Alt. It’s the key in the Caps Lock spot.
- Check if the Chromebook is managed. If chrome://flags is blocked, use the workarounds above.
FAQ
Which keys turn off the Chromebook touchscreen?
Search + Shift + T, after you enable the Debugging keyboard shortcuts flag and restart. The same keys turn it back on.
Is there a way to disable the touchscreen without a flag?
Not completely. Without the flag, lock the screen with Search + L to block touches for a while, or close the lid and use an external monitor.
Does the touchscreen stay off after a restart?
No. The flag stays on, but the touchscreen comes back after every reboot. Press the shortcut again if you want it off.
Is this flag risky?
No. It only adds shortcuts that switch hardware like the touchscreen and touchpad. It makes no lasting change, and you can set it back to Default any time.
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