Stop Windows 10 from automatically switching to Tablet Mode

If you want to stop Windows 10 from automatically switching to tablet mode, then this post is helpful. Earlier, Windows 10 used to ask if you want to switch to tablet mode when you remove or detach the keyboard from your convertible/detachable PC or laptop. But, after an update, Windows 10 automatically switches your device to tablet mode by default. If you don’t want to keep such a default setting, then you can use a couple of options to disable automatic switching to tablet mode on your Windows 10 device.

What is Tablet Mode in Windows 10?

Tablet Mode is a native feature of Windows 10 that makes it more touch-friendly when you use your device as a tablet. You can easily activate and use tablet mode in Windows 10. After turning on the tablet mode, you will see changes in the Notification Center, taskbar, Start menu, etc. The Start menu is opened in full-screen mode (a bit similar to Windows 8 Start screen). The taskbar shows Cortana, Task View, Start menu button, and back button, and Microsoft Store apps are also opened in full-screen mode. In short, the options or features are optimized to work better when using your device as a touch screen device.

Stop Windows 10 from automatically switching to Tablet Mode

Here are the two native options that can help you stop Windows 10 from automatically switching to the tablet mode:

1. Using the Settings app
2. Using Registry Editor.

1] Stop Windows 10 from automatically switching to Tablet Mode using the Settings app

The steps are as follows:

1. Use Win+I hotkey to open the Settings app
2. There, click on the System category
3. Access the Tablet page using the left section present under the System category
4. On the right-hand section, you will see different options. Click on the drop-down menu available for When I use this device as a tablet section
5. You will see three options. These are:
   • Don’t switch to tablet mode: Use this option to disable or stop Windows 10 from automatically switching to the tablet mode when you fold your laptop or detach the keyboard from your convertible PC
   • Always switch to tablet mode: This is the default setting that makes Windows 10 automatically switch to the tablet mode
   • Ask me before switching modes: If you select this option, Windows 10 will ask you every time if you want to switch to the tablet mode (like it used to earlier).

Select the first option and then Windows 10 won’t switch to the tablet mode automatically.

Related: Windows 10 stuck in Tablet Mode? Here is how to turn off the Tablet Mode.

2] Disable automatic switching to Tablet Mode on Windows 10 using Registry Editor

Another option to stop or disable automatic switching to tablet mode on your Windows 10 device is using the Windows Registry Editor. Though the option is simple to use, it may create a mess if you don’t use a Registry trick carefully. Therefore, you should have a Registry backup that will help you recover from unexpected changes. After that, you can follow the steps mentioned below:

1. Open Registry Editor
2. Access the ImmersiveShell key
3. Create a ConvertibleSlateModePromptPreference DWORD value
4. Set its value data
5. Click on the OK button.

Let’s see these steps in detail.

First of all, open the Registry Editor window. You can either type regedit in Windows 10 Search box and press Enter key or use other ways to open Registry Editor.

After opening it, access the ImmersiveShell Registry key. The path to this key is:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell

On the right-hand area of this key, you need to create a ConvertibleSlateModePromptPreference DWORD value. For creating it, right-click in the empty area, select the New menu and click on DWORD (32-bit) Value. After creating this new DWORD value, rename it to ConvertibleSlateModePromptPreference.

Now it is time to set the value data of this DWORD value. To do so, double-click on ConvertibleSlateModePromptPreference value. You will see a small box. In that box, enter a value in the Value data field. You can enter any of the following values:

• 0: Stop Windows 10 from automatically switching to the tablet mode
• 1: Make Windows 10 ask you before switching to tablet mode
• 2: Always switch to tablet mode.

To disable automatic switching to the tablet mode, add 0 in the Value data field, and then press the OK button. After that, you can close the Registry Editor.

It will save the applied changes immediately. However, if the changes are not applied, then you need to restart your device or File Explorer.

TIP: If you are looking for the Windows 11 Tablet mode settings in the Windows Settings panel, you might be disappointed as there is no Tablet mode in Windows 11. The article explains everything that happened with Tablet mode for Windows 11, and you must know about the current situation.

Why does my computer keep switching to Tablet Mode?

The reason why your computer keeps switching to tablet mode is that, after an update, Windows 10 has set this option by default. Whenever you fold your convertible laptop or detach the keyboard from your convertible PC, Windows 10 won’t ask you if you want to switch to tablet mode. But, you can disable or turn off this option using the Settings app or Registry Editor. Both the options are already covered in this post with all the required steps.

How do I permanently disable Tablet Mode?

If you want to permanently disable tablet mode in Windows 10, then it can be done with the help of the Settings app. You need to access the Change additional tablet settings section using the Settings app. This section is present under the Tablet page of the System category. In that section, you can use the button available for Tablet mode to turn it on or off.

Hope this helps.