Ryan Mitchell 
ChromeOS doesn’t have a simple settings switch to turn off the touchscreen, but you can do it with a keyboard shortcut. First enable the Debugging keyboard shortcuts flag at chrome://flags and restart. Then press Search + Shift + T to turn the touchscreen off. Press it again to turn it back on.
- There is no touchscreen on/off option in normal ChromeOS settings.
- The shortcut Search + Shift + T works after you enable a Chrome flag.
- Flags are experimental and may change in future ChromeOS versions.
- School and work Chromebooks may block flags.
Why turn off the touchscreen?
- A cracked or faulty screen that registers “ghost touches”
- Kids tapping the screen during online classes
- Avoiding accidental taps while drawing with a mouse or cleaning the screen
- Saving a little battery
Step 1: Enable debugging keyboard shortcuts
- Open the Chrome browser on your Chromebook.
- In the address bar, type
chrome://flags/#ash-debug-shortcutsand press Enter. - Find Debugging keyboard shortcuts.
- Change the drop-down from Default to Enabled.
- Click Restart at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Turn off the touchscreen
- After your Chromebook restarts, press Search + Shift + T together. The Search key is the magnifying glass or launcher key, where Caps Lock is on most keyboards.
- Tap the screen to test it. Touch should no longer work.
- To turn touch back on, press Search + Shift + T again.
How to turn off the touchpad instead
The same flag also adds a shortcut for the touchpad. Press Search + Shift + P to turn the touchpad off or on. This is handy if you use an external mouse.
What if the shortcut doesn’t work?
- Check the flag. Go back to
chrome://flagsand make sure it says Enabled, then restart again. - School or work Chromebook. Managed devices often lock
chrome://flags. Ask your IT administrator. - ChromeOS changes. Flags are experimental, and Google can rename or remove them. Update ChromeOS (Settings › About ChromeOS) and search the flags page for “debug”.
- Use the right keys. Some keyboards label the Search key as a launcher circle. Use that key, not Alt.
Is it safe to change Chrome flags?
Flags are experimental features. This particular flag only adds extra shortcuts, but other flags can cause problems. Only change the one you need. To undo everything, click Reset all at the top of the flags page.
More quick tech fixes
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn off the touchscreen permanently?
The shortcut setting can reset after a restart on some devices. If touch comes back, press Search + Shift + T again.
Will turning off the touchscreen disable the stylus?
On many models the stylus uses the same touch layer, so it may stop working too.
Does this work on all Chromebooks?
It works on most touchscreen Chromebooks, but results can vary by model and ChromeOS version.
Is there an app that turns off the touchscreen?
Not officially. The keyboard shortcut is the standard method.
