Windows 10: Enable/Disable Tablet Mode

If you are using a touch-enabled laptop with Microsoft Windows 10 loaded on it, you have likely already used Tablet Mode. If you have not, you are missing out! Turning this function on allows you to utilize your laptop as a tablet – no keyboard, no touchpad and no mouse! This is an excellent setting when you have one of the laptops – such as a Chromebook or the new Inspiron 2-in-1 from Dell. My sister owns a Lenovo Flex and I LOVE grabbing it when I am there, placing it into Tablet Mode and spending time just vegging out online without having to bring my clunky old-school-style laptop along.

Enabling Tablet Mode

Turning Tablet Mode on and off in Windows 10 is quite simple. See that little square in the bottom-right corner of your laptop? It is the notification center. Click on that once, and at the bottom of the notification screen that pops up, you will see “Tablet Mode” on the bottom left. Simply click that to toggle this awesome feature!

Side note: if you have never clicked that Notifications Center until now, you will see it is also the fastest way to get to your settings menu, put your device into airplane mode and open up your network.

While in Tablet Mode, your apps (including older programs) will open full screen. This gives you more space to work inside. If you want to use two different apps next to each other, drag one of them to one side of your screen. You will then see where it will “snap” to AND it will show you which other open apps have the ability to be snapped right next to the one you are currently moving!

As I just mentioned, part of the beauty of Tablet Mode is having more screen real estate. Another way to free up more pixels is to hide the taskbar while you are using your laptop as a tablet:

Select the “Start” button.
Choose “Settings“.
Click “System“.
Tap on “Tablet Mode“.
Turn on “Automatically Hide the Taskbar in Tablet Mode“.

To access your hidden taskbar, just swipe up from the bottom of your screen.

Disabling Tablet Mode

If your laptop somehow gets stuck or keeps starting in Tablet Mode, it is simple to reverse the setting. First, right click your Taskbar and select “Properties.” Scroll down to where it says “Use Start Full Screen” and be sure it is set to OFF.

Next, click “Home” on your Settings window. Now choose “System” and then “Tablet Mode“. Where you see it says “When I Sign In“, choose “Use Desktop Mode“. Now look for “When this Device automatically Switches Tablet Mode On or Off“, and change it to “Don’t Ask Me and Don’t Switch“. Reboot your system and it will start up normally once again.

How often do you use Tablet Mode on your laptop? What types of things do you use it to do? Netflix and chill? YouTube kitten videos? Facebook browsing?