Disable Touch Shortcut Menu Pop-up From Long Presses

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Touch Shortcut Menu: A Persistent Issue

Are you tired of the annoying horizontal pop-up bar that appears when you long press on your touch screen? This issue is particularly frustrating when you're trying to work efficiently on your Excel 2021 spreadsheet. Despite disabling right-click and double-click through VBA, the Touch Shortcut Menu continues to pop up, disrupting your workflow. In this article, we'll delve into the world of touch shortcuts and explore ways to disable this persistent issue.

Understanding Touch Shortcuts

Touch shortcuts are a feature designed to provide quick access to frequently used actions on touch-enabled devices. These shortcuts are typically triggered by long presses or double taps on the screen. While they may seem convenient, they can often get in the way of your work, especially when you're trying to perform precise actions on your spreadsheet.

The Problem with Touch Shortcut Menu

The Touch Shortcut Menu is a horizontal pop-up bar that appears when you long press on the screen. This menu provides a list of actions that you can perform, but it can be distracting and difficult to navigate, especially when you're trying to work on a complex spreadsheet. The issue is that this menu is triggered by long presses, which can be accidental, especially if you're using a touch screen with a sensitive touchpad.

Disabling Touch Shortcut Menu through VBA

While disabling right-click and double-click through VBA can help reduce the number of pop-ups, it's not a foolproof solution. The Touch Shortcut Menu is a separate feature that requires a different approach to disable. To disable this menu, you'll need to use a combination of VBA code and registry edits.

Step 1: Disable Touch Shortcut Menu through VBA

To disable the Touch Shortcut Menu through VBA, you'll need to add the following code to your Excel VBA editor:

Sub DisableTouchShortcutMenu()
    Dim objShell As Object
    Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
    objShell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options\TouchShortcutMenu", 0, "REG_DWORD"
End Sub

This code will create a registry key that disables the Touch Shortcut Menu. However, this code only works if you're running Excel 2016 or later.

Step 2: Disable Touch Shortcut Menu through Registry Edits

If you're running an earlier version of Excel, you'll need to use registry edits to disable the Touch Shortcut Menu. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R and typing regedit.
  2. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Options
  3. Create a new DWORD value called TouchShortcutMenu and set its value to 0.

Step 3: Disable Touch Shortcut Menu through Group Policy

If you're using a network with Group Policy enabled, you can use Group Policy to disable the Touch Shortcut Menu. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Group Policy Editor by pressing the Windows key + R and typing gpedit.msc.
  2. Navigate to the following key: Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office\Excel\Options
  3. Enable the policy called Disable Touch Shortcut Menu.

Conclusion

Disabling the Touch Shortcut Menu can be a frustrating process, but it's worth the effort if you're tired of the annoying pop-up bar. By using a combination of VBA code, registry edits, and Group Policy, you can finally get rid of this persistent issue. Remember to be patient and persistent, as disabling the Touch Shortcut Menu may require multiple attempts.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you're still experiencing issues with the Touch Shortcut Menu after following these steps, try the following troubleshooting tips:

  • Make sure you've disabled the Touch Shortcut Menu through all three methods (VBA, registry edits, and Group Policy).
  • Check if you have any other applications or add-ins that may be interfering with the Touch Shortcut Menu.
  • Try restarting your computer to see if the issue resolves itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does the Touch Shortcut Menu keep popping up? A: The Touch Shortcut Menu is triggered by long presses on the screen. If you're accidentally triggering the menu, try reducing the sensitivity of your touchpad or using a different input method.

Q: How do I enable the Touch Shortcut Menu again? A: To enable the Touch Shortcut Menu, simply delete the registry key or Group Policy setting that disables it.

Q: Can I customize the Touch Shortcut Menu? A: Unfortunately, the Touch Shortcut Menu is a fixed feature that cannot be customized. However, you can try using a third-party add-in or application that provides similar functionality.

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Touch Shortcut Menu?

A: The Touch Shortcut Menu is a feature that appears when you long press on the screen. It provides a list of actions that you can perform, but it can be distracting and difficult to navigate, especially when you're trying to work on a complex spreadsheet.

Q: Why does the Touch Shortcut Menu keep popping up?

A: The Touch Shortcut Menu is triggered by long presses on the screen. If you're accidentally triggering the menu, try reducing the sensitivity of your touchpad or using a different input method.

Q: How do I disable the Touch Shortcut Menu?

A: To disable the Touch Shortcut Menu, you'll need to use a combination of VBA code, registry edits, and Group Policy. You can find the steps to disable the Touch Shortcut Menu in our previous article.

Q: Can I customize the Touch Shortcut Menu?

A: Unfortunately, the Touch Shortcut Menu is a fixed feature that cannot be customized. However, you can try using a third-party add-in or application that provides similar functionality.

Q: Why can't I disable the Touch Shortcut Menu through VBA?

A: The Touch Shortcut Menu is a separate feature that requires a different approach to disable. While disabling right-click and double-click through VBA can help reduce the number of pop-ups, it's not a foolproof solution.

Q: How do I enable the Touch Shortcut Menu again?

A: To enable the Touch Shortcut Menu, simply delete the registry key or Group Policy setting that disables it.

Q: Can I use the Touch Shortcut Menu on a non-touch device?

A: No, the Touch Shortcut Menu is designed specifically for touch-enabled devices. If you're using a non-touch device, you won't be able to use the Touch Shortcut Menu.

Q: Is the Touch Shortcut Menu available on all versions of Excel?

A: The Touch Shortcut Menu is available on Excel 2016 and later versions. If you're using an earlier version of Excel, you won't be able to use the Touch Shortcut Menu.

Q: Can I use the Touch Shortcut Menu with other applications?

A: The Touch Shortcut Menu is specific to Excel and cannot be used with other applications.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with the Touch Shortcut Menu?

A: If you're experiencing issues with the Touch Shortcut Menu, try the following troubleshooting tips:

  • Make sure you've disabled the Touch Shortcut Menu through all three methods (VBA, registry edits, and Group Policy).
  • Check if you have any other applications or add-ins that may be interfering with the Touch Shortcut Menu.
  • Try restarting your computer to see if the issue resolves itself.

Q: Can I contact Microsoft support for help with the Touch Shortcut Menu?

A: Yes, you can contact Microsoft support for help with the Touch Shortcut Menu. They may be able to provide additional assistance or troubleshooting steps to resolve your issue.

Conclusion

We hope this Q&A article has provided you with the information you need to understand and troubleshoot the Touch Shortcut Menu. If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to ask.