How to Use Tablet Mode on an HP x360 (and Turn Off the Touchscreen)

To use x360 tablet mode, fold the screen all the way back: Windows 11 switches to tablet posture automatically, turns off the keyboard and touchpad, and shows the touch keyboard when you tap a text box. Fold it back to laptop shape to switch the keyboard on again.

The four positions

• Laptop: normal use.
• Tent: an upside-down V, for watching videos or recipes in the kitchen.
• Stand: keyboard face down, screen towards you; good for presentations and video calls.
• Tablet: folded flat, for reading, notes and drawing.

In tent, stand and tablet positions the keyboard is disabled so you don’t press keys by accident.

Make tablet mode comfortable

• Touch keyboard: if it doesn’t pop up, go to Settings > Time & language > Typing > Touch keyboard and set it to show when no keyboard is attached.
• Rotation lock: open Quick Settings (Windows + A) and tap Rotation lock to stop the screen flipping while you read in bed.
• Pen: many EliteBook x360 models support an HP active pen. Check your model’s pen type before buying one.
• Bigger touch targets: Settings > Accessibility > Text size helps on 13-inch screens.

Turn off the touchscreen

Useful if the screen gets phantom touches or children keep tapping it.

1. Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
2. Expand Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click HID-compliant touch screen > Disable device > Yes.

Repeat the same steps and choose Enable device to turn it back on.

Quick fixes

• Screen won’t rotate: turn off Rotation lock; update chipset and sensor drivers with HP Support Assistant.
• Keyboard dead in laptop position: fold the screen fully back and return it; if it persists, restart.
• Phantom touches: clean the screen properly (see how to clean a laptop screen) and update the touchscreen driver.

Thinking about buying one? Read the 2-in-1 pros and cons. Current examples include the EliteBook x360 1040 G9 and HP Pavilion x360 14.

Quick answers