[Fix] Windows 10 No Longer Ask Before Switching to Tablet Mode

Generally if you are using a 2-in-1 device which can be used as a laptop as well as a tablet and you detach the keyboard from the device, Windows 10 shows a notification toast asking for your permission to switch to the built-in Tablet Mode.

Tablet Mode is a special feature present in Windows 10 which has been designed specifically for touch screen devices such as tablets. In Tablet Mode, Start Menu is shown in full screen mode, Taskbar also changes slightly, apps and programs can’t be restored using Maximize button, the titlebar disappears from modern UWP apps, etc.

When Windows 10 detects that the user has detached the keyboard from the 2-in-1 device and is going to use the device as a tablet, it shows a confirmation message to allow the user to switch to the Tablet Mode.

If the user selects YES option, Windows 10 switches to Tablet Mode. If the user selects NO option, Windows 10 doesn’t switch to Tablet Mode and keeps using default PC mode.

But in newer versions of Windows 10 (version 20H2 and later), this behavior has been changed. Now Windows 10 no longer shows any notification toast asking for user’s permission. Windows 10 now automatically switches to Tablet Mode as soon as the keyboard is detached from a 2-in-1 device.

Similarly, Windows 10 uses the appropriate mode when the system boots and the user signs in.

This change was made in Windows 10 build 20161 which was released to Windows Insiders on July 01, 2020. Later the same change was brought to Windows 10 version 20H2. We told you about this change in our exclusive Windows 10 changelog topic present at following link:

Windows 10 (Dev Channel or Fast Ring) Insider Preview Builds Changelog

Here is what Microsoft told about this change in the official announcement:

Users might find it annoying and they may want to force Windows 10 to ask for permission before automatically switching to Tablet Mode.

Fortunately, Microsoft provides an option to restore previous behavior and force Windows 10 to show a confirmation message asking for user’s choice.

If you also want to bring back previous functionality and restore notification toast to ask for your permission before switching to Tablet Mode in Windows 10, following steps will help you:

1. Open Settings app from Start Menu or by pressing WIN+I keys together.

2. Now go to “System -> Tablet” section.

PS: Alternatively, You can directly launch this page using “ms-settings:tabletmode” command in RUN dialog box as mentioned here.

3. In right-side pane, you’ll get following 2 options:

• When I sign in
• When I use this device as a tablet

To restore confirmation prompt so that Windows 10 always asks for your permission before switching to Tablet Mode, select “Ask me before switching modes” option from drop-down list given under “When I use this device as a tablet” setting. If you want to completely disable Tablet Mode switching feature, you can select “Don’t switch to Tablet Mode” option.

Similarly, you can decide whether Windows 10 should apply Tablet Mode or keep using PC mode when you start your PC and sign in by selecting appropriate option from the drop-down list given under “When I sign in” setting. You can select Always use Tablet Mode, Never use Tablet Mode or Use the appropriate mode for my hardware options.

Also Check:

[Fix] Can’t Unmaximize or Restore Down Programs in Windows 10

[Fix] Apps and Programs Automatically Minimize in Windows 10