Keep in mind that you might not be able to install the older driver using Device Manager. If that happens, you’ll need to remove your driver manually along with all associated files.
There are many ways to do that, but the most straightforward method is to use uninstaller software.
These applications are specially designed to remove programs along with all files and registry entries associated with them.
If you want to remove an application entirely from your PC, be sure to try IOBit Uninstaller.
iObit Uninstaller is the perfect tool to use and it will get rid of any unwanted program from your device, including the stubborn ones.
To use IObit, download from the link below and install it. Then simply open the program, select the application you want to remove, and click the Uninstall button.
Now visit your touchpad manufacturer and download the older driver for your touchpad. After installing it, disable Three Finger Tap and Four Finger Tap features and the problem should be completely resolved.
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3. Turn off Hey Cortana hot word detection
Sometimes, Cortana is not able to compile what is being spoken and can start on its own. This is due to the always-listening feature in Cortana. You can disable it by going into Cortana settings easily.
- Open start menu and type in Cortana. You will notice that a result that reads Cortana & Search settings will pop up. Click it.
- Clicking on that result will open up a new page. Now look for the setting that reads Let Cortana respond to Hey Cortana and then turn the option off.
Hey Cortana not Recognized in Windows 10? Here is what you need to do!
4. Turn off Taskbar Tidbits in search settings
Follow all the steps mentioned in Solution 2. In the Cortana and Search settings, look for the option that reads Taskbar tidbits.
There will be an option to turn it off. Do it, and it should alleviate this issue.
5. Disable Cortana on the lock screen
If Cortana keeps popping up on your Windows 10 PC, the problem might be its settings.
According to users, this issue can be caused by your lock screen settings, and in order to stop Cortana from showing up all the time, you need to do the following:
- Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
- When the Settings app opens, navigate to the Cortana section.
- In the right pane, locate Use Cortana even when my device is locked option and disable it.
After doing that, the problem with Cortana should be resolved completely.
6. Check your keyboard
Sometimes this problem can appear if a certain key on your keyboard is stuck.
Several users reported that this issue started occurring due to a stuck F5 key. This caused certain shortcuts to be activated by accident and Cortana to pop up.
To fix this problem, be sure to check your keyboard and make sure that there are no stuck keys. Alternatively, you can try a different keyboard and check if the issue reappears.
Keep in mind that this is an unlikely cause, but nevertheless, we advise you to check your keyboard just in case.
7. Try using USB mouse
If Cortana keeps popping up, the cause might be your touchpad. Some touchpads are rather sensitive, and you can perform gestures by accident.
To fix the problem, it’s advised to try using a USB mouse with your laptop.
If switching to USB mouse fixes the problem, it means that you’re performing gestures on your touchpad and starting Cortana accidentally.
This isn’t a permanent solution, but it’s a decent workaround, so be sure to try it out.
8. Disable your touchpad
As previously mentioned, sometimes these problems can occur due to your touchpad. If you don’t use your touchpad that often, you can just disable it as a workaround.
There are several ways to do it, but the best one is to use the keyboard shortcut to disable it.
To find which key disables the touchpad, look for a key that has a touchpad icon on it and press Fn and that key together to disable the touchpad.
If you can’t find the keyboard shortcut, you can always check your laptop’s instruction manual for detailed instructions on how to disable your touchpad.
You can also disable your touchpad by using the touchpad software.
Each touchpad software is different, however, each touchpad application has the ability to disable the touchpad, so you should be able to disable it.
Lastly, you can just disable your touchpad from Device Manager. To do that, follow these steps:
- Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu. Now choose Device Manager from the list.
- Locate your touchpad on the list, right-click it and choose Disable device from the menu.
- When the confirmation dialog appears, click on Yes.
After doing that, your touchpad should be completely disabled and the problem with Cortana will be resolved.
Epic guide alert! Check out our guide to disable your touchpad now!
9. Modify your registry
According to users, you can fix the problems with Cortana simply by making a few changes to your registry. This is rather simple and you can do it by following these steps:
- Press Windows Key + R and enter regedit. Now press Enter or click OK.
- When Registry Editor opens, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARESynapticsSynTPWin10 key in the left pane.
- Right-click Win10 key and choose Export from the menu.
- In the Export range select Selected branch, enter the desired file name and click on Save. In case anything goes wrong after modifying the registry, you can always run the exported file and restore the registry to the original state.
- In the right pane, delete the following DWORDs:
- 3FingerTapAction
- 3FingerTapPlugInActionID
- 3FingerTapPlugInID
- 3FingerPressButtonAction
After doing that, check if the problem still persists. If you can’t find any of these DWORDs or the path from Step 2, this solution doesn’t apply to you so you can just skip it.
Can’t access Registry Editor? Check out this guide and solve the issue.
These are some working ways to fix Windows 10 Cortana automatically popping up.
These methods will definitely fix the problem you are facing as they have for countless others over the internet already.
Let us know how these instructions worked out for you in our comments!
Still having issues? Fix them with this tool: Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2016 and was revamped and updated in December 2020 for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
This post was written by Madalina Dinita and was first posted to WindowsReport