How to make the Windows 8 trackpad edge swipe zones smaller?

Question

I'm running Windows 8 on a Lenovo x220 laptop; and have just inadvertently discovered the edge-swipe feature or that brings up the charms or switches between desktop and RT. Only problem is that the landing zones are a little too wide for my liking - I'd like to keep this feature, but to narrow the zone where it can start. I'd rather not disable it completely as per: Modify or disable Windows 8 swipe gestures on touchpad / laptop

The Synaptic driver (latest available) doesn't seem to provide for changing this (though it does for other zones). Any ideas?

Solution

I tried to achieve this before asking the question you are linking to. After playing around in the registry for some time, I think I have found the solution!

• Open up Run.
  • Press Win+R or press Win+X and select Run.
• Type regedit and press Ok.
• Navigate to
  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Synaptics\SynTPEnh\ZoneConfig\TouchPadPS2_3\
  or something similar. It may be a bit different depending on driver version, vendor etc.
• Select the edge swipe you want to modify.
• Take a screenshot (Win+prt scr) to save the values you will be editing in case you mess something up.
• Modify the LoXRel, HiXRel, LoYRel and/or HiYRel values. What needs to be modified depends on the edge.
• Restart the computer, check if the zone is right or try again.

Example:
Here I have modified the Top Edge Pull-zone to not go so far down from the edge. The value I need to change is the LoYRel. The higher the value, the smaller the zone ("how far from the bottom the lower part of the zone should end"). I've changed it to be ffffffff (the max) which means that it will only do a Top Edge Pull when I start with my finger entirely from the top edge, and not when I start closer to the middle. The default value was fffff060 which left some (too much) room on the top, now I don't accidentally do edge gestures/swipe all the time.

NB!
When playing around with the values, don't set them too extreme just to check if you're editing the right value. I managed to make my entire touchpad an edge-zone. :p

Comments

[askvictor]

Any way to this without restarting the computer each time?

[Matsemann]

Not as I know. You can try killing the synaptic processes and restart them. But did you try the method?

[askvictor]

Yep; works like a charm (if you pardon the pun)

[Matsemann]

Glad I could help.

[Ramhound]

Lenovo will also likely update their drivers to support Windows 8. I suggest you report this problem to Lenovo so they can update their general trackpad drivers. All their devices use the same device ( more/less ).

[kenwarner]

any idea what the difference is between Right Edge Pull and Right Edge Pull Extended Zone??

[Matsemann]

@qntmfred I'm afraid I don't.