If you’re using a laptop or a notebook, then you know that touchpad is one of the essential features in any laptop that allows you to navigate your computer without needing another mouse. However, sometimes you can face issues such as the touchpad not working properly on your laptop.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why the touchpad is not working as expected and how to fix it.
Touchpad not working: Possible reasons
Here are a few possible reasons why the touchpad is not working properly:
- Disabled touchpad: Sometimes the touchpad may be accidentally disabled or turned off by a keyboard shortcut.
- Outdated or missing drivers: Outdated or missing touchpad drivers can cause it to malfunction.
- Physical damage: Any physical damage to the touchpad or its surrounding area may cause it to stop working.
- Malware or virus: Malware and virus can sometimes interfere with the touchpad drivers in the system.
- Windows update issues: Many users have reported that the touchpad has stopped working after an update.
- Hardware issues: Internal hardware issues may cause the touchpad to not work optimally.
- BIOS/UEFI settings: Misconfigured or outdated settings in the BIOS/UEFI can cause touchpad issues.
Also read: Mouse won’t move to the second monitor: 3 Fixes
Touchpad not working: Possible fixes
Not that we have understood the possible causes of why the touchpad isn’t working, let us dive into the fixes so that you can get the touchpad up and running again.
Restart your laptop
Sometimes, a simple solution is the best solution. Give your laptop a restart and see if it works. Many users swear by this method which can be true to some extent as restarting flushes your RAM and clears many minor bugs. So, give it a try and see if it works.
Check if the touchpad is enabled
As explained earlier, it may happen that you have disabled the touchpad by mistake. Most laptops provide this function where you can disable the touchpad using a combination of keys from the keyboard. Although, the combination differs from brand to brand, usually, you can disable the touchpad by pressing the Function key (Fn) and other function keys at the top of the keyboard.
Check the user manual of your laptop to know exactly how to enable the touchpad.
Update your touchpad drivers
Outdated touchpad drivers can cause issues with the touchpad’s functionality. To update your touchpad drives, go to your computer manufacturer’s website and then download the latest drivers for your computer touchpad.
Or, you could go to the Device Manager and then right-click on Mice and other pointing devices and then select Update Driver. You can also click on Search automatically for drivers to allow Windows to search for the driver on the internet.
Roll back the updates
Regularly updating your device’s OS and drivers is a good habit, but sometimes it also causes a lot of trouble. If you have recently updated the drivers and suddenly your laptop’s touchpad has stopped working, then you may want to roll back the updates asap.
Go to the Device Manager and then double-click on Mice and other pointing devices. Now, go to the Driver tab at the top and then select Roll Back Driver.
Configure touchpad settings in BIOS/UEFI
Configuring touchpad settings in the BIOS/UEFI of Windows may vary depending on the laptop or the motherboard manufacturer. However, here are some general steps that you can follow:
- Restart your laptop and enter BIOS/UEFI by pressing the relevant key during startup. This key varies depending on the manufacturer but it’s usually F2, F12, or DEL.
- Look for the Advanced or Device Configuration tab and navigate to the Internal Pointing Device or Touchpad option.
- Make sure that the touchpad is enabled. If it’s disabled, enable it and save the changes.
- Adjust other settings such as sensitivity speed or taping options.
Remove the external mouse or enable the touchpad to work with the mouse
Windows and Mac offer settings whereby when you connect a mouse to the laptop, it automatically disables the touchpad. In Windows, head to Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Touchpad. Then select the box corresponding to Leave Touchpad on when a mouse is connected.
Or, you could remove the external mouse and see if the touchpad works.
Also read: How to turn off the touch screen on Chromebooks?
Frequently answered questions
Here are some FAQs on the topic:
How do I fix my unresponsive touchpad?
To fix the unresponsive touchpad, update the drivers, remove the external mouse, restart your laptop, and check the touchpad settings in the BIOS/UEFI.
What function key disables the touchpad?
The function key to disable the touchpad depends on the brand of laptop that you own. Check the user manual of the laptop to get more details.
Also read: Chromebook touchpad not working: Quick Fix
