Laptop Touchpad Not Working? Try These Troubleshooting Steps
Laptop Touchpad Not Working? Try These Troubleshooting Steps
A laptop touchpad that suddenly stops responding makes your computer nearly unusable unless you have a mouse nearby. When touchpad not working becomes an issue, the cause is usually something you can fix yourself. When your touchpad is not working, the cause is usually a disabled setting, a driver issue, or a hardware conflict rather than a physical failure. This guide walks you through every fix from the simplest toggle to advanced driver troubleshooting on both Windows and Mac.
Check If the Touchpad Is Disabled
The most common reason a touchpad stops working is that it was accidentally disabled. Most laptops have a way to toggle the touchpad on and off.
Having other Windows hardware issues? Check our guide on keyboard keys not working.
Function Key Toggle
Look at the function keys (F1 through F12) on your keyboard for an icon that looks like a touchpad with a line through it. Press that key, or press Fn plus that key, to toggle the touchpad. Common combinations include Fn+F5, Fn+F6, Fn+F7, or Fn+F9 depending on your laptop brand.
Windows Settings
- Connect a USB mouse so you can navigate.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad (Windows 11) or Settings > Devices > Touchpad (Windows 10).
- Make sure the Touchpad toggle is turned on.
- Also check the option "Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected." If this is unchecked and you have a USB mouse plugged in, the touchpad will be disabled automatically.
Mac Trackpad Settings
On a Mac, go to System Settings > Trackpad. Verify that the tracking speed slider is not set to the far left (slowest) position. Also check System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control and make sure "Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present" is unchecked if you want both to work simultaneously.
Driver Fixes for Windows
Update the Touchpad Driver
- Open Device Manager.
- Expand Mice and other pointing devices or Human Interface Devices.
- Look for your touchpad (it may be listed as "Synaptics," "ELAN," "Alps," "Precision Touchpad," or by your laptop brand name).
- Right-click it and select Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
Roll Back a Recent Driver Update
If the touchpad stopped working after a Windows update, the new driver may be incompatible. In Device Manager, right-click the touchpad device, select Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver. If the button is grayed out, no previous driver is available and you should try reinstalling the manufacturer's driver from the laptop maker's support website.
Reinstall the Touchpad Driver
Right-click the touchpad in Device Manager and select Uninstall device. Check the box to "Delete the driver software" if available. Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a generic driver. Then download the latest touchpad driver from your laptop manufacturer's website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, ASUS, etc.) and install it. According to Microsoft's driver update guide, manufacturer-specific drivers often provide better touchpad functionality than the generic Windows drivers.
Having other Windows hardware issues? Check our guide on usb device not recognized.
For related peripheral issues, check our hdmi no signal troubleshooting guide.
For related peripheral issues, check our webcam not working troubleshooting guide.
Having other Windows hardware issues? Check our guide on microphone not detected.
For related peripheral issues, check our backspace not working troubleshooting guide.
BIOS and Hardware Checks
Check the BIOS Settings
Some laptops allow you to enable or disable the touchpad in the BIOS. Restart your laptop and press the BIOS key during startup (usually F2, F10, Del, or Esc depending on the manufacturer). Look for an "Internal Pointing Device" or "Touchpad" option under the Advanced or Devices tab. Make sure it is set to Enabled.
Check for Physical Damage
If your laptop was recently dropped, bumped, or had liquid spilled on it, the touchpad cable may have come loose or the touchpad surface may be damaged. Physical damage typically requires professional repair. As a diagnostic step, try booting into Safe Mode (restart while holding Shift on Windows, or hold the power button during startup on Mac). If the touchpad works in Safe Mode, the problem is software-related, not hardware.
External Mouse Interference
Disconnect all external mice (USB and Bluetooth) and test the touchpad again. Some laptop drivers disable the touchpad when an external mouse is detected, and a Bluetooth mouse that is paired but not physically present can still be seen as "connected" by the system.
For touchpad issues specific to Windows settings and configuration, our guide on Windows touchpad not working goes deeper into operating system-level fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Touchpad Not Working
Why does my touchpad work but not click?
If the cursor moves but tapping or clicking does not work, check your touchpad settings. "Tap to click" may be disabled. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad > Taps and enable "Tap with a single finger to single-click." On Mac, go to System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click and enable "Tap to click."
Can a Windows update break my touchpad?
Yes. Windows updates sometimes replace your touchpad driver with a generic one that lacks full functionality. Roll back the driver in Device Manager or download the correct driver from your laptop manufacturer's support page. This is one of the most common causes of touchpad failures after updates.
My touchpad cursor jumps around randomly. What should I do?
Erratic cursor movement is often caused by palm rejection failing or by sensitivity set too high. Reduce the touchpad sensitivity in Settings > Touchpad and enable palm rejection or "palm check" features. Also clean the touchpad surface with a microfiber cloth, as moisture or oils can interfere with the capacitive sensor.
How do I use my laptop without a touchpad or mouse?
Press the Windows key to open the Start menu and use Tab, arrow keys, and Enter to navigate. Press Alt+Tab to switch between windows. Enable Mouse Keys in Settings > Accessibility > Mouse to control the cursor using the number pad. This is a temporary workaround until the touchpad is fixed or a mouse is connected.
