Imagine the frustration of sitting down with your laptop, ready to dive into work or enjoy some leisurely browsing, only to find that your touchpad is not functioning properly.
The simple act of navigating your device becomes a tedious task, hindering your productivity and dampening your user experience. We understand the significance of touchpads on laptops and the inconvenience caused by their malfunctioning.
That’s why this blog post aims to guide you through troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue of your touchpad not showing in the Device Manager.
So, let’s delve into the solutions and get your touchpad back to perfect working status.
Common Reasons Why Your Touchpad is not Showing in Device Manager
1. Outdated or Incompatible Drivers
One of the primary reasons for a touchpad not appearing in the Device Manager is outdated or incompatible drivers.
Drivers are software programs that allow the operating system to communicate with the touchpad hardware. If the drivers are outdated or incompatible, the system may not recognize the touchpad and your touchpad won’t work.
2. Disabled Touchpad Settings
Sometimes, the touchpad may be accidentally disabled through a keyboard shortcut or a settings option. This can cause the touchpad to be invisible in the Device Manager.
To check if the touchpad is disabled, look for a dedicated touchpad enable/disable key on your keyboard. Additionally, you can navigate to the touchpad settings in the Control Panel and ensure that the touchpad is enabled.
3. Hardware or Connection Issue
Hardware or connection issues can also prevent the touchpad from appearing in the Device Manager. Loose cables or damaged touchpad components may lead to the touchpad not being detected by the system.
4. Malfunctioning Touchpad
In rare cases, the touchpad itself might be malfunctioning or faulty, causing it to be unrecognized by the Device Manager.
How To Restore Your Touchpad Settings
1. Open Settings:
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Navigate to devices
2. Access Touchpad Settings:
- Click on touchpad in the left-hand menu
3. Reset Touchpad setting:
- Scroll down and look for the reset your touchpad section
- Click on the reset button to restore the default setting
4. Adjust Additional Settings:
- If necessary, customize additional settings as sensitivity, gestures, and scrolling options to preference.
5. Update Drivers:
- Ensure your touchpad drivers are up to date. (Go to device manager press windows + X and select device manager) Find mice and other pointing devices, right click on your touchpad, and select update touchpad.
6. Restart Your Device:
- After making changes, restart your device to see ensure settings take effect.
Basic Troubleshooting Steps to Fixing Non-Visibility of the Touchpad in Device Manager
Experiencing the issue of your touchpad not appearing in the Device Manager can be frustrating, but you can take several basic troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem. These steps are practical and easy to follow, allowing you to regain control of your touchpad functionality.
1. Show Hidden Devices in Device Manager
Sometimes, the touchpad may be hidden in the Device Manager, which can prevent it from being visible in the list of devices. To check for hidden devices:
- Open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting Device Manager from the menu.
- In the Device Manager window, click on the View tab at the top and select the option that says Show hidden devices.
- Look for ACTION and select Scan For Hardware Changes from the menu
- Now reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
- Once you have restarted your computer, press the Windows key and “I” to open Windows Settings. From there, choose the “Devices” option.
- Verify if the Touchpad is present in the list of devices. If it is, click on the toggle switch to enable it.
2. Update Touchpad Driver
Outdated or incompatible touchpad drivers can cause the touchpad to not appear in the Device Manager. Updating the touchpad driver to the latest version can help resolve this issue. Follow these steps to update the touchpad driver:
- Open the Device Manager by pressing the Windows key + X and selecting Device Manager from the menu.
- Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” category to view the touchpad devices.
- Right-click on the touchpad device and select Update driver.
- Choose the option to Search automatically for updated driver software.
- Windows will search for the latest driver for your touchpad online and install it automatically if available.
3. Configure the BIOS Settings
In some cases, incorrect BIOS settings can interfere with detecting the touchpad in the Device Manager. Configuring the BIOS settings correctly can help resolve this issue. Here’s how you can do it:
- Restart your laptop and continuously press the appropriate key (such as F2, Del, or Esc) to enter the BIOS setup.
- Navigate to the Input or Mouse/Touchpad section in the BIOS settings.
- Ensure that the touchpad is enabled or set to Automatic detection.
- Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup. Your laptop will restart.
4. Repair Corrupt Files
Corrupt system files can also lead to the touchpad not showing in the Device Manager. Repairing these files can help resolve the issue. To repair corrupt files:
- Open the Command Prompt as an administrator. Right-click on the Start button, then select Command Prompt (Admin).
- In the Command Prompt window, type the following command; sfc /scannow and press Enter:
- Wait for the system file scan to complete. It will identify and automatically repair any corrupt files it finds.
- Restart your laptop and check if the touchpad appears in the Device Manager.
FAQs
1. Why is BIOS not Detecting the Touchpad?
The BIOS may not detect the touchpad due to incompatible or outdated firmware, incorrect BIOS settings, or a hardware issue.
2. What Virus Disables Touchpad?
One common virus that can disable the touchpad is Win32/Sality.AT. This malware has the ability to delete files and turn them into shortcut files, causing problems with the touchpad functionality.
3. Can I Use a Mouse Instead of a Touchpad Mouse
You can certainly use a mouse instead of a touchpad on your laptop. Many laptops have USB ports or Bluetooth connectivity options that allow you to connect an external mouse.
4. Is It Safe to Uninstall Touchpad Driver?
Yes, it is generally safe to uninstall the touchpad driver from your device. Uninstalling the touchpad driver will not permanently disable or render your touchpad unusable.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting a touchpad not showing in the Device Manager can be an unwanted experience, but with the right steps, it is possible to resolve the issue. Throughout this article, we have covered various troubleshooting methods, from basic steps to more advanced techniques.
We started by examining common causes such as driver issues, disabled settings, and hardware problems. By following the basic troubleshooting steps, including checking touchpad settings, restarting the device, and updating drivers, many users can successfully restore their touchpad functionality.
For those facing persistent issues, we provided advanced troubleshooting steps. These include updating the operating system, performing a system restore, uninstalling and reinstalling touchpad drivers, and performing a clean boot. These methods tackle more complex issues and may require technical knowledge or assistance.
We sincerely hope that this blog post has been helpful in guiding you toward resolving your touchpad not showing in the Device Manager issue.
Remember to keep your operating system and drivers up to date, handle your device with care, adjust touchpad settings, consider external input devices when needed, and regularly clean your touchpad.