If your touchpad doesn’t work, it can be frustrating. You’ve probably experienced this annoyance before.
If your touchpad isn’t working, there may be several reasons for this. Accidental touchpad issues, physical damage, or dirt or debris can cause problems.
In this guide, I’ll help you with touchpad problems. My goal is to give you the knowledge and solutions to fix the issue when the touchpad isn’t working.
Common Reasons Why Your Touchpad Is Not Working
1. Accidental Touchpad Disablement
One common cause of a non-working touchpad is accidental disablement. You may have accidentally disabled the touchpad using keyboard shortcuts or settings.
Pressing certain keys together or accidentally accessing touchpad settings can disable it.
When turned off, the touchpad stops reacting to touch or movement. This makes it impossible to navigate the laptop using this input device.
2. Outdated or Incompatible Touchpad Drivers
Outdated or incompatible touchpad drivers can cause your touchpad to stop working. Touchpad drivers link the touchpad to the operating system.
This ensures smooth communication and proper functioning. If your touchpad isn’t working on Windows 10, you can find a helpful solution in my guide.
Over time, operating systems change. Manufacturers update drivers. Using old drivers can cause problems.
It might make the touchpad not work right. One problem could be issues with the touchpad clicking
Incompatibility between the touchpad drivers and the operating system can also cause problems.
Each operating system version may require specific driver versions to ensure smooth operation.
3. Physical Damage or Loose Connection
Physical damage, like cracks or scratches on the touchpad, can mess up how it works.
Visible cracks, scratches, or damage signs can mess with the touchpad’s functionality.
If the touchpad isn’t working, it might be because it’s not well connected to the motherboard.
4. Touchpad Sensitivity Settings
You can adjust the touchpad sensitivity to make it respond the way you like. The touchpad works based on how sensitive it is to your finger.
This sensitivity decides how your finger moves the cursor on the screen. The sensitivity settings can affect the speed and accuracy of cursor movements.
Higher sensitivity settings make the cursor move quickly with less finger effort. To make the screen less sensitive, slide your finger more to cover the same distance.
5. Dirt, Dust, or Debris on the Touchpad
Dirt, dust, or debris on the touchpad can make it work less well. Over time, things may end up on the touchpad.
This creates a barrier between your finger and the touch-sensitive part.
This can result in inaccurate cursor movements, unresponsiveness, or erratic behavior.
Regularly clean the touchpad to keep it working well and make sure it’s easy to use
6. Malware Infections
Malware, which stands for bad software, is a big problem for your computer’s safety. Sometimes, touchpad problems happen because of malware.
Malware is made to harm your computer, put your data at risk, and mess with things like the touchpad. It changes settings and harms files.
It interrupts communication between the operating system and the touchpad hardware.
Once inside your system, malware can remain hidden or disrupt your computer’s operations.
7. Operating System Issues
Operating system issues can contribute to touchpad problems. Outdated or broken system files can cause problems.
These issues can impact how different parts work, like the touchpad. This is usually the culprit for the touchpad not working on the Windows 7 operating system.
Programs or drivers may clash with the touchpad driver. This can cause problems like a slow response or a cursor that jumps around.
8. Power Management Settings
Power management settings affect touchpad functionality. Check your laptop’s power settings.
Make sure they don’t turn off or restrict the touchpad when the laptop is on battery or in power-saving mode.
9. Firmware or BIOS Issues
Outdated computer software or BIOS can cause problems and impact the touchpad’s performance.
To fix this, see if your laptop maker has released updates for the firmware or BIOS. If they have, install them.
Find solutions for touchpad problems on Dell, HP, Asus, and Elitebook laptops with my guide.
How To Fix Your Touchpad Not Working
If your laptop touchpad is not working on Windows 10 or 11, here are some steps you can follow to try and fix the issue:
1. Check for a Physical Toggle Button
Laptops often have a touchpad toggle button near the function keys (F1-F12). Pressing it can turn the touchpad on or off.
Try different input methods. Connect an external mouse or touchscreen to your laptop and use them for navigation.
2. Navigate With the Keyboard
If you don’t have a separate device, use keyboard shortcuts to move around your computer.
Press the Windows key to open the Start menu. Use the Tab and arrow keys to move between menus.
Press Enter to select options, and use the Space key to activate selected items.
3. Toggle Touchpad Settings in Windows
Open the Windows menu and search for “Settings.” In the Settings menu, search for “Touchpad.”
Select the option to turn the touchpad on or off. Toggle the setting to see if it resolves the issue.
4. Update Touchpad Drivers Through Windows Update
Go to “Windows Update” in the Settings menu and check for updates.
Specifically, look for driver updates related to the touchpad.
If any updates are available, install them and restart your laptop to apply the changes.
5. Update Touchpad Drivers Through Device Manager
Open the Windows menu and search for “Device Manager.” Open Device Manager.”
Find your touchpad. Look in “Mice and other pointing devices” or “Human Interface Devices.”
Right-click on the touchpad entry and select “Update driver.” Choose the option to search for drivers online.
If new drivers are found, follow the prompts to install them.
Additionally, if no updates are available or the touchpad still doesn’t work, proceed to the next step.
If your touchpad isn’t visible in the device manager, check this post for help. Follow the steps to resolve the issue.
6. Uninstall and Reinstall Touchpad Drivers
In Device Manager, right-click the touchpad and select “Uninstall device.”
Restart your laptop, and it will automatically reinstall the touchpad drivers. Check if the touchpad starts working after the reinstallation.
7. Use the Manufacturer’s Software for Driver Updates
Laptop manufacturers often provide their software for updating drivers. Look for software that matches your laptop brand.
Examples include Samsung Update Utility, HP Support Assistant, and Dell Update.
Use the software to scan for driver updates, including the touchpad driver. If updates are found, install them.
8. Explore BIOS settings
Restart your laptop and enter the BIOS setup. The key to access BIOS varies depending on the laptop brand (common keys include F2, Delete, or Enter).
Search for touchpad options in sections such as “General,” “Hardware,” or “Setup.” Enable any touchpad options that may be disabled.
Save the changes and exit BIOS.
FAQs
How can I use my laptop without a touchpad?
To operate your laptop without a touchpad, plug in a mouse. This allows you to move around and use your device.
How do I open settings without a touchpad?
Press the “Windows key” on your keyboard. Use the arrow keys to go to “Settings” in the Start menu. Press “Enter” to open it.
How do I drag and drop on my touchpad without the buttons?
Tap and hold your finger where you want. Slide to the destination. Release to finish.
Conclusion
If your touchpad isn’t working or won’t scroll, it can be frustrating. This guide helps you fix it.
Touchpad problems can happen for a few reasons. These include issues with the hardware, outdated drivers, software problems, or malware.
A working touchpad is crucial for smooth computer use. Follow the guide to fix it.
If it’s too much, get help from professionals. They can solve complex touchpad problems.