7 Ways to Fix Laptop Touchpad Not Working
Laptops are the preferred choice for many users, but it's not uncommon to encounter issues such as an unresponsive touchpad, sluggish performance, or a touchpad that doesn't work at all. In this article, we will provide you with 7 troubleshooting steps to fix an unusable or malfunctioning touchpad.
1. Check if the Touchpad is Enabled
Sometimes, the touchpad may stop working because its function key has been accidentally disabled. Therefore, it is important to check this key, especially when the touchpad was working fine before and suddenly stops responding.
Most laptops have a specific function key that enables or disables the touchpad. This key is often denoted by an icon resembling a touchpad. Commonly, this is one of the F-keys (F1-F12).
While holding down the Fn key (located at the bottom left of your keyboard), press the designated function key (usually F7, F8, or F9) that toggles the touchpad.
After pressing the key, test the touchpad to see if it becomes responsive again.
2. Check the Touchpad Settings in Windows
Windows has built-in settings that allow you to disable or adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad. It's worth checking these settings to ensure the touchpad isn't turned off or set to an overly sensitive level.
Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
Click on Devices and then select Touchpad from the menu on the left.
Ensure the toggle for the touchpad is turned on. If it is, try adjusting the sensitivity or other settings like "Tap to click" or "Scroll direction" to suit your preferences.
After making any changes, test the touchpad again to see if it's working properly.
3. Update or Reinstall the Touchpad Driver
If your touchpad driver is experiencing issues, you may need to update or reinstall it. Using the Driver Sentry tool allows you to easily update the driver and ensure that your touchpad driver is always up to date.
Open Driver Sentry and click on the Scan button. The software will scan your system for outdated, missing, or corrupted drivers, including the touchpad driver.
After the scan is complete, Driver Sentry will display a list of outdated drivers. Click the "Repair Now" button to update them.
After the update is complete, restart your laptop to apply the changes.
After rebooting, check if the touchpad is working properly.
4. Check for Windows Updates
Sometimes, an issue with the touchpad may stem from an outdated Windows version. Microsoft frequently releases updates to fix bugs, improve hardware compatibility, and resolve performance issues. Ensuring that your Windows is up-to-date may help resolve the touchpad issue.
Press Windows + I to open the Settings app. Go to Update & Security and click on Windows Update.
Click Check for updates. If any updates are available, they will be downloaded and installed automatically.
Once the updates are installed, restart your laptop to ensure all changes take effect.
After the update, test the touchpad to see if it is working properly.
5. Uninstall and Reinstall the Touchpad Driver
If updating the driver doesn't work, the next step is to uninstall and reinstall the touchpad driver. This can help resolve issues caused by corrupt or faulty driver installations.
Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
In Device Manager, scroll down to Mice and other pointing devices, and expand it. You should see the touchpad driver listed here.
Right-click on the touchpad driver and select Uninstall device. Confirm any prompts to remove the driver.
After uninstalling the driver, restart your laptop. Windows should automatically attempt to reinstall the driver.
Once your laptop restarts, check if the touchpad is working properly. If not, you can reinstall the driver manually from the manufacturer's website.
6. Try a System Restore
If your touchpad was working fine in the past but suddenly stopped functioning, you can use System Restore to return your laptop to a previous working state. This will undo any recent changes or updates that may have caused the touchpad issue.
Type "System Restore" into the Windows search bar and select Create a restore point. In the System Properties window, click on the System Restore button.
Choose a restore point from before the touchpad issue began. Follow the on-screen instructions to restore your system.
After the restore is complete, your laptop will restart. Check if the touchpad is functioning properly.
7. Check for Hardware Issues
If none of the above solutions work, the problem might be hardware-related. This could be due to a faulty touchpad, loose connections, or other hardware issues. In this case, it's best to contact the manufacturer or a professional technician to inspect and repair the laptop.
By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, including updating your drivers using Driver Sentry, you can resolve most touchpad issues yourself. It is recommended to regularly update your computer's drivers for optimal performance.
See also:
6 Ways to Fix Windows 11 Unidentified Network Issue
How to Fix Windows 10 'This Device Cannot Start (Code 10)' Error
