Touchpad malfunctioning in Windows 10? Here's how to fix it (9 easy tricks)
Having trouble with your Windows 10 touchpad? Don't panic! Here's what to do.
So imagine this: You open your laptop, all ready to tackle something important (maybe sending that urgent email, finishing a work project, or diving into your favorite program), and bam! Your touchpad just stops working. The cursor refuses to move, clicks are dead as nails, and you find yourself staring at the screen, feeling frustration mount.
Before you think of any crazy ideas (like throwing your laptop out the window), pause for a second. These issues happen, but the good news is there are many easy ways to troubleshoot and repair your touchpad.
Let's see 9 simple solutions, each of which aims to help you figure out what's wrong and get everything back up and running in no time.
1. Check if your touchpad is disabled
I know it sounds simplistic, but trust me: sometimes the touchpad accidentally turns off. Many laptops have a function key that disables the touchpad, and you may have pressed it without even realizing it.
Quick solution:
– Find the function (Fn) key and look for the touchpad toggle button (usually one of the F5, F6, F8, or F9 keys, depending on your laptop).
– Try pressing Fn + [touchpad function key] to see if that brings the touchpad back to life.
– If that doesn’t work, go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad and make sure the touchpad is ON.
Still not working? Don't worry, we're just getting started!
1 Bonus Tip: Check your laptop manufacturer's support!
Si everything else fails, visit your laptop manufacturer's support website to see if they have specific troubleshooting steps or updated drivers for your model.
2. Restart your laptop
The classic trick of “turn it off and on again” can save a lot of tech troubles, including yours! A quick restart often fixes any minor technical issues or temporary software glitches affecting your touchpad.
Reboot properly:
– Click Start > Power > Restart (make sure you choose restart, not just shut down).
– Let your laptop restart and see if the touchpad starts working again.
If a reboot doesn't work, let's dive into more advanced troubleshooting!
3. Check your Windows 10 touchpad settings
Windows allows you to modify touchpad settings, and a random change could be the reason it's not working.
Here's how to check:
1. Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
2. Make sure the touchpad switch is ON.
3. Adjust the touchpad sensitivity to a higher level for better responsiveness.
4. If multi-touch gestures aren't working, check that gestures like scrolling and tapping are enabled.
4. Enable the touchpad via Device Manager
Sometimes Windows simply decides to disable the touchpad drivers, and this can cause the touchpad to become unresponsive altogether.
Follow these steps to verify:
1. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
2. Scroll down to Human Interface Devices or Mice and other pointing devices.
3. Find your touchpad device, right-click on it, and press Enable.
If you don't see the touchpad here, you may need to reinstall the drivers (and we'll get to that next).
2 System Restore: Undo the Damage!
Did a recent update ruin your touchpad? Perform a System Restore to revert your laptop to a state before The trouble began. A technological time machine, so to speak!
5. Update or reinstall touchpad drivers
If your touchpad isn't working properly, it may be because the drivers are outdated or corrupted. The good news? Updating or reinstalling those drivers is usually enough.
Touchpad Driver Update:
1. Launch Device Manager (as shown earlier).
2. Right-click on your touchpad device and choose Update Driver.
3. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
4. Quickly restart your laptop and see if your touchpad is working again.
Reinstall the driver (if the update doesn't work):
1. In Device Manager, right-click the touchpad driver and press Uninstall.
2. Restart your laptop: Windows will automatically reinstall the correct driver.
6. Check for Windows 10 updates:
If you haven't updated Windows in a while, that could be causing issues with your touchpad. It's always smart to keep your system up to date.
How to check for updates:
1. Go to Settings > Update & security > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for Updates.
3. Install any pending updates and restart your laptop.
7. Run the Windows troubleshooter
Windows 10 has some useful troubleshooting tools that can help you discover and fix touchpad problems.
Using the troubleshooter:
1. Go to Settings > Update & security > Troubleshoot.
2. Click Additional Troubleshooters.
3. Select Hardware and Devices and simply follow the instructions provided.
This tool will automatically check for driver issues and suggest solutions.
3 Workarounds: Use an external mouse!
If none of these solutions work, connect a USB mouse or try bluetooth mouse connectivity while you do more research. It's not a permanent solution, but it keeps you working!
8. Check the BIOS settings
If you've tried everything and the touchpad still doesn't work, it may be disabled in your BIOS settings.
Checking BIOS settings:
1. Restart your laptop and press F2, F10 or Del (varies depending on your laptop brand) to enter the BIOS.
2. Look for Advanced settings > Internal pointing device (or something similar).
3. Make sure the touchpad is set to On, then save the changes.
9. Perform a system restore
If your touchpad simply stopped working after an update or a new with , rolling back your system to an earlier time might fix things.
Restoring Windows 10:
1. Go to Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore.
2. Choose a restore point before the touchpad problems began.
3. Simply follow the prompts to restore your system.
4. Restart your laptop and see if the touchpad works again.
4 Physical Inspection: Is your touchpad dirty or damaged?
Spilled coffee? Dust buildup? Check the touchpad surface for dirt or physical harm. Cleaning It could restore your responsiveness!
Final thoughts: Your touchpad should be ready to go!
Your touchpad is like the primary way you connect with your laptop, so when it takes a break, it can really throw a wrench in your plans. But hey, after trying these 9 solutions, you have a solid game plan for troubleshooting and, hopefully, fixing them!
– If changing some settings worked, great!
– If reinstalling the driver worked, great!
– If you had to dive into the BIOS or restore your system, props for addressing some serious issues!
Still not working? You may want to contact technical support or perhaps use an external mouse for a quick fix.
Why did my touchpad suddenly stop working?
Your touchpad may have been accidentally disabled via a function key, a driver problem, or software glitch. It might also be disabled in the settings of the BIOS or be affected by a recent windows update.
How do I enable my touchpad in Windows 10?
try to press Fn + F5, F6, F8 or F9 (Depending on your laptop model). If that doesn't work, go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad and turn the lever EN.
How do I fix an unresponsive touchpad in Device Manager?
- Open Device administrator (right click on Contac us menu > select Device administrator).
- Expand Human interface devices o Mice and other pointing devices.
- right click your touchpad device and select Allow (if available).
- If it still doesn't work, Update Driver o uninstall and restart your laptop.
What if my touchpad doesn't appear in Device Manager?
If your touchpad does not appear in Device administrator, may be disabled in BIOS setup or you need a manual driver installation. Restart your laptop, enter BIOS (F2, F10, or Del)and check Internal pointing device settings.
Can a Windows update cause touchpad problems?
Yes! Sometimes new Windows updates conflict with touchpad drivers. If your touchpad stopped working after an update, try to make the driver back up or make a System Restore to a previous working state.
