Laptop Touchpad Not Working? Quick Fixes That Actually Work

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by

Himanshu
in

If your laptop touchpad suddenly stops working but your external mouse is fine, don’t panic. This issue is common in Windows laptops (and sometimes Macs), and in most cases it can be fixed with a few simple steps.

In this guide, we’ll cover the most common reasons your touchpad stops working and how you can fix it in minutes.

🔎 Why Does the Laptop Touchpad Stop Working?

The touchpad may stop responding due to:

  • Accidental keyboard shortcut disabling it
  • Wrong Windows settings
  • Outdated or missing drivers
  • BIOS/UEFI settings disabling the device
  • Rarely, a hardware issue like a loose connection

✅ Step-by-Step Fixes

1. Check Touchpad Shortcut Key

Most laptops have a shortcut key to enable/disable the touchpad. Look for a touchpad symbol on the function keys (F1–F12).

  • Common combos: Fn + F7, Fn + F9, or Fn + F5
  • Press it once and see if your touchpad comes back to life

2. Enable Touchpad in Settings

On Windows 10/11:

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings
  2. Go to Devices → Touchpad
  3. Make sure the toggle is ON
  4. Check the option “Leave touchpad on when mouse is connected”

On Mac:

  1. Go to System Preferences → Trackpad
  2. Ensure “Enable trackpad” is selected

3. Enable Touchpad via Device Manager (Windows)

  1. Right-click Start → choose Device Manager
  2. Expand Mice and other pointing devices
  3. Look for entries like Synaptics / ELAN / Precision Touchpad
  4. Right-click → Enable device if it’s disabled

4. Update or Reinstall Drivers

  • Go to your laptop manufacturer’s support site (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, etc.)
  • Download the latest touchpad driver
  • Install and restart your system

⚡ Pro Tip: Avoid relying only on Windows Update drivers—OEM drivers are more stable.

5. Check BIOS/UEFI Settings

Sometimes the touchpad is disabled in BIOS.

  1. Restart your laptop and press F2 / Del / Esc (depends on brand)
  2. Find Internal Pointing Device / Touchpad
  3. Ensure it is set to Enabled

6. Hardware Issue (Last Resort)

If nothing works, the touchpad’s internal cable may be loose. This requires a technician’s help to reconnect or replace the touchpad.

📊 Quick Troubleshooting Table

IssueFix
Touchpad stopped suddenlyPress Fn + Touchpad key to re-enable
Works with mouse, not touchpadEnable in Windows Settings → Touchpad
Device missing in Device MgrReinstall OEM drivers
Disabled in BIOSEnter BIOS → Enable touchpad
Still not workingLikely hardware issue – needs repair

📝 Final Thoughts

Most of the time, a laptop touchpad not working is caused by an accidental shortcut or settings change, not a broken device. Start with simple fixes, and if needed, update your drivers or check BIOS.

With these quick steps, you should be able to get your touchpad working again in just a few minutes.