A laptop touchpad often fails due to a toggle, driver error, or settings change—most return with a restart, re-enable, or a quick driver refresh.
Touchpad not working on laptop: quick checks
Start simple. Many laptops ship with a touchpad on or off toggle. Tap the touchpad’s corner logo or double-tap the top-left corner on some HP models. Look for a light that shows a lock state. If your keyboard has an Fn key, scan the F-row for a touchpad icon and press Fn plus that key once. Give it two or three taps, since the on-screen prompt might lag.
Plug in a USB mouse so you can move around while you test settings. On Windows, press Windows key plus I, open Bluetooth & devices, then open Touchpad and make sure the master switch is On. On a Mac, open System Settings, pick Accessibility, then Pointer Control and see if “Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present” is turned on by mistake.
If you just came back from sleep or a dock, restart the laptop. A full power cycle often restores the I2C, SPI, or USB link the touchpad uses. If the pointer works in the sign-in screen but stops on the desktop, a startup app or a profile setting may be flipping a switch. Then retest.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Where to fix |
|---|---|---|
| No pointer movement at all | Toggle off, disabled in settings, or driver not loading | Windows: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad; Device Manager. macOS: Accessibility > Pointer Control. |
| Cursor moves, clicks don’t register | Tap-to-click off, click zone mis-set, haptic click off | Windows: Touchpad > Taps. macOS: System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click. |
| Works until you plug a mouse | Mac option to ignore built-in trackpad is enabled | macOS: Accessibility > Pointer Control (toggle off). |
| Stops after an update | Driver mismatch or precision driver swap | Windows Update history; roll back or reinstall in Device Manager. |
| Jumps or drifts | Moisture, debris, or palm rejection settings | Clean surface; adjust sensitivity and palm settings. |
Windows: settings, drivers, and precision touchpad
Windows steps
Windows can disable the touchpad when an external mouse is present, or after a driver change. First confirm the setting: open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then Touchpad, and verify the switch is On. Expand Taps, Scroll & zoom, and the gesture sections and confirm the actions you expect. If gestures feel off, use the Reset button to restore defaults.
When the touchpad is missing from Settings or Device Manager lists it as a generic HID-compliant mouse, the driver likely failed. Microsoft recommends updating or reinstalling the touchpad driver using Windows Update or Device Manager. In Device Manager, expand Mice and other pointing devices, right-click the entry that matches Synaptics, ELAN, Intel Precise, or a precision touchpad, and choose Update driver. If the issue began today, try Roll Back Driver.
Driver reinstall
If the pointer still won’t move, uninstall the device from Device Manager and restart. Windows will reload a clean driver on boot. Some OEMs also offer precision touchpad packages on their driver pages. Install the vendor package if Windows Update doesn’t expose the precision options you need.
Function keys and BIOS or UEFI settings can also disable the pad. Many laptops include an Fn plus F-key shortcut with a small rectangle and a slash icon. If you flipped that switch once, Windows can keep that state through restarts. Enter firmware setup and confirm the internal pointing device is enabled.
Mac: trackpad settings and safe tests
On a MacBook, open System Settings and search for Trackpad. In Point & Click, test tap-to-click and haptic click options. In Accessibility > Pointer Control, check the box that disables the built-in trackpad when a mouse or wireless trackpad is present. Uncheck it to restore input from the built-in surface. If a third-party mouse driver overrides this, remove or update that software.
If clicks or scrolls feel wrong, turn Force Click off and on. Create a new user account and sign in to rule out a profile quirk. Boot in safe mode to load stock drivers only, then try the pad again. If it works there, remove login items or extra utilities that hook input events.
Trackpad with no click and no movement even in Recovery points to hardware. Back up your data and book a repair visit. Swelling under the trackpad from a worn battery can press the plate and block motion, so stop using the laptop if you see a raised trackpad or case gap.
Hardware telltales you can spot
Touch the edges of the pad. A gritty feel or a stuck click often means debris around the frame. Power down, then wipe with a soft, dry cloth. Do not flood the pad with liquid cleaners. Look for a tiny LED near the top-left corner on some models; if lit, the pad is locked.
Open the lid and view the pad at an angle. If the plate looks proud of the palm rest, stop charging and get service. A swollen battery can press on the click mechanism. Heat, drops, or board flex can also break the cable that links the pad to the motherboard. That needs a bench repair.
When touchpad trouble follows an update
If the pad quit right after a Windows update, check Update history and uninstall the last driver update for the touchpad or the I2C controller. Then install the driver from your laptop maker. Precision drivers add better palm rejection and gesture options, but a mismatch can hide settings or kill taps until you match the right package.
On macOS, install the latest update that matches your model. Apple includes input fixes in point releases. If you rely on helper apps, update those as well, or remove them while testing. Keep backups so you can roll back cleanly if a package introduces lag or dead zones.
Brand toggles that many models share
Not every laptop uses the same shortcut. The notes below are common, and model names can differ. Watch the on-screen prompt or a small LED near the pad when you try a toggle. If none of these match, search your maker’s driver page for your exact model number.
| Brand | Quick toggle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HP | Double-tap top-left corner of the pad | Light near the corner shows lock state on many models. |
| Lenovo | Fn plus F6 or F8 on some IdeaPad and ThinkPad units | Key icon often looks like a rectangle with a slash; varies by model. |
| Dell | Fn plus F3 or touchpad key on some Inspiron and Latitude units | Also check BIOS for Internal Pointing Device setting. |
| Apple | Accessibility > Pointer Control option | Uncheck “Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse is present.” |
| Acer/ASUS | Fn plus a pad icon in F-row | Check MyASUS or Acer Care Center if the toggle isn’t present. |
Prevent touchpad headaches next time
Keep USB mouse in your bag. It gives you control while you change setting. Clean the pad and palm rest during normal care. Set a short lock screen so a pocket tap can’t toggle a key while the lid is open in a backpack.
For Windows, keep the OEM touchpad and chipset drivers handy. After a clean install or a big upgrade, install chipset, storage, and touchpad packages in that order. For macOS, keep your system current and avoid old kernel extensions that hook the trackpad.
If you hand the laptop to a child or a colleague, show the toggle once. Many “dead pad” calls trace back to a double-tap on the corner or an Fn press. A quick demo saves time later.
Set a restore point in Windows before big driver work. Keep firmware up to date, since vendors patch palm rejection and gesture bugs there too. For Macs, keep a Time Machine backup so a troubled app update is easy to roll back. Later.
Step-by-step plan that works for most cases
1) Restart with a full shutdown, wait ten seconds, then power on to clear the bus that carries touchpad signals.
2) Try all toggles: corner double-tap, Fn combo, and the software switch; watch for on-screen prompts.
3) Check settings. Windows: Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, then Taps. macOS: System Settings > Trackpad, test all tabs.
4) Update OS and drivers, then reboot.
5) Reinstall the driver in Device Manager, then restart; install your maker’s package if gestures are missing.
6) Test in safe mode or a fresh user; remove login apps that break input.
7) Inspect hardware; if the plate is raised or the click is stuck, stop and book service. Keep notes as you test, so the winning step is easy to repeat later.
Dock, tablet, and accessibility settings to review
After leaving a USB-C dock, the pad can lag for a few seconds while devices reconnect. Wait a moment before you assume it’s gone.
On a 2-in-1, folding past tablet mode can disable keyboard and pad. Return to the typing position and watch for the prompt that says they’re active.
Pointer tools can change gestures. Reset to defaults, test, then re-enable only what you need.
What Device Manager and Activity Monitor can tell you
In Windows, a warning icon on the touchpad entry points to a driver fault. Open Properties, check Device status, and note the code. Code 10 often clears with a reboot or a driver swap. If you see only a generic HID-compliant mouse, install the OEM package and reboot.
On a Mac, open Activity Monitor and quit tools that hook input. If the pad returns, update or replace that tool. If nothing changes, test in Recovery to separate hardware from user space software.