Alex Ruben
How To Troubleshoot and Fix Touchpad Issues on Windows 11 and 10
If the touchpad suddenly stops working or behaves strangely on a Windows 10 or 11 laptop, it can be super frustrating. Sometimes, it’s just a quick toggle that got turned off, or outdated drivers causing trouble. Other times, the touchpad might be disabled in BIOS or there’s a glitch that needs a reset. This guide covers common fixes—stuff that’s practical, and often works. Expect to toggle settings, update drivers, or even reinstall hardware. The goal? Get that little pointer moving again without hours of guesswork.
How to Fix Touchpad Issues on Windows 10 and 11
Check if Touchpad is Accidentally Disabled
This is the first thing to check because, honestly, sometimes a stray function key or accidental click disables the touchpad. On many laptops, there’s a dedicated touchpad toggle key, often a Function key like F5, F6, or a key with a touchpad icon. Just press it—sometimes it gets turned off without realizing it. If you see a notification that the touchpad is now enabled, try moving your finger on it to test if it works. On some setups, this toggle is in Settings > Devices > Touchpad, so if the shortcut doesn’t do anything, check there too. Fun fact: on some laptops, the toggle is controlled through the Device Manager or specific driver software, so don’t forget to peek into Windows Settings.
Make Sure Touchpad Is Enabled in Windows Settings
Because of course, Windows likes to get in the way sometimes. Head to Start > Settings > Devices > Touchpad. Check the toggle—if it’s off, that’s probably it. Switch it on and test your touchpad. Sometimes, an update or a glitch sets it to off without notice. On one machine it worked after enabling it this way, on another… not so much. It also helps to check the sensitivity and other settings during this step. Expect a quick refresh and a hopefully responsive touchpad.
Update or Reinstall Touchpad Drivers
This is often the hero move. Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause all sorts of misbehavior. Open Device Manager (Win + X > Device Manager), then expand Mice and other pointing devices. Right-click your touchpad device, which might be labeled ‘Synaptics’, ‘ELAN’, or similar, and choose Update driver. Select Search automatically for drivers. If Windows finds an update, it’ll install it—sometimes, that’s enough to fix weird glitches.
If that doesn’t work, or it says you’re up to date, try manually installing the driver. In Device Manager, right-click the touchpad device > Uninstall device. Then, at the top menu, go to Action > Scan for hardware changes. This will force Windows to reinstall the driver, which might clear up corruption. Sometimes, it’s worth visiting the laptop manufacturer’s official site for the latest driver version, just to double-check you’re running the newest—because of course, Windows doesn’t always have the latest version.
Restart or Power Reset
Once drivers are updated, do a full restart. Yes, that old trick. It resets everything, flushes temporary glitches, and helps the system recognize the new drivers. In some cases, a full shutdown, then unplugging the laptop for a minute before turning it back on, can clear stuck states that prevent the touchpad from waking up properly. Seems trivial, but I’ve seen this fix stuff that stubborn.
Uninstall and Reinstall the Touchpad Device
If the touchpad still refuses to cooperate, try uninstalling the device entirely. Back in Device Manager, right-click the touchpad device and pick Uninstall device. After that, in the menu bar, hit Action > Scan for hardware changes. Windows will automatically detect missing hardware and try to reinstall the driver fresh. Sometimes, this kicks start a stubborn touchpad back into motion. On some machines, this step is a game-changer, even if it seems a little overkill.
Extra Tips & Common Troubleshooting
If none of these are working, double-check your BIOS settings. Sometimes, you can disable the touchpad from there, making it impossible to fix software-wise. Boot into BIOS (usually by pressing Del or F2 right at startup) and look for touchpad or internal pointing device settings, making sure it’s enabled.
Also, keep Windows up to date. Major fixes and driver updates are often included in patches—check Settings > Update & Security. If you’re still stumped, try temporarily plugging in an external mouse. It’s annoying, but helps keep you moving while troubleshooting in the background. And sometimes, installing specific driver tools like the ones from the manufacturer or third-party utilities—like the ones discussed at GitHub: Winhance—can help fine-tune the touchpad that Windows’ default drivers miss.
Wrap-up
Fixing touchpad issues on Windows can be a mix of simple toggles and driver dance-offs. Usually, the key is just patience and checking the basics first—settings, drivers, then hardware. On one setup, a quick BIOS tweak was enough; on another, driver reinstall did the trick. Nothing’s guaranteed, but these steps cover most common problems.
Summary
- Make sure the touchpad isn’t toggled off
- Check Windows settings for the touchpad toggle
- Update or reinstall drivers via Device Manager
- Restart or do a full power reset
- Double-check BIOS settings
- Make sure Windows is up to date
Conclusion
Touchpad trouble? These steps usually fix the majority of cases, especially if it’s a software or setting issue. If it persists, maybe the hardware’s playing up, and a professional look might be needed. Usually, keeping drivers up to date and checking the settings regularly helps keep everything smooth.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Worked for me — hope it works for you too.