Laptop Touchpad Not Working

If your laptop touchpad isn't working as expected, it can disrupt your workflow. Touchpad issues may range from unresponsive touchpad to erratic cursor movement. This article provides step-by-step instructions to diagnose and fix touchpad issues on your Dell laptop. If you're using a USB, Bluetooth, or wireless mouse, check out our guide to resolve mouse issues.

Just bought a new mouse and need help? Check out our mouse setup guide!

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Common Symptoms of Touchpad Issues

Touchpad issues can occur in many ways. Here are some common signs of touchpad problems.

• Touchpad is unresponsive. The cursor doesn't move, and the touchpad doesn't respond to clicks or taps.
• Erratic or jumpy cursor. The cursor moves unexpectedly, jumps around the screen, seems highly sensitive, or lags in response.
• Gestures are not working. Multi-finger gestures like scrolling, zooming, or swiping don't work.
• Left or right click or tap doesn't work. The touchpad doesn't register left or right clicks or taps.
• Touchpad freezes intermittently. The touchpad stops responding temporarily but starts working again after a while.
• Unintended or ghost touches. The cursor moves or clicks on its own without input, and random gestures are triggered.

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How to Fix Laptop Touchpad Issues

If you notice any of the above symptoms or other touchpad issues, following these steps in order might help solve touchpad problems.

Restart Your Laptop

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix minor glitches. Restart your laptop to reset the touchpad and Windows processes that may be causing the problem. After the restart, check if the touchpad works as expected.

Test with an External Mouse

If the touchpad remains unresponsive, testing with an external mouse can help identify whether the issue is hardware or software-related.

1. Connect a USB or wireless mouse to your laptop.
2. Check if the external mouse works properly.

If the external mouse works, it confirms the issue is limited to your touchpad. Use the external mouse to continue troubleshooting your laptop.

Enabling the Touchpad in Windows

Sometimes, the touchpad might be disabled accidentally in Windows settings. Here's how to check and enable it.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Open Windows touchpad settings.
2. Ensure the Touchpad option is turned on.

If it doesn't work, proceed to the next step.

Enabling the Touchpad When Using an External Mouse

Connecting an external USB or wireless mouse might disable the touchpad. Windows settings allows you to keep the touchpad enabled even when an external mouse is connected.

1. Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Open Windows touchpad settings.
2. Expand the Touchpad settings by clicking on it.
3. Ensure the option Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected is enabled.

Updating Touchpad Drivers and BIOS

Outdated or corrupted drivers and BIOS are a common cause of touchpad issues. Updating drivers and BIOS ensures compatibility with the latest operating system updates and fixes known issues. SupportAssist is Dell's automated tool that scans your Windows computer for driver and firmware updates, downloads, and installs them.

Updating Drivers Using SupportAssist

1. Search for SupportAssist in the Start menu and open the app.
2. On the Home tab, select Update Software.
3. Click Start to check for driver and BIOS updates.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation and restart your computer if prompted.

If you don't have SupportAssist, refer to our driver update guide for alternative methods to download and install Dell drivers.

If updating the drivers and BIOS didn't resolve the problem, proceed to the next step.

Checking for Windows Updates

Keeping your operating system updated ensures you have the latest features and fixes. To check for Windows Updates:

1. Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update. Open Windows Update settings.
2. Select Check for updates and install the available updates.

Check your touchpad after the update. If it doesn't, proceed to the next step.

Reinstalling the Touchpad Driver

If the driver is corrupted, reinstalling it may resolve the touchpad issue.

1. Right-click on the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click on HID-compliant touchpad and select Uninstall device.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Windows automatically reinstalls the necessary drivers.

If reinstalling drivers didn't resolve the issue, proceed to the next step.

Running Dell Touchpad Test

Dell laptops come with SupportAssist to scan your computer for hardware-related problems, including touchpad issues.

1. Go to SupportAssist touchpad test. If SupportAssist isn't installed, follow the prompts to install the app if needed.
2. Once the diagnostic test is complete, SupportAssist displays the results.
3. If a hardware issue is detected, you may be guided to update drivers or contact Dell Technical Support for repair options.

If the touchpad still doesn't work, try some additional steps to resolve touchpad problems.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some answers to common questions that users ask about laptop touchpads.

1. How do I enable the touchpad on my Dell laptop?

• To enable the touchpad in Windows Settings app:
  • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Open Windows touchpad settings.
  • Turn on the Touchpad option.
    

2. How do I reset the touchpad settings and gestures to defaults?

• Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Open Windows touchpad settings.
• Expand the Touchpad setting by clicking on it.
• Click the Reset button to restore the touchpad settings and gestures. If the button is disabled, adjust any touchpad setting and then click Reset.

3. Why doesn't my laptop have left and right-click buttons?

• Many modern laptops have moved away from traditional left and right-click buttons. Instead, these functions are integrated directly into the touchpad.
• Without the buttons, the touchpad area is larger, giving you more space to navigate and use multi-touch gestures.
• Tap the touch, a single tap can act as a left-click, and two-finger tap can act as a right-click.

4. Do I need an external mouse for troubleshooting?

• Using an external mouse such as a USB or wireless mouse can help confirm if the issue is specific to the touchpad.

5. How can I check if my touchpad driver is up to date?

• Use SupportAssist to check and update the touchpad driver.
• If the SupportAssist app isn't available, refer to our driver update guide for alternative methods to download and update the drivers.

6. Can touchpad sensitivity cause issues?

• Yes, high sensitivity can cause erratic behaviour, making the mouse cursor may jump unexpectedly. To adjust the touchpad sensitivity settings in Windows:
  • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Open Windows touchpad settings.
  • Under Gestures & interaction, adjust the Cursor speed by moving the slider left or right.
    

7. How do I swap the left and right buttons of my touchpad?

• To swap the left and right buttons of your touchpad in Windows:
  • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, then select More touchpad settings.
  • In the Mouse Properties window, under the Buttons tab, check the box labeled Switch primary and secondary buttons.

8. How do I clean my touchpad?

• Use a soft microfiber cloth, slightly dampened with water.
• Avoid harsh chemicals.
• To remove dust or debris stuck between the buttons, use a compressed air can.

9. Why does my touchpad freeze intermittently?

• Freezes may occur due to driver conflicts or resource-intensive tasks.
• Update your touchpad drivers.
• Close unnecessary apps.

10. Why does my mouse cursor jump when I am typing?

• If the touchpad sensitivity is set too high, even a slight touch can cause the cursor to move unexpectedly.
• Your palms and fingers might accidentally touch the touchpad while typing, causing the cursor to jump.
• Outdated drivers can cause erratic cursor behavior.

11. Why does the mouse pointer or cursor automatically hide while typing?

• Disable the Hide pointer while typing in Windows.
• Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, then select More touchpad settings.
• In the Mouse Properties window, under the Pointer Options tab, uncheck the box labeled Hide pointer while typing.

12. What should I do if right-click function isn't working on my touchpad?

• To right-click, tap with two fingers to right-click or press the lower right corner of the touchpad. If it isn't working, ensure these tap features are enabled in Windows.
  • Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Open Windows touchpad settings.
  • Expand the Taps settings by clicking on it.
  • Enable the right-click features if they aren't already.
    

13. What if none of these troubleshooting steps work?

• Additional Troubleshooting: You can try some additional steps to fix touchpad problems.
• Use Dell Community Forums: Join the Dell Community Forums to get help from other users.