When a laptop touchpad stops responding, the cause is usually something simple: it was switched off by a shortcut, disabled in settings, or confused by a driver problem. Less often, the hardware itself is failing. This guide goes from the fastest checks to deeper fixes, mainly for Windows 10 and 11 laptops, with a short section for MacBooks. For a related guide, see Computer Won't Turn On? Step-by-Step Checks for Desktops and Laptops. For a related guide, see Computer Beeping on Startup? What the Beep Codes Mean and How to Fix Them. For a related guide, see Router Not Working? How to Restart, Reset, and Troubleshoot.
You may not have a working pointer while you troubleshoot, so the keyboard-only instructions below are written to be usable without one. A USB or Bluetooth mouse makes things easier if you have one.
Start with the quick checks
Restart the laptop first. Use Restart rather than Shut down, because Windows' default fast startup can keep a faulty driver state alive across a shutdown. A restart clears many temporary glitches.
Next, look for a touchpad toggle on the keyboard. Many laptops have one on a function key (often F5, F6, F7, or F9) marked with a touchpad icon. Press it alone, then try Fn plus that key, since the default behavior of the top row varies by model. Some HP laptops also let you turn the touchpad on or off by double-tapping a small dimple or the top-left corner of the pad.
Finally, clean the surface with a dry or barely damp microfiber cloth, and check that no protective film or debris is on it. Wet or very oily fingers can make a touchpad behave erratically.
Why a touchpad stops working
- It was disabled by a keyboard shortcut or in Windows settings.
- Windows is set to turn the touchpad off when a mouse is connected.
- A driver is corrupted, outdated, or was replaced by a bad update.
- The device is disabled in Device Manager or in the BIOS/UEFI.
- The hardware or its internal cable is damaged.
The order of the fixes below follows how likely and how safe each one is.
Enable the touchpad in Windows settings
Press Windows + I to open Settings. On Windows 11, go to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. On Windows 10, go to Devices > Touchpad. Make sure the Touchpad switch is on.
If you can't use the pointer, press Tab and the arrow keys to move between items, then Space to flip a switch. Typing "touchpad" into the Settings search box also gets you there quickly.
While you're on this page, look for the option to leave the touchpad on when a mouse is connected. If it's unchecked, Windows disables the touchpad whenever a mouse is plugged in or paired. People often mistake this for a fault, especially after connecting a wireless mouse dongle and forgetting about it.
Check the manufacturer's touchpad software
Some laptops, particularly those with Synaptics or ELAN touchpads, add their own settings on top of Windows. Open the Control Panel, choose Mouse, and look for a tab such as Device Settings, ELAN, or Synaptics. If your touchpad is listed as disabled, enable it there.
Not every laptop has this tab, and newer models often use only the Windows settings page. If you don't see one, move on.
Enable or reinstall the driver in Device Manager
Right-click the Start button, open Device Manager, and expand Mice and other pointing devices. On some laptops the touchpad appears under Human Interface Devices instead, often named something like "I2C HID Device."
Work through these steps in order and test the touchpad after each one:
- Select the touchpad entry and open its properties. If you see an Enable device button, click it.
- Choose Update driver and let Windows search automatically. This sometimes finds nothing, which doesn't mean the driver is fine.
- If the problem began right after an update, open Properties > Driver tab and use Roll Back Driver if it's available.
- Uninstall the device, then restart. Windows normally detects the touchpad and reinstalls a basic driver on boot.
If a clean reinstall doesn't help, download the touchpad driver from your laptop manufacturer's support page, using your exact model name or service tag. This is generally a better source than third-party driver sites, which can bundle unwanted software or supply a mismatched driver.
Check the BIOS/UEFI setting
If the touchpad doesn't work even in the BIOS screen, or Windows can't see it at all, the firmware setting is worth checking. Restart and press the setup key shown at startup (commonly F2, Del, or F10, depending on the brand). Look for an option related to the internal pointing device or touchpad, and make sure it's enabled. On some laptops, it's set to a basic or advanced mode, and you may need to switch it.
Change only that option. Altering unrelated firmware settings can cause boot problems.
If you have a MacBook
Restart first, then open System Settings > Trackpad and confirm the options such as tap to click are set as you expect. Next, go to Accessibility > Pointer Control and check whether the option to ignore the built-in trackpad when a mouse or wireless trackpad is present is enabled. Also install any pending macOS updates, since trackpad bugs are sometimes fixed in them.
If the trackpad still doesn't work, or it doesn't click physically, see the hardware section below.
When it may be a hardware problem
Suspect hardware if the touchpad is missing from Device Manager even after a restart, works only intermittently, or stopped after a drop or liquid spill. Try booting from a Windows recovery or installation USB. If the touchpad fails there too, the problem is unlikely to be Windows itself.
Pay attention to physical warning signs: a touchpad that lifts, a click that feels stuck, or a case that bulges near the pad. These can indicate a swollen battery pressing from underneath. If you notice this, stop charging and using the laptop, and have it inspected by the manufacturer or a qualified repair shop rather than prying it open yourself.
Laptops under warranty should go to the manufacturer. Until it's repaired, an external mouse works as a stopgap.
What to do next
Most touchpad problems are solved by the shortcut key, the Settings toggle, or a driver reinstall. If you have tried those along with the BIOS check and the touchpad is still unresponsive, treat it as hardware and plan for repair, using an external mouse in the meantime. Check that your files are backed up if you notice any physical damage.