The touchpad is one of the most important input devices on any laptop, yet it’s also one of the most common sources of frustration when it stops working. If you’ve opened your laptop and found that the touchpad doesn’t respond to movement, clicks, or gestures, don’t panic. This problem can occur due to a variety of reasons, from accidental settings changes to driver failures. Fortunately, in most cases, it can be resolved without professional repair.
The first step is to confirm whether the touchpad has been accidentally disabled. Most laptops have a dedicated keyboard shortcut that toggles the touchpad on and off—commonly a function key (such as F5, F6, F7) combined with the Fn key. Check your keyboard for a touchpad icon and try pressing that combination to re-enable it.
If that doesn’t solve the issue, go to the Windows settings to ensure that the touchpad is enabled. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then navigate to Devices > Touchpad. Make sure the toggle switch for the touchpad is turned on. If you don’t see any touchpad options, your system might not be recognizing the device at all, which could point to a driver issue.
Next, open Device Manager (press Windows + X and choose Device Manager). Expand the section labeled “Mice and other pointing devices.” If the touchpad is listed here, right-click it and select “Update driver.” Choose “Search automatically for drivers” and let Windows look for an update. If that fails, try selecting “Uninstall device,” then restart your laptop. Windows will reinstall a default driver on reboot.
In some cases, the touchpad driver may be hidden under “Human Interface Devices” or listed as an “Unknown device.” If no touchpad shows up at all, try clicking “View” at the top of Device Manager and selecting “Show hidden devices.”
If your laptop manufacturer provides a specific touchpad driver (for example, Synaptics, ELAN, or Precision Touchpad), visit their official support website and download the latest version for your exact model. Generic Windows drivers sometimes cause compatibility issues, especially after major Windows updates.
BIOS settings can also affect touchpad behavior. Some laptops allow users to disable the touchpad at the firmware level. To check this, restart your laptop and enter the BIOS/UEFI menu (usually by pressing F2, Delete, or Esc during boot). Look for input-related settings and confirm the touchpad is enabled. Save changes and reboot.
Another issue to consider is external devices. If you have a mouse connected via USB or Bluetooth, some systems automatically disable the touchpad while the external mouse is active. Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad and uncheck the box that says “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected,” or vice versa depending on the setting.
Touchpad settings may also be affected by third-party software. If you use utilities like gesture managers, gaming overlays, or custom driver software, try disabling them to see if the touchpad returns to normal. Likewise, if the issue started recently, consider performing a System Restore to roll back to a point where the touchpad was working correctly.
In rare cases, physical damage or hardware failure may be the cause. If your touchpad still doesn’t respond after all software fixes, test it from a Linux live USB or another OS to see if it’s a Windows-specific issue. If the touchpad is unresponsive across all systems, internal hardware repair may be necessary.
Finally, ensure that your Windows 10 system is fully updated. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. Sometimes Microsoft releases patches that address touchpad compatibility issues or driver-related bugs.
In summary, when a laptop touchpad stops working, it’s often due to accidental key toggles, system settings, outdated drivers, or conflicts with external devices. By checking function key shortcuts, updating drivers, exploring BIOS and Settings options, and performing clean reboots, most users can restore touchpad functionality without needing service repair. Regular updates and driver maintenance are key to preventing touchpad issues in the future.
Laptop overheating isn’t just an annoyance—it’s a threat to the long-term health of your device. With regular maintenance, smart usage habits, and awareness of software behavior, most overheating problems can be prevented or resolved at home. Investing a little time in cleaning and optimization can help your laptop run cooler, faster, and longer.