Laptop Touchpad Not Working: The Complete Fix

Published 2026 · 3 min read

Most dead touchpads are accidentally disabled — an easy fix — or need a driver update.

1. It's probably disabled

Many laptops toggle the touchpad with a function key (often F9 or F7). Try it, then check Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad to confirm it's on.

2. Clicks don't work

Enable tap-to-click in touchpad settings. If the physical left button is worn, tap-to-click is your reliable fallback.

3. Cursor jumps or is erratic

Wet or oily hands cause erratic tracking. Update the touchpad driver in Device Manager, and consider disabling "enhance pointer precision" if it feels jumpy.

Interactive version

Use the touchpad fixer — tell it your symptom and get the exact steps.

Why touchpads stop working

Touchpads disable for four common reasons: a function-key toggle (often F6 or F9, shown by a touchpad icon), a Windows setting, a driver that Windows replaced after an update, or a physical connection fault inside the laptop. Most cases are the first three and need no hardware work.

Check the obvious toggles first

Press the function key with the touchpad icon, and check Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad to make sure it is not turned off. Many laptops also disable the touchpad while a mouse is plugged in - unplug any USB mouse and test.

Driver rollback that fixes most cases

If it stopped after a Windows update, open Device Manager > Mice and other pointing devices, right-click the touchpad, choose Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver. If that is greyed out, uninstall the device and scan for hardware changes to reinstall.

Prevention

Keep the touchpad driver updated from your laptop maker's site rather than generic drivers, and avoid aggressive registry "optimizers" that disable input devices.