How to Fix a Laptop Trackpad That Has Stopped Working

Published 2026-10-16 · LuxuriousComputers Repair

Your laptop trackpad does not move the cursor when you swipe your finger across it. Or it moves the cursor but clicks and taps do not register. The trackpad may have worked fine until this morning, or it may have gradually become less responsive over time. A non-working trackpad is almost always fixable with software troubleshooting — the most common causes are the trackpad being accidentally disabled, a driver glitch, or a settings change rather than hardware failure.

Re-enable the trackpad with the keyboard shortcut

  • Nearly every laptop has a function key combination that toggles the trackpad on and off. This shortcut is the most common reason trackpads suddenly stop working — you pressed the keys accidentally while typing. The key is usually Fn plus one of the function keys (F1 through F12) marked with a trackpad icon
  • Common shortcuts by manufacturer: Dell and Lenovo often use Fn+F6 or Fn+F8. HP often uses a double-tap on the upper left corner of the trackpad. ASUS often uses Fn+F9. Acer often uses Fn+F7. Look for a key with a rectangle and crossed-out lines resembling a trackpad
  • Press the shortcut once and test the trackpad. If it was disabled, it should respond immediately. Some laptops show a brief on-screen notification confirming the trackpad status when you toggle it

Check Windows settings

  • Open Settings using the keyboard (press the Windows key, type Settings, press Enter). Navigate to Bluetooth and Devices, then Touchpad (use Tab and arrow keys to navigate without a mouse)
  • Verify the Touchpad toggle is set to On. Below that, check Leave Touchpad On When a Mouse Is Connected. If this option is off and any external mouse is connected (including a wireless mouse with a USB receiver plugged in), Windows disables the trackpad
  • Unplug any external mice, including wireless receivers, and test the trackpad. If the trackpad works after removing the external mouse, enable the setting to keep the trackpad active alongside external mice

Restart the laptop

  • A simple restart fixes many trackpad problems caused by temporary driver glitches, suspended services, or software conflicts. Use the keyboard to restart: press the Windows key, Tab to the power icon, press Enter, select Restart with arrow keys, and press Enter
  • If a full restart does not help, try a complete shutdown instead (select Shut Down instead of Restart). Power off completely, wait 10 seconds, then power on. A shutdown clears more system state than a restart, especially with Fast Startup enabled, because Fast Startup preserves some driver states through a restart

Disable and re-enable in Device Manager

  • Open Device Manager using the keyboard (press Windows key, type Device Manager, press Enter). Use Tab and arrow keys to navigate. Expand Mice and Other Pointing Devices or Human Interface Devices. Find the trackpad entry (Synaptics, ELAN, Alps, or Precision Touchpad)
  • Press Enter to open properties, Tab to the Driver tab, then use Tab to reach the Disable Device button and press Enter. Wait 5 seconds, then re-enable the device the same way. This forces the driver to reinitialize
  • If the trackpad does not appear in Device Manager, the hardware is not being detected. This could mean the internal cable is disconnected, the trackpad hardware has failed, or a BIOS setting is disabling it

Update or reinstall the trackpad driver

  • In Device Manager, select the trackpad device, open its properties, go to the Driver tab, and select Update Driver. Choose Search Automatically. If Windows finds an update, install it and restart
  • If updating does not work, try a complete reinstall. In Device Manager, select the trackpad and choose Uninstall Device. Check the box to remove the driver software if it appears. Restart the laptop. Windows detects the trackpad during startup and installs a fresh driver
  • For the best trackpad experience (especially gestures), download the full driver from the laptop manufacturer website. The manufacturer driver includes the gesture engine and advanced configuration options that the basic Windows driver may lack
  • If the trackpad broke after a Windows Update, the update may have replaced the working driver. Roll back: in Device Manager, open the trackpad properties, go to the Driver tab, and select Roll Back Driver. This restores the previous driver version

Check the BIOS

  • Some BIOS versions have a setting to enable or disable the internal pointing device (trackpad). If the trackpad is not detected by Windows at all, the BIOS may have it turned off
  • Enter the BIOS during startup (usually F2, Delete, or F10). Look under an Advanced, Input Devices, or System Configuration section for Internal Pointing Device, Touchpad, or Trackpad. Ensure it is set to Enabled
  • BIOS settings can be reset to defaults accidentally (after a BIOS update, battery removal, or CMOS reset). If the trackpad stopped working after any of these events, the BIOS touchpad setting may have been reset to disabled

Physical and hardware issues

  • If the trackpad was working before the laptop was serviced, dropped, or had liquid spilled on it, a hardware issue is likely. The trackpad connects to the motherboard via a flat ribbon cable. If this cable is loose, partially disconnected, or damaged, the trackpad will not work
  • Liquid damage to the trackpad area can corrode the trackpad sensor or its cable connector. Even a small amount of liquid that reaches the trackpad circuitry underneath the palm rest can cause permanent damage
  • A swollen battery can press against the underside of the trackpad, preventing it from registering clicks or causing erratic behavior. If the trackpad area feels raised or the palm rest is bulging, the battery may be expanding and needs immediate replacement
  • On some laptops, the trackpad click mechanism is a physical button beneath the trackpad surface. If clicks do not register but cursor movement works, the physical click mechanism may be worn or broken. Enabling tap-to-click in settings provides a workaround

External mouse as temporary workaround

  • While troubleshooting, connecting a USB mouse gives you full cursor control. Any USB mouse works immediately without driver installation on modern Windows. This lets you navigate settings and Device Manager more easily while fixing the trackpad
  • Bluetooth mice can also work but require pairing through Settings, which is harder to navigate without any pointing device. A USB mouse is the fastest workaround

Need help with your trackpad?

If your laptop trackpad is not working and the fixes above have not resolved the issue, LuxuriousComputers Repair can diagnose trackpad hardware problems, check internal cable connections, install the correct drivers, and restore full trackpad functionality on your laptop.

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