9 Solutions to Fix a Non-Responsive Laptop Touchpad in Windows
You wake up in the morning, ready to tackle your work, only to find that your laptop's touchpad is not working. Frustrating, right? Don't worry – before you rush to the nearest repair shop, try these solutions to fix your laptop touchpad in Windows.
1. Laptop Frozen
If your laptop's trackpad suddenly stops responding, it's possible that your Windows OS or an open application is frozen. In this case, try closing the application or restarting your laptop. Hold down the power button for a few seconds to restart your laptop, and it should likely resolve the trackpad issue.
2. Ensure Trackpad Is Not Disabled
Windows has an option to turn off your laptop's trackpad to prevent accidental cursor movement while typing. Check your Windows Settings to see if this option is enabled. Go to Windows Settings (Windows Key + I) and navigate to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Enable the Touchpad toggle if it's disabled. Also, ensure that the “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected” option is enabled.
3. Disable, Update, or Reinstall the Touchpad Driver
If you've recently updated your Windows to a newer build or version, your touchpad might not be compatible or may have gotten corrupted during the update process. Try updating, reinstalling, or disabling the touchpad driver.
Update Touchpad Driver:
- Use the Windows Search (Windows Key + S) to find the Device Manager. Open it.
- Expand the Human Interface Devices, then right-click on the I2C HID Device and select Update driver.
- Choose the automatic option if you don't have a touchpad driver.
Disable Touchpad Driver:
You can also try disabling the touchpad driver and then re-enabling it later to see if this resolves the issue.
Uninstall Touchpad Driver:
If the above solutions don't work, try uninstalling the touchpad driver. Select the Uninstall device option. After that, restart your laptop, and Windows will automatically reinstall the touchpad driver upon startup.
4. Look For Touchpad Settings in the BIOS/UEFI
Some users have reported fixing unresponsive touchpads by disabling and then re-enabling the “Internal Pointing Device” from the BIOS/UEFI. However, proceed with caution as making changes in the BIOS can have unintended consequences.
5. Reset Touchpad Settings
If you're uncertain about recent changes you made to the touchpad settings, resetting the touchpad can restore proper functionality. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Click the Down Arrow icon next to the Touchpad toggle switch, and then hit the Reset button next to “Reset touchpad settings and gestures to defaults.”
6. Check for Malware
Malware can cause your laptop to behave abnormally, including unresponsive touchpads. Use a good antivirus software to scan your system for malware, or try the built-in Windows antivirus tool.
7. Boot Windows in Safe Mode
Booting your Windows into Safe Mode can help identify if any apps or programs are interfering with your touchpad. If your touchpad works in Safe Mode, uninstall recently installed applications that may be causing the issue.
8. Update or Roll Back Windows Updates
Updating your Windows can resolve touchpad issues caused by bugs or glitches introduced in previous updates. Check for updates in Windows Settings. If the touchpad issue started after a recent update, consider rolling back to the previous build.
9. Reinstall Windows
If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling Windows may be necessary. Refer to a guide on how to reinstall Windows, and consider switching to the stable version if you're part of the Windows Insider Program.
End Your Touchpad's Coffee Break
While these solutions should help fix the touchpad not working issue, if it still isn't functioning, you may need to install a new touchpad on your Windows laptop. In the meantime, you can use an external mouse to manage your workload.
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