Laptop touchpad not working: how to find the cause

Start with a quick test

Open the touchpad test and use only the touchpad: move the pointer, tap, press down to click, right-click, drag, and scroll with two fingers. Each action is ticked on the checklist as soon as the browser receives it.

• The pointer does not move at all: the touchpad is probably switched off or disabled by the system. Start with the next two sections.
• The pointer moves but tapping does nothing: tap-to-click is likely turned off; pressing the pad down until it clicks usually still works.
• Moving and clicking work, but scrolling or gestures do not: those are separate settings. Jump to the section on gestures.
• Everything ticks in the test but not in one app: the touchpad works; that program or game handles input in its own way.

Check that the touchpad is switched on

Most laptops can turn the touchpad off in two places, and either one is enough to make it look dead.

1. A key on the keyboard: many laptops have a function key, often marked with a touchpad icon, that toggles the touchpad. Some models use a small indicator light on the corner of the pad or a double tap there. The exact key or gesture differs by manufacturer and model, so check the icons on your keyboard or your laptop's manual rather than pressing keys at random.
2. Windows 11: open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and make sure the touchpad switch is on. On Windows 10 the same page is under Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
3. Mac: open System Settings > Trackpad to check tracking speed, tap to click and the click settings.
4. Chromebook: open the touchpad settings in the device section of Settings and check tap-to-click and scrolling.

If you cannot use the pointer to reach these settings, plug in a USB mouse for a moment, or move through the menus with the keyboard (Tab, arrow keys and Enter).

A connected mouse can switch the touchpad off

Both Windows and macOS can turn the built-in touchpad off automatically while a mouse is connected. That is convenient on a desk, but confusing when the mouse is in a bag and its wireless receiver is still plugged in.

• Windows: on the Touchpad settings page, look for the option about leaving the touchpad on when a mouse is connected. If it is unchecked, any connected mouse, including one that is switched off but still paired, can disable the touchpad.
• Mac: Apple documents an Accessibility option, Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present, under Pointer Control. Apple notes that the driver software of a non-Apple mouse can stop this option from working as expected.
• Quick check: unplug every USB receiver and turn off Bluetooth mice, then try the touchpad again.

Driver and update problems on Windows

If the touchpad is switched on and no mouse is connected but it still does nothing, the driver may be missing or broken, especially after a Windows update or a reinstall.

1. Run Windows Update, which Microsoft recommends as the first way to get current touchpad drivers.
2. Open Device Manager and look for the touchpad under Human Interface Devices or Mice and other pointing devices. If it shows a warning icon, update the driver from there.
3. If updating does not help, uninstall the touchpad device in Device Manager and restart: Windows then reinstalls it with drivers from Windows Update.
4. If it still does not work, the laptop manufacturer's support page for your exact model is the place for model-specific drivers or utilities.

If the touchpad disappears from Device Manager entirely, or works in the laptop's firmware setup screens but not in Windows, that difference is useful to mention when you contact support.

When scrolling, right-click or gestures fail

Moving and clicking can work while multi-finger actions fail, because each has its own setting.

• Two-finger scrolling: check the scroll settings on the touchpad page. Some drivers use edge scrolling instead. The scroll test shows the direction and amount of every scroll event.
• Scrolling goes the wrong way: that is the scroll direction ("natural scrolling") setting, not a fault.
• Right-click does nothing: the secondary click may be set to a two-finger tap, a corner of the pad, or turned off.
• Three- and four-finger gestures: they are handled by the operating system and can be turned off or reassigned in the touchpad settings. They never reach a web page, so no browser test can check them.
• Dragging drops halfway: tap-to-drag or drag-lock settings change how this works. The drag test shows exactly when a hold is released.

Signs of a hardware problem

Settings and drivers explain most cases, but some symptoms point to the hardware:

• The touchpad fails in every operating system or recovery screen, not only in your usual system.
• Only one area of the pad responds, or the pointer jumps around by itself on a clean, dry pad.
• The physical click no longer clicks, or the pad has started to bulge or lift. A raised touchpad on a laptop can be a sign of a swollen battery underneath: stop using the laptop on your lap and have it checked by the manufacturer or a repair service.

Clean the pad with a dry or slightly damp cloth before deciding: grease, moisture and hand lotion make tracking erratic. Do not open the laptop yourself unless you know the model and have the right parts and tools.