The touchpad on a laptop does not work: how to revive the cursor? The keyboard and touchpad on the laptop do not work: brands, models, operating characteristics, possible causes and tips for resolving the problem The keyboard and touchpad on the laptop have failed.

How to activate or deactivate the touchpad on ASUS, Samsung, Lenovo, Acer laptops. Enable and disable the touchpad on the laptop. In some cases, TouchPad may turn off on laptops due to certain reasons. Sometimes users disable the touchpad themselves because it interferes with the keyboard.

There are a number of options for how to enable the touchpad and keyboard on a laptop, however, when using them, you must take into account the brand of the computer device. After all, different activation methods are used for specific models.

Regardless of the brand of the device, first of all, a reboot is required. Probably some error occurred and after these actions everything will fall into place. On most laptops, a certain combination of buttons is preinstalled to activate the touchpad. It’s just slightly different for different brands.

To activate the touchpad, developers most often use a combination of the Fn key and one of the function buttons F1 F12. Each manufacturing company has a specific combination, but individual buttons may be similar.

Carefully examine the above keys on one of them, you will probably find the touchpad logo. The label, in most cases, shows a crossed-out touchpad, a touchpad with a finger, or a mouse. After finding the desired key, hold down Fn and add a button with a touchpad design to it.

On certain models of computer devices, the touch panel is controlled using a key specially dedicated for this purpose. Also, on some HP devices, a key is located on the touch area of ​​the touchpad. By clicking on it twice you can turn it on or off. When disconnected, this button is illuminated by a light-emitting diode.

Laptop PCs have special settings that allow you to set the touchpad to turn off when the mouse is activated. This is quite convenient; if you activate the mouse, then it is most logical to disable the touchpad, because you plan to use another device to control the computer.

Therefore, if you have the panel disabled and you want to turn it on, then disconnect the mouse. If these steps do not bring positive results, try restarting the laptop with the mouse disconnected. In that situation, if you do not need the touchpad to turn off automatically, you have the opportunity to go into the settings and deselect this option.

To activate the touchpad on a laptop so that it functions simultaneously with the mouse, you need to click “Start” and go to “Control Panel”. In the upper right corner, select “View” “Small Icons”, click “Mouse”. In the “Options” tab, disable the “Disconnect when turning on external USB mouse” option. After these manipulations, the touchpad should work in parallel with the mouse.

If all the above tips did not help, the cause is probably a faulty touchpad or the contacts have become disconnected. In such a situation, it is necessary to disassemble the computer and check the connections. Sometimes the touchpad may need to be replaced. It is better to trust this work only to specialists.

If your touchpad does not work on your laptop, there may be several reasons for this.

Touchpad doesn't work:
Reason: disabled in settings.

Depending on your laptop model, the touchpad may be enabled/disabled differently. In general, this is done by pressing and holding the Fn key + the F1-F12 buttons.

Each individual model may have different on/off options. Look carefully at the keyboard and look for the touchpad designation near the F1...12 buttons. It looks something like this:

Press and hold the Fn button + press the button indicating the touchpad. In most cases this will help.

Touchpad does not work: driver problem

When you insert a mouse into your laptop, the touchpad often automatically turns off. If you want it to start working again, remove the mouse from the port.

Touchpad does not work: disabled in BIOS

Some laptop models are automatically released with the touchpad disabled in the BIOS settings. To enable it, do this:

1. Restart your computer. While loading it, click Del or F2. You will be taken to BIOS.

2. Find the Internal Pointing Device item and turn it on.

Touchpad doesn't work:
old/not working drivers.

1. Start - Right-click on Computer - Properties.

2. Find "Mice and other pointing devices" in the list of devices. Find the touchpad and go to its properties.

3. Go to the "Driver" item and update the drivers for this device automatically or download the latest version of drivers from the laptop manufacturer's website and install it.

Ready. One of the proposed methods will definitely solve the problem with a non-working touchpad on a laptop.

A broken keyboard and touchpad can be a real disaster for laptop owners. Unlike desktop computers, where in case of any problems the owner can always disassemble a separate part and eliminate the cause of the problem, with laptops things are much more complicated. The laptop and keyboard are a single unit, so to get to the keys, you will have to completely disassemble the entire device. Only professionals can cope with such a task without damaging anything.

But first, let's look at the most common causes of keyboard and touchpad problems.

Causes of keyboard problems

In most cases, keyboard failure occurs due to:

  • driver failures;
  • liquid spilled on it;
  • damage to the cable (for laptops) or damage to the wire (for computers);
  • damage causing keys to stick.

Below, each of these reasons will be discussed in more detail.

Driver failure

Has your computer or laptop keyboard stopped working? Perhaps this is due to interruptions in the operation of drivers. You can try to diagnose the problem by changing the BIOS settings. After turning on the device, press the DEL or F2 button (the type of key depends on the BIOS model).

If you can navigate between sections using the keyboard in this mode, all is not lost. The next step is to try to boot your device in safe mode (with a basic set of system services). Proceed depending on what OS is installed on your laptop.

  1. For Windows XP, 7 or Vista users, you can log into Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key when turning on the device and selecting the appropriate partition.
  2. If you have a newer version of Windows, accessing Safe Mode will be slightly different. With the device turned on, go to the administration section in the control panel menu and open the system configuration there. In the boot tab, check the “safe mode” box and save the changed settings. After that, restart your device and check if the keyboard works normally.

If the device works fine in safe mode, then the problem is still in the drivers. You can reinstall them yourself or contact a specialist who will recommend and download the most suitable software specifically for your device.

Spilled liquid

Who among us doesn’t like to drink hot coffee or tea while working on a laptop, while watching an interesting movie, or just chatting on social networks? Alas, any liquid, and especially drinks with a high amount of salt or sugar, is one of the worst enemies of your device! Let's consider two scenarios.

  1. You spilled liquid on your computer keyboard. There is definitely little pleasant here, but the situation can be saved. Immediately disconnect the component from the PC, disassemble it, dry it and clean it with alcohol. If you are not an expert in keyboard design, contact the service center specialists for help as soon as possible.
  2. Drinks getting on the laptop keyboard is a much more serious problem, since as a result the motherboard may be damaged, the repair of which will be expensive. If the inevitable happens, the main thing is not to get confused and immediately disconnect the device from the network, turn it upside down, and remove the battery. After that, dry the laptop with a hairdryer in the most gentle mode (ideally using the cold air mode).

These manipulations will increase the chance of preventing oxidation of contacts, microcircuits or motherboard. You can return your laptop to normal operation by taking it to a service center. Specialists will disassemble the device in detail, determine the extent of its damage and fix the problem. The main thing is to do this quickly, otherwise the level of breakdown will be much higher.

Damage to the cable

Damaged cables are another common cause of laptop keyboard failure. It may be due to the fact that over time the contacts of the cable oxidize and lose their performance. It may be enough to clean this element, or it may need to be completely replaced. The service center technicians will be able to provide you with a specific answer and solution to the problem.

Situations are quite common when the keyboard cable needs to be repaired after the user attempts to clean the laptop from dust on their own. In such cases, lack of qualifications and the desire to do everything yourself play a cruel joke on the laptop owner. During the process of cleaning the laptop, the user may incorrectly fix the cable or even turn it over or damage it.

That is why it is better not to disassemble the device yourself, but to entrust it to professionals.

Damage causing keys to stick

Mechanical damage, for example, dropping a laptop or a strong blow to it, can lead to a misalignment of the keypad, which is why some buttons begin to stick. By sticking we mean a situation in which a button that has sunk inward does not return to its original position. The reason for such a malfunction of the keyboard can also be moisture, which penetrates inside the device and, mixing there with accumulated dust, forms a kind of “cement solution”.

Disassembling the keyboard and further cleaning it will help correct the situation and return the keys to their former performance. Few people can cope with this on their own, so for most users it is still better not to risk it and leave the device in the hands of professionals.

Touchpad doesn't work

A convenient and miniature touchpad is an excellent replacement for a computer mouse for laptop owners, and its breakdown can cause some inconvenience for users.

The most common and common reason that the touchpad does not respond to the movement of your fingers is that the device is dirty. Clean the element thoroughly with a damp cloth and check its functionality again after the surface has completely dried. If this does not help, then most likely the problem is software or hardware in nature. They will be written about below.

Software causes of problems

Disabled device. Alternatively, the touchpad shows no signs of life, as it is simply disabled. Try activating it with a combination of the Fn keys and one of the F keys from 1 to 12 (depending on the model of your laptop).
Incorrect setting in BIOS. Incorrect operation of your touchpad or lack thereof may be due to incorrect BIOS settings. You can correct the situation as follows:

  • while turning on the laptop, press the DEL or F2 key to open the BIOS;
  • in the “Advanced” section, find the item responsible for your touch device (Internal Pointing Device);
  • check its activity. The touchpad will in no way be able to work if “Disabled” is lit next to the item, you need to change it to “Enabled”;
  • save the settings, exit the BIOS and reboot the laptop.

Incorrect drivers. It is because of them that problems with the touch surface can occur. You can fix the problem by reinstalling the correct drivers from the manufacturer. This is best handled by specialists at the service center.

Hardware causes of problems

All of the above reasons for a malfunction or incorrect operation of the touchpad are software related. They can all be solved without direct intervention in the device itself. Below are the hardware types of sensor problems. If they are present, you will definitely need to seek qualified help from specialists.

So, what other reasons can cause the touchpad to malfunction?

  1. Lack of connection of the cable to the motherboard. Remember if you dropped your laptop or transported it long distances recently? After such an impact, the touchpad cable may fall out of its connector and lose connection with the motherboard. Without sufficient qualifications and experience, it is better not to tackle this problem, otherwise you risk damaging the cable, or worse, the motherboard itself.
  2. Mechanical damage. Depending on how great the level of damage to the touchpad is, there are two ways out of the situation. If a mechanical impact has only slightly damaged the touch surface, there is a chance that a technician from the service center will be able to completely restore the normal operation of the device. If the damage turns out to be more than serious, a complete replacement of the element will be required.
  3. If you notice that in addition to the touchpad, the keyboard, screen, or other component of the laptop is not working, there may be problems with the motherboard. There is only one way out - immediately contact professionals to restore the motherboard.
  4. Speaking about touchpad malfunctions, we cannot help but touch on the problem described earlier in the keyboard section. If liquid gets on the surface of the touchpad in a matter of moments, it can lead to failure of the device. The level of damage will depend on the model and type of structure. Even if the touchpad does not stop working after liquid gets on the surface, still urgently take the laptop to a service center. Just a few drops can cause serious consequences related to the operation of the motherboard.

The keyboard and touchpad are important components of your device. Timely diagnosis and elimination of problems in their operation will help prolong the full operation of your personal computer or laptop.

Today we’ll look at how you can enable the touchpad on a laptop in Windows 10. Many users don’t know what to do if the touchpad doesn’t respond to touches and finger presses, but it’s simple:

  • there are problems with the device diver, which is not uncommon after updating Windows 10 or the driver in automatic mode;
  • The touchpad is simply disabled in the system settings.

Turn on the device

One of the function keys F1-F12 in most cases is also responsible for turning the touchpad on/off. Which button does this can be understood based on the designation of the function buttons (in the screenshot it is F7). To use this function, you must simultaneously hold down the Fn key, located to the left of Space.

Usually, after this, an icon or inscription appears on the screen informing that the touchpad is working (activated). When pressed again, the device will be turned off again.


In most cases, if scrolling on the Windows 10 touchpad does not work or it does not respond to touches, this will be enough to get everything back to normal. In rare cases, the touchpad will need to be adjusted, especially when scrolling issues occur. To do this, call up the touch panel settings window.

1. Open the Control Panel through the search.


2. In the “View” form, select the icon visualization type as “Small icons”.


3. Call the “Mouse” applet.


4. In the mouse properties, go to the “ClicPad” tab, usually located last.

Usually the reason why the touchpad does not work, although it was enabled via keyboard hotkeys, is here.

5. Turn on the device if it is deactivated in the control panel.

6. Uncheck the option responsible for disabling the touchpad when connecting an external USB device for control (usually a mouse).

7. Return the default settings (this may solve the problem when scrolling does not function).

8. Go to additional “Options”.


This will open advanced settings for the touchpad, although everything there is configured in an optimal way for most users. In the window, you can configure gestures for the touchpad in Windows 10, change the speed and other scrolling settings, configure the sensor’s response to clicks, etc.


First, you should reset the settings to standard, and then you can change them to your own. We will not consider how to configure this or that parameter: there are no difficulties in this, and the process for each touchpad manufacturer is slightly different.

Updating device drivers

The second reason why the touchpad may not function or work incorrectly is outdated/incorrect touchpad drivers.

The fact is that during automatic updating, Windows 10 selects the most suitable (in its opinion) drivers, downloading them from the Microsoft website, while ignoring official resources.

Automatic update

Let's start with a simpler option - installing the driver through the Task Manager.

In this case, it will be downloaded from the Microsoft website, although the developer recommends reinstalling the drivers manually by downloading their official versions from the support site.

1. Call the window through the Start context menu, called Win→X.

2. Expand the item “Mice and other pointing devices”.

3. Select the item to update the drivers of the selected equipment.


4. Specify the automatic search type for newer software versions.


5. We wait until the end of the search for the most suitable file.


6. Install it or close the window if the file version is the latest.


Installing the driver from the developer's website

If the previous option did not solve the problem or the new driver was not found, you should download it from the laptop support resource.

1. Go to the appropriate site.

2. Find your device.

3. Select a driver for the appropriate bit level installed on the Windows 10 PC.

4. Upload the file.

5. Launch the installer and follow the instructions.


Note: sometimes after updating the driver this way, Windows 10 can replace it with its own, downloaded from Microsoft servers, and cause problems that you just got rid of. In such a case, you should download the Show or Hide Updates utility and use it to disable the automatic search and download of drivers for the touchpad.

additional information

If the function key, which together with Fn should activate the touchpad, does not work, you should check the availability of specialized software from the laptop/netbook developer.

The touchpad may be disabled in the BIOS/UEFI. Study the instructions for your portable device, find the option with the word Touchpad, located in the peripherals section.

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