Laptop Touchpad Not Working? Here’s the Complete Fix (Windows & Mac)

Laptop Touchpad Not Working? Here’s the Complete Fix (Windows & Mac)

If your laptop touchpad suddenly stops working, feels unresponsive, or the cursor won’t move, don’t panic. This issue is extremely common on both Windows and Mac laptops due to disabled settings, driver errors, gestures misconfiguration, or external device conflicts. This guide covers every working fix.

Common Reasons a Touchpad Stops Working

  • Touchpad accidentally disabled
  • External mouse overriding touchpad
  • Corrupted or outdated drivers
  • Software bugs after updates
  • Incorrect touchpad sensitivity settings
  • Dust or moisture interfering with gestures
  • Hardware ribbon cable issue (rare)

Fix 1 — Check if the Touchpad Is Disabled

On many laptops, users accidentally turn it off.

Windows:

  1. Press Windows + I
  2. Go to Bluetooth & Devices
  3. Tap Touchpad
  4. Ensure it says On

Mac:

macOS rarely disables the trackpad unless set manually.

  1. System Settings
  2. Accessibility
  3. Pointer Control
  4. Ensure “Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse is present” is OFF

Fix 2 — Disconnect External Mouse

Some laptops turn off the touchpad automatically when a USB mouse or Bluetooth mouse is connected.

  • Unplug the USB mouse
  • Turn off Bluetooth mouse
  • Restart the laptop

Fix 3 — Restart Your Laptop

A simple reboot restores touchpad drivers and background services.

Fix 4 — Update Touchpad Drivers (Windows Only)

  1. Right-click Start
  2. Select Device Manager
  3. Open Human Interface Devices
  4. Find Touchpad entry → Right-click → Update Driver

Fix 5 — Reinstall Touchpad Driver

If updating doesn’t help, reinstall:

  1. Device Manager → Touchpad device
  2. Right-click → Uninstall
  3. Restart
  4. Windows auto-installs the driver again

Fix 6 — Check Touchpad Gestures

Windows:

  1. Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Touchpad
  2. Ensure Taps, Scroll & Zoom, and Gestures are enabled

Mac:

  1. System Settings → Trackpad
  2. Enable Tap to Click, Scroll, and Mission Control

Fix 7 — Clean the Touchpad Surface

  • Use a slightly damp microfiber cloth
  • Remove dust, sweat, oil, or moisture

Fix 8 — Boot Into Safe Mode

This helps identify if a third-party app is causing the problem.

Fix 9 — Reset SMC / PRAM on Mac

This fixes touchpad and keyboard issues.

For Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3):

Just restart. macOS auto-resets these systems.

For older Intel MacBooks:

  • Shut down
  • Hold Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds

Fix 10 — BIOS/UEFI Touchpad Setting

Some laptops have a BIOS setting that disables the touchpad.

  1. Restart laptop
  2. Press F2 / DEL / F10 (depends on brand)
  3. Find Internal Pointing Device
  4. Ensure it is Enabled

Fix 11 — Hardware Check (Rare but Possible)

If none of the software fixes work, the touchpad ribbon cable may be loose.

Visit a technician if you suspect hardware failure.

Final Thoughts

Most laptop touchpad issues come from disabled settings, drivers, or external mice. Follow the fixes above from top to bottom to restore a fully working touchpad.

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