A laptop touchpad may stop working for several common reasons:
- The touchpad might be accidentally disabled either in settings or via a keyboard shortcut.
- The touchpad drivers could be outdated, corrupted, or missing.
- An external mouse connected to the laptop might automatically disable the touchpad.
- There could be physical damage or hardware malfunction.
- Software conflicts from third-party applications or Windows updates may interfere with touchpad functionality.
- Sometimes temporary software glitches cause the touchpad to be unresponsive.
To fix the issue, one can:
- Check the touchpad is enabled in system settings and toggle it if necessary.
- Restart the laptop to clear temporary glitches.
- Disconnect any external mice or USB devices.
- Update or reinstall touchpad drivers via Device Manager.
- Run Windows Hardware Troubleshooter or Mouse and Touchpad Troubleshooter.
- Inspect the touchpad hardware for damage and clean it gently.
- Check BIOS settings for touchpad-related options.
- Boot the laptop in Safe Mode to identify software conflicts.
These steps apply broadly to Windows laptops including brands like Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Asus. If the problem persists after trying these, it may require professional hardware diagnosis or repair.
