How to Turn on the Touchpad on Your Laptop

PDF download Download Article
Follow this easy guide to enable your touchpad and get back to clicking and scrolling
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow will teach you how to activate the touchpad on a Windows laptop if you disabled it or it's not working. You'll also find tips about how to activate your touchpad without a mouse and troubleshooting steps you can take on a Mac laptop.

How to Unlock the Touchpad on a Laptop

  1. Open your Windows Settings by clicking the gear icon in the Start Menu .
  2. Click Devices (usually paired with a keyboard and speaker icon).
  3. Click Touchpad (paired with an icon of a touchpad).
  4. Click the switch under “Touchpad” to the “On” position.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/56\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find the gear icon after you click the Start Menu icon. [1]
    • This method will only work if you can navigate menus. If you don't have an external mouse, you can also the keyboard--press the Windows key, type "touchpad," and press Enter , and the touchpad Settings menu will open. You can skip the next steps that use a mouse.
    • Some laptops have a hotkey that activates/deactivates the touchpad, so check your laptop's manual to see if it has a FN + F1-12 hotkey that will enable it instead of going through the Settings > Touchpad menu.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d4\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d4\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-2-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-2-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is usually in the second column next to an icon of a keyboard and speaker. [2]
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c6\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll see this in the menu on the left side of the window next to an icon of a touchpad. [3]
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/04\/Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-4-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Activate-the-Touchpad-on-a-Laptop-Step-4-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    " You can also change the other settings for your touchpad here, including the cursor speed. [4]
    • If you're not using a mouse, you can tap the Tab key until the touchpad toggle switch is highlighted (usually 3 times), then tap the Space key to switch it on.
    5. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • If you're experiencing issues with a Mac trackpad, you can check to see if there are software updates available for your trackpad. Click the apple logo > software update > trackpad firmware update (if applicable) > Install [5]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Check for a swollen battery in your Mac by turning your Macbook off and flipping it over. A swollen battery can push on the trackpad mechanism and cause it not to function correctly. [6]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • If your touchpad on your Windows laptop is enabled, but you're still having trouble, make sure your drivers are up-to-date in Device Manager > Mice and other devices . If the driver doesn't work or updating didn't solve your problem, you can use the generic Windows driver. Right-click your touchpad driver in Device Manager, select Update driver software > Browse my computer > Let me pick > HID-compliant mouse > Next . [7]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      11 Tips & Tricks to Fix a Missing Windows Laptop Mouse Cursor
      How to
      Display HDMI on a Laptop: Quickstart Guide
      2 Easy Ways to Reset an HP Laptop without the Password
      How to
      Connect a Laptop to a Monitor
      Using The Webcam in Your Laptop to Take Photos
      How to
      Activate the Touch Screen on an HP Laptop
      How to
      Turn on the Keyboard Light on a Dell
      How to
      Transfer Files Between Laptops
      How to
      Connect a Desktop to a Laptop (Windows and Mac)
      3 Fast Ways to Find the Model Number on Your HP Laptop
      How to
      Enter BIOS Advanced Debug Mode on Your Acer Laptop
      How to
      Take a Screenshot on a Lenovo Laptop: 4 Easy Methods
      How to
      Control Fan Speed on a Windows 10 Laptop
      How to
      Connect Speakers to Your Laptop
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/surface-touchpad-use-and-settings-6c32fd32-23f4-c2d3-a3f9-cfc70feff233
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/surface-touchpad-use-and-settings-6c32fd32-23f4-c2d3-a3f9-cfc70feff233
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/surface-touchpad-use-and-settings-6c32fd32-23f4-c2d3-a3f9-cfc70feff233
      4. ↑ https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124374/disabling-or-enabling-the-touchpad-on-a-dell-notebook
      5. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/pointer-move-trackpad-mchlp2857/mac
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204054
      7. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4027866/windows-fix-touchpad-problems-in-windows-10

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open Settings .
      2. Click Devices .
      3. Click Touchpad .
      4. Click the switch to enable it under "Touchpad."

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 220,111 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement