How to Fix a Touchpad That Isn't Working

Test the Touchpad in Your Browser

1. Open the mouse test. It works with a touchpad as well as a mouse.
2. Tap or press the touchpad inside the gray area. Each press, or each tap with tap to click on, counts as a left click.
3. Try your right-click gesture. The Right count should go up.
4. Scroll with two fingers. The test notes that it looks like a touchpad, since touchpad scrolling sends many small movements instead of steps.

What the result tells you:

• Clicks count and the pointer moves: the touchpad works. If one app still misbehaves, check that app's settings.
• Clicks count but a gesture doesn't work: check the tap and gesture settings below.
• Nothing reaches the test: the touchpad may be off, or the computer may not see it. Start with the next section.
• One press counts twice on a touchpad with physical buttons: the test shows it in red as a fault, with its timing.

The test runs in the page, and nothing is uploaded.

Check That It's Turned On in Windows

1. Press Windows+I to open Settings.
2. Go to Bluetooth and devices, then Touchpad.
3. Turn on the Touchpad switch.

If no pointer works, press Tab to move between options until the switch has a box around it, then press Spacebar, as Dell suggests. You can also press Windows+S and type touchpad settings.

On Windows 10, the same page is under Settings, then Devices, then Touchpad. Microsoft notes it also sets cursor speed, scrolling direction, and three-finger and four-finger gestures.

Clean It and Restart

Dell says to make sure the touchpad and your finger are free of dirt, grease, liquids, or food. Then save your work and restart the computer.

If the pointer moves on its own or jumps, Dell also suggests unplugging every peripheral except the power cable, including USB devices. If the pointer jumps while you type, Dell suggests turning on "Hide pointer while typing" under More touchpad settings, and setting Taps to Low sensitivity.

Update or Reinstall the Driver

Microsoft says a touchpad that isn't working may have a missing or out-of-date driver. It recommends Windows Update as the way to update it.

1. Run Windows Update and install any updates it offers.
2. If the touchpad still doesn't work, open Device Manager. Look for it under Human Interface Devices or "Mice and other pointing devices".
3. Update its driver there. If that doesn't help, reinstall the touchpad from Device Manager. Microsoft says this makes Windows download the latest driver from Windows Update.

Dell also suggests updating the BIOS and chipset drivers from the laptop maker.

On a Mac

• Move the pointer with one finger. Apple says more than one finger may not move it, depending on the Mac and your Trackpad settings.
• If it still won't move, your Mac may be showing a low battery alert you can't see. Connect it to power, or connect an external keyboard to see the alert.
• If the trackpad stops when a mouse is connected, choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then Accessibility, then Pointer Control. Turn off "Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present".
• For taps and right clicks, open System Settings, then Trackpad. Tap to click turns on one-finger taps, and Secondary click sets the gesture for a right click.

If It Still Doesn't Work

On a Dell laptop, open SupportAssist and run its hardware test on the "HID-compliant touch pad".

If the touchpad looks raised or distorted, Dell says to check for a bulging or swelling battery compartment. Contact the laptop maker before you go on using it.

Otherwise, contact the laptop maker. Microsoft and Apple both say to do that when these steps don't help. Apple warns that repairs by untrained people or with non-genuine parts may affect the safety and function of the device.