Updated: 10/11/2021 by Show
The touchpad on a laptop is a convenient way to add the functionality of a mouse without needing an extra peripheral. When the touchpad is enabled or unlocked, the touchpad has the same functionality as an external mouse. When the touchpad is disabled or locked, the touchpad doesn't work, preventing the mouse cursor's accidental movement with your palm while typing. When disabled, the need for an external mouse is required. The exact steps to enable or disable the touchpad may differ slightly, depending on the laptop's manufacturer, so you may need to use some intuition to achieve your desired outcome. Steps to try firstTouchPad Button: Some laptops have a button near the top of the touchpad that lets you quickly enable and disable the touchpad. You can toggle the touchpad off and on with that button. TouchPad Fn keys: Some laptops have an Fn key that, in combination with one of the F1 - F12 function keys, can enable and disable the touchpad. To toggle the touchpad off and on, press both of these shortcut keys at the same time. Tip The icon associated with toggling the touchpad is often indicated by a rectangle with a line under it. It may also have a pointing finger or a circle near or over a rectangle. How to disable the touchpad in Windows 8 and 10Using a mouse and keyboard
Using a keyboard only
How to disable the touchpad in Windows 7 and earlierUsing a mouse and keyboard
Note If there are several devices listed in the Device Settings tab, you need to select the touchpad in the device list and then click the Disable button. Using a keyboard only
Note If using the Device Settings tab, press Tab until the Synaptics Touchpad or similar touchpad device name is highlighted. If multiple devices are listed, you may need to press the up or down arrow to select the touchpad device in the list. Press Tab again until the Disable button is selected, then press Enter.
How to disable the touchpad in macOSWith macOS, you cannot disable the MacBook trackpad until an external mouse is plugged in or connected via Bluetooth. Once you have a mouse connected, follow the instructions below.
Note When your external mouse is unplugged or otherwise disconnected, the trackpad is automatically enabled again. How to disable the touchpad on a ChromebookDisable touchpad tap-to-click functionalityThe tap-to-click functionality for a Chromebook touchpad can be turned off while still allowing you to use the touchpad to move the mouse cursor. The steps below show you how to disable tap-to-click.
Disable all touchpad functionalityTo completely disable the Chromebook touchpad, follow the steps below.
Note Once the touchpad is disabled, you need an external mouse to navigate on the Chromebook. How to enable the touchpad in Windows 8 and 10Using a mouse and keyboard
Using a keyboard only
How to enable the touchpad in Windows 7 and earlierUsing a mouse and keyboard
Note If there are multiple devices listed in the Device Settings tab, you need to select the touchpad in the device list and then click the Enable button. Using the keyboard only
Note If using the Device Settings tab, press Tab until the Synaptics Touchpad or similar touchpad device name is highlighted. If multiple devices are listed, you may need to press the up or down arrow to select the touchpad device in the list. Press Tab again until the Enable button is selected, then press Enter.
How to enable the touchpad in macOSIn macOS, the touchpad cannot be disabled entirely, but it can be temporarily disabled if a mouse is connected. If you have a mouse connected, disconnect the mouse and verify the touchpad is enabled and working again. If you want the touchpad enabled even when a mouse is connected, follow the instructions below.
Note When your external mouse is unplugged or otherwise disconnected, the trackpad is automatically enabled again. How to enable the touchpad on a ChromebookEnable touchpad tap-to-click functionalityIf the tap-to-click functionality for the Chromebook touchpad is disabled, follow the steps below to turn it back on.
Enable all touchpad functionalityTo enable the touchpad, press the Search key+Shift+P keyboard shortcut. If pressing the keyboard shortcut does not enable the touchpad, the advanced keyboard shortcuts are likely disabled. To enable those shortcuts, follow the steps below.
After the Chromebook restarts, try pressing the Search key+Shift+P keyboard shortcut again. If the touchpad still is not enabled and working, the touchpad may be defective and need to be replaced. |