Laptop Trackpad Buttons Stopped Working? Here Are A Few Quick Fixes

Last Updated on September 23, 2022 by Rupesh Patil

Compared to a shattered display or a baked mainboard, a non-functioning trackpad is a less scary issue. It is something you can troubleshoot at home most of the time. However, the tricky part is to troubleshoot the touchpad without a touchpad. So, to follow the instructions from this piece, order a wireless mouse or borrow one from a friend.

The Basics

Before you get on to the proper troubleshooting part, let’s get the basic stuff out of the way. Sometimes simple things such as rebooting the system can solve the issue, so it is worth the try. In addition to that, make sure there’s no dust accumulation under the touchpad buttons. To get rid of the dust under trackpad buttons, use compressed air cleaners.

Check The F-Key Shortcut

Once you have checked for non-technical things, it is time to see if you have disabled the touchpad controls with accidental key presses. On several Windows laptops, the trackpad toggle combination is Fn (Function) + one of the 12 F keys. It is mostly F5 on Dell whereas Lenovo goes with either F6 or F8. These keys can be clicked inadvertently while controlling sound output or screen brightness. Hence, look for this icon on the F key and use the Fn key combination to toggle the trackpad.

Check The Trackpad Toggle Button

Some brands integrate a trackpad halt button right onto the touchpad area. If your laptop supports it, you can find it at the top right or left side of the trackpad. To turn it on, double tap on the area marked in the above image. Some laptop makers use a tiny LED light indicator to notify the current status of the trackpad. On other machines, you should get on-screen visual confirmation.

Look Over Windows Settings

Windows enables users to alter input device settings from the control panel. Hence, make sure everything is set right on that front. Click on the Windows key and type in “Bluetooth”. You will see the ‘Bluetooth & other devices’ menu. Click on ‘Touchpad Settings’, and set the toggle to ‘On’.

Check BIOS

The probability of a user disabling the trackpad by accessing the BIOS is very low. However, you can’t rule out such a scenario after a dodgy firmware upgrade. To check if that’s the case, start your laptop and repeatedly press the Delete or F2 key during the boot-up.

Use the keyboard to navigate to ‘Advanced’ settings. Locate ‘Internal Pointing Device’ and enable it if it is not. Don’t forget to click on ‘Save changes and exit’.

Update Trackpad Drivers

Outdated or corrupt drivers may also render particular components inoperable. To fix this issue, press the Windows button and type in ‘Device Manager. Click on it and then select ‘Mice and other pointing devices’. Right-click on the touchpad setting and choose Update Driver.

Select ‘Search automatically for drivers’ and Windows will guide you through the rest of the setup.

If that doesn’t work, click ‘Browse my computer for drivers’. To make this option work, you are required to visit your laptop manufacturer’s website to download the drivers. The manufacturer’s download page will require you to carefully enter your laptop’s model number to get the correct drivers. If you are not sure about it, just check the back of your laptop or head over to Start – Settings – System – About.

Here are links to download touchpad drivers of popular laptop brands.

Dell
HP
Lenovo
Asus
Acer

Call The Experts

If none of these tips does the trick for you, there’s a good chance that it is a hardware issue. In this case, we recommend you leave it to the experts. If your laptop is in warranty, contact the manufacturer to get it fixed.

If the device’s warranty has run out, you can get it repaired at the service centre. This, however, can eat into your already tight schedule. If you want to avoid the hassle of visiting the service centre or repair shop multiple times, we recommend Onsitego’s Laptop Repair & Maintenance service.

Onsitego offers free pick up and drop at your place. Customers get fixed turnaround times and the assurance of high-quality spare parts. Currently, the service is available in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad.