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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
- Open your Windows Settings by clicking the gear icon in the Start Menu.
- Click Devices (usually paired with a keyboard and speaker icon).
- Click Touchpad (paired with an icon of a touchpad).
- Click the switch under “Touchpad” to the “On” position.
Steps
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Open your Windows Settings. 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]
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Click Devices. This is usually in the second column next to an icon of a keyboard and speaker.[3]Advertisement -
Click Touchpad. You'll see this in the menu on the left side of the window next to an icon of a touchpad.[4] -
Click the switch to enable itunder "Touchpad." You can also change the other settings for your touchpad here, including the cursor speed.[5]
- 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.
Expert Q&A
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Tips
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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[6]Thanks
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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.[7]Thanks
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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.[8]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/surface-touchpad-use-and-settings-6c32fd32-23f4-c2d3-a3f9-cfc70feff233
- ↑ https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001699.htm
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/surface-touchpad-use-and-settings-6c32fd32-23f4-c2d3-a3f9-cfc70feff233
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surface/surface-touchpad-use-and-settings-6c32fd32-23f4-c2d3-a3f9-cfc70feff233
- ↑ https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124374/disabling-or-enabling-the-touchpad-on-a-dell-notebook
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/pointer-move-trackpad-mchlp2857/mac
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108376
- ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fix-touchpad-problems-in-windows-30b498e5-0caa-9740-2b21-336ea75ee756
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1. Open Settings.
2. Click Devices.
3. Click Touchpad.
4. Click the switch to enable it under "Touchpad."
