Touchpad does not work on Windows PC or Mac

Has it ever happened to you? While you are using your laptop the Touchpad does not work on Windows PC or Mac? This problem could be caused by many things. However, there are ways to fix it, depending on your operating system and the model of your laptop. We have compiled a handy guide that can help you troubleshoot your trackpad not working.

The touchpad does not work in Windows 10

When the touchpad fails, your PC becomes almost completely useless. Several things can cause this problem.

Check your operating system

One of the first things you might do is check if your operating system has crashed. This helps you determine if the problem is just your touchpad or the whole computer. But what if you can't use the cursor?

One of the ways to check if the computer has frozen is by pressing the Windows button on the keyboard. This should open the Start menu. If your computer is unresponsive, you can try using different keyboard shortcuts. For example, try “Ctrl + Alt + Del” to open the security screen. If none of these work, your computer has crashed. Give it a few moments to see if it unlocks itself. If it still doesn't work, press the power button to turn it off. Wait a couple of minutes and turn it back on.

Hopefully this is just an occasional problem. However, if this continues to happen, try to diagnose the cause of this problem or have your laptop checked by a professional.

Check out the keyboard shortcuts

Your keyboard may be the cause of the problem. This often happens due to shortcuts that disable the touchpad. You may have accidentally disabled your touchpad, so make sure it's not the root of the problem.

The shortcut you can use depends on the model of your laptop, but most laptops use the combination of the "Fn" key with one of the "F" keys. The button you are looking for often has a touchpad icon. If you don't see this and aren't sure which shortcut to use, try searching the internet for the shortcut for your model.

Check your external devices

Having external devices connected to the computer could be the cause of the blocked touchpad. Sometimes when you connect another device, such as a mouse, the touchpad is automatically disabled. This is a feature common to several laptop models that run on Windows 10.

In this case, the best thing you can do is the following:

1. Turn off the computer.
2. Unplug all unnecessary devices.
3. Turn on the computer.

If your touchpad is now working, you have found the cause of your problem. Be sure to review and adjust the mouse settings on your computer. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the start menu.
2. Start typing "Settings" and open it.
3. Tap "Devices".
4. Touch Touchpad.
5. First, make sure the touchpad is turned on by adjusting the scroll button.
6. Then, you will see a checkbox under the “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected” label.
7. Mark the checkbox.
8. You can further adjust the touchpad settings in this menu.

Now, whenever you connect a mouse to your laptop, your touchpad will remain enabled.

If your touchpad is not detected or still not working or freezes and you have a mouse connected, you can try to access the mouse settings via Device Manager:

1. Open the start menu.
2. Start typing Device Manager, and open it.
3. Tap "Mice and other pointing devices".
4. Find a device connected “To USB input device”. This is your mouse.
5. Right-click and tap “Disable Device”.
   Final report: be sure to perform this step only when you have determined that the problem is caused by the mouse. After disabling the mouse you will need to use the touchpad to tap "Enable device".
6. You can also try updating the driver. Right click and tap "Update Driver".

Uninstall the touchpad driver

If you have an external mouse connected to your computer, you can also try uninstalling the touchpad driver to try to make it work. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the start menu.
2. Start typing Device Manager, and open it.
3. Tap "Mice and other pointing devices".
4. Find your touchpad.
5. Right click on it and tap “Uninstall Driver”.
6. Restart your computer. Windows will install the driver during the reboot.

Check your touchpad settings in the BIOS

The cause of the problem may be in the BIOS. If your touchpad is disabled, Windows cannot access it.

1. Open your BIOS. You can do this by pressing "F2" as soon as you turn on your computer.
2. Search for "Internal Pointing Device," Touchpad "or" Trackpad ".
3. Check if it is enabled. If it's disabled, be sure to enable it.
4.  Windows will now recognize your touchpad.

Check the service of your tablet PC

If you have a laptop that you can use as a tablet, the function of your tablet may cause the touchpad to malfunction. When in tablet mode, the feature disables your touchpad. To disable this feature, follow these steps:

1. Open the start menu.
2. Start typing "Services" and open it.
3. Find "Tablet PC Input Service".
4. Right click on it and tap “Stop”.

Touchpad does not work on Mac

Several things can be the cause of an annoying touchpad in Mac. Fortunately, most of them can be easily fixed.

Check for updates

If your system does not automatically update, it can cause the touchpad to malfunction. Therefore, it is important to keep the system up to date. Here's how you can check if there are any updates available:

1. Open "System Preferences".
2. Tap "Software Update".
3. If there are any pending updates, you can choose to update all of them or you can choose the ones you need at the moment. Look for “Trackpad Firmware Update”.
4. Follow the instructions to install the update.

Check your touchpad options

If you want to make sure all touchpad settings are in order before proceeding, follow these steps:

1. Open "System Preferences".
2. Tap "Accessibility".
3. Scroll down and tap "Pointer Control".
4. Tap "Trackpad Options".
5. Here you can check your touchpad settings.

Reset your system

If your system has been updated recently, it could be the cause of your problem. You can use Time Machine to restore your system to an earlier version.

1. Make sure you have Time Machine enabled on your Mac.
2. Restart your Mac.
3. Press "Command + R" to access the recovery menu.
4. Tap “Restore from Time Machine Backup”.

Check your recent apps

If the problem is recent, it could be caused by recently downloaded apps. Some apps may cause a conflict with the touchpad and disable it without warning you. If you suspect this is the case, the best thing you can do is delete the apps to see if your touchpad is working. If your touchpad still doesn't work, you've determined that your apps aren't the problem and can move on to other potential solutions.

Check your external devices

Like Windows 10, external devices connected to the Mac may disable the touchpad. If you think this is the cause, shut down your Mac, unplug all external devices, and turn it back on. If your touchpad works, you have found the cause of your problem.

Now you can go to settings and make sure you fix this so it doesn't happen again:

1. Go to "System Preferences".
2. Tap "Accessibility".
3. Tap "Pointer Control".
4. You'll see a checkbox next to “Ignore built-in trackpad when wireless mouse or trackpad is present”. Make sure this box is unchecked to avoid future problems with the touchpad.

Delete property list files (Plist)

If your touchpad still doesn't work, you can try deleting the properties list files. By deleting them, you will reset your touchpad to factory settings.

1. Go to Finder.
2. Press "Command + Shift + G."
3. Digita “/ Library / Preferences /.”
4. Tap "Go".
5. Search for these files and delete them:
   • com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist - Magic Trackpad
   • com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist – Mouse magico
   • com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMuse.plist – Mouse USB cablato
   • com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist
   • com.apple.preference.trackpad.plist
6. Restart your Mac device.

Final report: be sure to back up your files first.

Broken touchpad

Whether you're a Windows or Mac user, if you've tried all of the above and your touchpad isn't working, it could be damaged or broken. Check the signs for physical damage. For example, you may see some scratches or dents that could indicate a problem. In this case, the best thing you can do is take your device to a professional.

Temporary solutions

If your touchpad isn't working, but you need to work on your device, you can try some temporary solutions until you fix the problem.

Use an external mouse

Using an external mouse while the touchpad is not working will allow you to continue using the computer.

Use an external touchpad

You can buy an external touchpad that works just like the built-in touchpad on your laptop. This will allow you to use your laptop normally, even when the integrated touchpad is not working.

Use the on-screen keyboard

If both the touchpad and keyboard aren't working and you have an external mouse connected to your laptop, you can use the on-screen keyboard. It may take a long time, but at least you will be able to keep working on your laptop.

If you are a Windows user, here's how you can enable it:

1. Open the "Start" menu.
2. Type "Settings" and open it.
3. Tap "Ease of Access".
4. Tap "Keyboard".
5. You will see a toggle next to "Use the onscreen keyboard". Turn it on.

If you are a Mac user, you can activate it by following these steps:

1. Go to the Apple menu.
2. Tap "System Preferences".
3. Tap "Accessibility".
4. Tap "Keyboard".
5. Tap "Accessible Keyboard".
6. Tap "Enable".

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Don't get mad at the touchpad!

When the frustrating touchpad isn't working, there are several things to try before giving up. In this step-by-step guide, we offer several ways to determine what is causing the problem and how you can fix it. If none of these work, we've provided a list of possible workarounds so you can keep working on your laptop until you've fixed your touchpad.