Touchpad is one of the input devices on a laptop equipped with sensors that allow users to click and move the cursor easily without additional external device. A malfunctioning touchpad can disrupt daily activities, such as working, doing assignments, and attending online meetings.

One of the causes of malfunctioning touchpad is hardware damage. However, that is not the only cause. There are many factors that can cause a touchpad error or unresponsive.

Read on for further explanation about the causes and how to fix a non-functioning touchpad!

Causes of a Laptop Touchpad Not Functioning

It is important to know the factors before knowing how to fix a non-functioning laptop touchpad. Here are some of the causes.

Touchpad Dirty Because of Dust and Grime

Touchpad has sensors that can read touch and finger movements. These sensors are embedded beneath the touchpad surface. Therefore, if dirt such as oil and dust are on the surface, the touchpad becomes less responsive because the sensor struggles to read finger touches. Not only on the surface, dust lodged in the gaps of the touchpad can also cause the buttons become hard to be clicked.

Issues with the Touchpad Driver

A driver is software that functions to help the operating system communicate with the touchpad hardware. If the touchpad driver is corrupted, not updated, or fails to update correctly, the touchpad may stop functioning. This often occurs after performing an operating system update.

Touchpad Accidentally Disabled

Sometimes users accidentally disable the touchpad by pressing a shortcut button on the keyboard that cause the touchpad cannot be moved. The keyboard shortcut feature can be used to activate or deactivate the touchpad.

Hardware Damage

If you have tried various methods to fix the touchpad and fail, there may be damage on the hardware. The causes could be the laptop being hit hard, dropped, got spilled with water, or having a loose connector cable, it can cause a permanent touchpad error. This issue requires a help from technician to repair the touchpad.

How to Fix a Laptop Touchpad That Isn't Working

Before deciding to repair the touchpad to a technician, the problem can be solved independently. Here are ways to fix it if the touchpad is not functioning:

Restart the Laptop

The simplest first step is to restart the laptop, wait for a few seconds, and then turn the laptop back on. This method can eliminate minor bugs or glitches that cause the touchpad to stop functioning.

Activate the Touchpad Using Keyboard Shortcuts

To check if the touchpad is inactive, activate the touchpad using a keyboard shortcut by pressing the combination of Fn + the function key that has a touchpad icon.

Another way to activate the touchpad is by checking the Settings, click Bluetooth & Devices, and click Touchpad. Make sure the touchpad is set to On or active.

Update or Reinstall the Touchpad Driver

If the touchpad is active in settings but still not functioning, update the driver via Device Manager.

Search for Device Manager in the Search menu.
Find the category Mice and other pointing devices and click.
Find the laptop touchpad device being used. Usually, the device name is ELAN or HID-compliant mouse.
Click on the device name, click Update Driver, and click Search automatically for updated driver software.
After finishing, Restart the laptop.

Clean the Touchpad

Make sure the touchpad surface clean is important to keep the touchpad working. Use a slightly damp microfiber cloth and clean the touchpad surface gently. Make sure the touchpad surface is dry using a dry cloth. This is done to clean dirt on the touchpad so the sensor can be read easily.

Consult a Technician for Further Checks

If all the steps above are not working, there may be other damage:

More complex system conflicts
Internal hardware damage
Motherboard issues

In this condition, it is best to check the laptop to the official service center or a professional technician to do a further diagnosis and repair.

A non-functioning touchpad problem may seem minor, but it has a significant impact on a user's daily productivity. Besides fixing the touchpad to function again, it is also important to ensure the internet connection remains stable for smooth daily activities.

You can enjoy the internet with a stable, fast, and secure connection by using CBN Fiber. Contact CBN Customer Care through the diCBN app for further information.

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How to Fix a Laptop Touchpad That Isn't Working

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