11 Quick Fixes for Your Laptop Trackpad When It Stops Working

Fix a laptop touchpad issue in Windows or Mac

Written by Stan Kats | Edited by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Fact Checked

Is your laptop’s trackpad or touchpad glitchy or unresponsive, or is the cursor completely invisible? While these issues can be frustrating, they’re often easy to fix. In this article, we’ll help you diagnose and fix common trackpad issues so you can get back to using your computer without problems.

How to Fix Common Touchpad Issues

Check your trackpad settings to make sure it hasn't been disabled. You can also check its click, scroll, and other gesture settings to make sure they work as expected. Update your drivers and operating system. Clean off any dirt or grime that might be interfering with the trackpad's sensors.

1

Check your trackpad settings.

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Your trackpad may have been disabled or set incorrectly. To check, go into your computer’s system settings to see if you can identify the problem.
- Windows:
  - Go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices (or Devices) > Touchpad.^{[1]
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  - Make sure Touchpad is toggled on.
  - If you also have a mouse connected, check the box that says “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected.”
  - Check the settings under the Gestures & interaction header to make sure your touchpad is set to behave the way you want it to.
  - Some Windows computers might have separate device settings associated with your specific brand of PC. For example, you can find additional touchpad settings on Asus laptops by going to MyAsus > Device Settings > Touchpad.^{[2]
    X
    Research source} If applicable, check these settings and make sure your trackpad isn’t disabled or locked.
- Mac:
  - Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Trackpad. Move through the tabs to make sure your point and click, scroll and zoom, and other gesture options are set the way you want them to be.
  - If you have an external mouse or trackpad connected to your computer, make sure it isn’t set to disable your built-in trackpad. Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control and make sure “Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present” is toggled Off.

2

Try a keyboard shortcut to toggle your trackpad on.

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Some keyboards have a trackpad hotkey. This is usually one of the F keys (often F6, F8, or F9). The correct key should have an icon of a trackpad on it. You may need to press the hotkey in combination with the Fn key to toggle your trackpad on and off.
- Check your computer or keyboard’s user manual if you’re not sure which key or key combo to use.

3

Restart your computer.

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Restarting can resolve simple glitches. Once you reboot your computer, try the touchpad again and see if the issue is resolved.
- If your computer is completely frozen or unresponsive, force restart it by holding down the power button.

4

Make sure your laptop battery is charged.

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This is especially true for Mac laptops.^{[3]
X
Research source} Make sure your computer is plugged into a reliable power source.

5

Update or reinstall the trackpad driver.

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Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common culprit for trackpad problems. You can often force your drivers to update simply by updating your operating system. If you’re using a Windows computer, you can also update the driver through the Device Manager:^{[4]
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- Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.^{[5]
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- Expand the Human Interface Devices or Mice and other pointing devices category. Typically, you’ll find your trackpad in one of these sections.
- Right-click your touchpad and select Update driver > Search automatically for updated driver software. Install any available updates.
- If you can’t fetch an updated driver automatically, check the developer website for your specific trackpad and see if a new driver is available to download. Select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers and locate the downloaded driver on your device.
- If no new drivers are available, you can reinstall the driver by right-clicking your touchpad and selecting Uninstall device > Uninstall. When you restart your computer, it should automatically reinstall the missing driver.

6

Update your operating system.

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An outdated OS can create glitches. Updating your system software can ensure that your trackpad and computer work properly together. It will often automatically refresh your device drivers, too.
- Windows:^{[6]
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  - Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update (or Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update in Windows 10).
  - To make sure you install any new drivers along with general Windows updates, go to Advanced options and toggle on Receive updates for other Microsoft products. Then, go to Additional options > Optional updates and select all driver updates. Click Download and install.
  - In the main Windows Update menu, click Check for updates and install any available updates.
- Mac:^{[7]
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  - Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. If any updates are available, select Update Now (or Restart or Upgrade Now, depending on the type of update).

7

Disable problematic software or accessories.

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An app or other hardware may be interfering with your trackpad. Third-party apps that affect gesture control can interfere with your trackpad. Some audio and video editing apps can sometimes cause issues as well. If your trackpad started acting up after you installed new software, try disabling or uninstalling it and see if that fixes the issue.
- Having too many accessories attached to your computer can also cause problems. Try unplugging any USB accessories and disconnecting Bluetooth devices (such as speakers, external keyboards, etc.) and see if that resolves the problem.

8

Clean the trackpad.

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To clean your trackpad, power down and unplug your laptop. Moisten a soft, lint-free microfiber cloth in distilled water or a gentle cleaning solution (such as 70% isopropyl alcohol). Gently rub the trackpad in a circular motion. Take care not to get any moisture into your keyboard’s internal components. Let the trackpad air dry or wipe it dry with a dry, clean microfiber cloth before turning your computer back on.

9

Check your BIOS settings (Windows).

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Your trackpad might be disabled in the BIOS. The right way to enter the BIOS depends on your specific model of PC, but you can typically do it by restarting your computer while repeatedly pressing a specific key (usually F2, Del, or F10). Consult your manual for specific instructions. Once you’re in the BIOS, look for a setting such as System Configuration > Built-in Device Options and see if Touchpad is enabled.
- If this doesn’t work, you might need to completely reset your BIOS to resolve any serious issues.

10

Run hardware diagnostics.

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Your computer might be able to detect a problem with your trackpad. Your computer’s built-in troubleshooters can sometimes identify hardware issues. Try using one of these utilities:
- Windows: Go to Start > Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other Troubleshooters (or Start > Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional Troubleshooters in Windows 10). Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter and follow any prompts that appear. Depending on the type of issue, Windows might be able to fix the problem or recommend a solution.
- Mac: Run the Apple Diagnostics tool. The right way to do this depends on your model of Mac, so check out this guide from Apple for specific instructions. If you’re running macOS 26 or later, you’ll have the opportunity to run diagnostics specifically on your trackpad.
  - Once the diagnostic is complete, you’ll receive one or more reference codes with information about any issues discovered during the scan. Use this guide to identify your reference code and figure out what steps you need to take next.

11

Get professional help for hardware issues.

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If there’s something physically wrong, you’ll probably need professional service. Take your laptop to a computer repair specialist. They might be able to diagnose and fix the problem, or recommend an alternative solution if there’s no easy fix.
- If your computer is still under warranty or you have a protection plan, you might be able to get free or discounted service. Check with the manufacturer or the retailer you bought the computer from.