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Follow this easy guide to enable your touchpad and get back to clicking and scrolling
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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

  1. Open your Windows Settings by clicking the gear icon in the Start Menu.
  2. Click Devices (usually paired with a keyboard and speaker icon).
  3. Click Touchpad (paired with an icon of a touchpad).
  4. Click the switch under “Touchpad” to the “On” position.
  1. 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. This is usually in the second column next to an icon of a keyboard and speaker.[2]
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  3. You'll see this in the menu on the left side of the window next to an icon of a touchpad.[3]
  4. " You can also change the other settings for your touchpad here, including the cursor speed.[4]
    • 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.
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Tips

  • 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[5]
  • 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.[6]
  • 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.[7]
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About This Article

Darlene Antonelli, MA
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Darlene Antonelli, MA. Darlene Antonelli is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. Darlene has experience teaching college courses, writing technology-related articles, and working hands-on in the technology field. She earned an MA in Writing from Rowan University in 2012 and wrote her thesis on online communities and the personalities curated in such communities. This article has been viewed 225,872 times.
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Co-authors: 4
Updated: November 2, 2024
Views: 225,872
Categories: Laptops
Article SummaryX

1. Open Settings.
2. Click Devices.
3. Click Touchpad.
4. Click the switch to enable it under "Touchpad."

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 225,872 times.

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