Touchpad and mouse issues

Melanie Smith 0 Reputation points
2026-11-08T17:59:04.88+00:00

My cursor does not show on the screen. My touchpad does not work. How can I fix them? How can I update the drivers also.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
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  1. DaveM121 946.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-08T18:34:36.1233333+00:00

    Hi Melanie,

    1

    Look at the Function Keys (F1 - F12) on your keyboard.

    If one of those keys has an icon representing a touchpad try pressing that key or Fn + that key to try to enable the touchpad on your laptop.

    2

    If that was not the problem, you will need to go to the support page for your laptop on the manufacturers website to download and reinstall the version of chipset drivers and touchpad drivers they provide for your laptop model.

    If you have any difficulty locating that support page, click your Start Button, then just type msinfo and press Enter, please provide a screenshot of the resulting System Information window.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-08T17:59:42.6833333+00:00

    First, press the keyboard key showing a touchpad icon—usually one of F1–F12, sometimes requiring Fn + that key—because the touchpad may simply be disabled.^1^

    1. Restore pointer control

    1. Press the touchpad function key once, wait a few seconds, and move a finger across the touchpad.
    2. If you have a USB mouse:
      • Connect it directly to a different USB port, not through a hub.
      • For a wireless mouse, replace or charge its battery, then unplug its receiver for about 10 seconds and reconnect it.
      • If possible, test the mouse on another computer. If it also fails there, the mouse may need replacement.^2^

    Windows can be navigated without a pointer: use Tab to move between controls, arrow keys to select, Enter to open, and Spacebar to toggle checkboxes.

    2. Install driver updates through Windows Update

    Windows Update is Microsoft’s recommended method for updating touchpad drivers.^3^

    1. Press Windows + I.
    2. Select Windows Update → Advanced options.
    3. Under Additional options, open Optional updates.
    4. Open Driver updates, select any touchpad, mouse, HID, chipset, or input-device update, and choose Download and install.
    5. Restart the computer even if Windows does not request it.

    Optional driver updates are not installed automatically, so this section must be checked manually.^4^

    3. Reinstall the touchpad driver

    If updating does not restore it:

    1. Press Windows + X, then choose Device Manager.
    2. Check both:
      • Human Interface Devices
      • Mice and other pointing devices
    3. Select the touchpad entry. It may include a manufacturer name such as Synaptics or ELAN.
    4. Open it with Shift + F10, select Uninstall device, and confirm.
    5. Restart Windows. Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically.^5^

    Do not uninstall an entry unless it is clearly the touchpad or pointing device; removing unrelated HID entries can temporarily disable other input devices.

    4. If the touchpad is missing from Device Manager

    Obtain the drivers from the laptop manufacturer’s official support site using the exact model number:

    1. Press Windows + R, enter msinfo32, and press Enter.
    2. Note System Manufacturer and System Model.
    3. On another device if necessary, download the Windows 11 drivers for that exact model.
    4. Install the chipset or Serial I/O driver first, restart, and check Device Manager again.
    5. Install the manufacturer’s touchpad driver, then restart again.

    A missing touchpad entry can require the chipset/Serial I/O driver before Windows can detect the touchpad hardware.^6^ Use only Microsoft or the device manufacturer’s official site for drivers; avoid third-party driver-download utilities.^5^

    If the touchpad remains absent after the correct chipset and touchpad packages are installed, contact the laptop manufacturer for hardware diagnostics.^3^

    References

    1. How can I fix a mousepad that is not working/responding to my touch? - Microsoft Q&A
    2. Mouse and keyboard problems in Windows | Microsoft Support
    3. Fix touchpad problems in Windows | Microsoft Support
    4. Windows 11
    5. Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows | Microsoft Support
    6. Touchpad is recognized as mouse windows 11 - Microsoft Q&A
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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