Cursor dissapeared

Connect a wired USB mouse directly to the computer first; whether its pointer appears distinguishes a built-in touchpad problem from a system-wide cursor problem.

1. Test with a separate mouse

Avoid a USB hub and try another USB port if necessary.

• If the pointer appears: Windows can display a cursor, so troubleshoot the built-in touchpad.
• If the pointer does not appear: test that mouse on another computer. If it fails there too, replace the mouse; if it works there, continue with the driver checks below. Microsoft recommends these direct-connection and cross-device tests when the cursor does not appear.^1^

You can navigate without a pointer using Tab, Shift+Tab, arrow keys, Enter, and Space.

2. Repair the touchpad driver

Since repeated shutdowns and restarts did not help, move to driver recovery:

1. Press Win+R, enter devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find the touchpad under:
   • Human Interface Devices, or
   • Mice and other pointing devices.
3. Open the touchpad device and check whether it is disabled; if so, choose Enable device.
4. Select Update driver and follow the prompts.
5. If updating does not help, choose Uninstall device.
6. In Device Manager, select Action → Scan for hardware changes to reinstall it.

Microsoft identifies missing or outdated drivers as a possible touchpad failure and recommends Windows Update or Device Manager for updating or reinstalling them.^2^

Also open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates, then install any available driver or optional updates. Restart afterward only to complete those installations.^1^

3. Test whether touch input is suppressing the pointer

This is a conditional test for a touch-enabled laptop—not the first step, because disabling touch would temporarily leave you dependent on the keyboard or external mouse.

After confirming that an external mouse is connected:

1. Press Win+R, enter devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
2. Expand Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click HID-compliant touch screen and select Disable device. If several entries exist, repeat for each one.^3^
4. Move the external mouse or use the touchpad.

If the cursor returns, leave touch disabled temporarily and obtain the touchscreen/chipset drivers from the computer manufacturer. To restore touch later, return to the same entry and select Enable device. A closely matching touch-enabled-device case also reports disabling the HID touchscreen as a useful interference test.^4^

If you also see circles, unexplained taps, or windows opening by themselves, that suggests the touchscreen is registering unintended input. Keep it disabled and contact the device manufacturer for hardware service.

If none of these restores the cursor

Contact the computer manufacturer with:

• Exact make and model
• Whether a wired USB mouse produced a pointer
• Whether the touchpad appears in Device Manager
• Any warning icon or Device Manager error code
• Whether disabling HID-compliant touch screen changed the behavior

If the touchpad is absent from Device Manager or driver reinstallation does not help, manufacturer support is the appropriate next step.^2^

References

1. Mouse and keyboard problems in Windows | Microsoft Support
2. Fix touchpad problems in Windows
3. Enable and disable a touchscreen in Windows | Microsoft Support
4. How to get my mouse cursor back - Microsoft Q&A