touch pad problem

Liz West 0 Reputation points
2026-11-06T03:53:34.5666667+00:00

can't get my touch pad to work. not on screen. can't see my mouse.

Windows for home | Other | Search, touch, and mouse
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  1. Ivan B 126.9K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-06T04:30:57.0566667+00:00

    Hi,

    If the steps provided by Q&A Assist did not work:

    Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Mouse. Check if there is a Synaptics touchpad control panel; you should see an option to disable it (often marked with an 'X').

    Alternatively:

    Check your laptop keyboard. One of the keys from F1 to F12 should have a touchpad icon on it—try pressing it to re-enable the touchpad. If that doesn't work, try pressing the Fn key + the key with the touchpad icon to see if it starts working again.

    If that still doesn't help, please search for "msinfo32.exe" in the search bar, take a screenshot, and post it here so we can identify your specific laptop model or desktop configuration.

    Thanks

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  2. AI answer

    2026-11-06T03:54:16.9333333+00:00

    Press the keyboard key showing a touchpad icon—either by itself or with Fn—because many laptops use that key to disable and re-enable the touchpad.^1^

    If the pointer remains missing

    1. Restart using only the keyboard
      • Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete.
      • Press Tab until the power button is selected.
      • Press Enter, choose Restart with the arrow keys, and press Enter.
    2. Scan for the touchpad
      • Press Win + X, then M to open Device Manager.
      • Press Tab to move into the device list.
      • Press Alt + A, select Scan for hardware changes with the arrow keys, and press Enter. This can detect and reinstall a missing touchpad.^2^
      • Look under Human Interface Devices and Mice and other pointing devices; Windows may list the touchpad in either category.^3^
    3. Install available driver updates
      • Press Win + I to open Settings.
      • On Windows 11, go to Windows Update → Advanced options → Optional updates.
      • Install any touchpad, mouse, HID, chipset, or Serial IO driver offered, then restart. Optional driver updates are not installed automatically.^4^

    If the touchpad is absent from Device Manager

    Use another computer or connect a temporary USB mouse, then visit the laptop manufacturer’s official support site and download drivers for the exact laptop model:

    1. Install the manufacturer’s chipset/Serial IO driver, then restart.
    2. Install its touchpad driver, then restart again.

    Use only the laptop manufacturer’s official site; Microsoft recommends obtaining the latest compatible driver from the manufacturer when Windows cannot find one.^5^

    If neither the touchpad nor a connected USB mouse produces a pointer after these steps, contact the laptop manufacturer because the touchpad may require model-specific service. Include the laptop manufacturer/model and whether the problem began after an update.

    References

    1. How can I fix a mousepad that is not working/responding to my touch? - Microsoft Q&A
    2. Please help me reinstall my touchpad driver! - Microsoft Q&A
    3. Fix touchpad problems in Windows | Microsoft Support
    4. Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers
    5. Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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