My laptop mouse touchpad is not working

When the touchpad stops working, there are a few things you can do to try and fix it or work around the issue.

Tip: Since some of the settings do require you to navigate the mouse cursor for troubleshooting purposes use the Trackpoint, PS/2, or USB mouse a temporary fix. If you cannot get the mouse to work see our navigating Windows with the keyboard page for tips on how to use the keyboard to navigate in Windows.

Other USB device

Some USB and PS/2 devices, especially any USB input device (including a computer mouse), can disable the touchpad. As a troubleshooting step, turn off the computer, disconnect all USB devices, then start the computer again to make sure no other device is disabling the touchpad. If this fixes your problem, but the touchpad is disabled again, the next time you connect the device, check your touchpad software settings for a setting that can prevent this from happening.

Check mouse settings

First, in the Windows Control Panel, access the mouse settings and verify the touchpad is enabled. Also, you can adjust the sensitivity of the touchpad to work best for your fingers. Check these settings to make sure something was not disabled or adjusted to cause the touchpad to not work.

Check Device Manager

Second, open the Device Manager and check through the device list and find the touchpad. Check to see that it is enabled. If disabled, re-enable it and test the touchpad. If it is already enabled, change it to disabled, then re-enable it again. Sometimes toggling this setting can kick-start the touchpad into working again.

If there are any yellow exclamation marks, red X's or "Other devices" in Device Manager, any of these errors can indicate there is a problem with hardware in your computer that may be causing the touchpad problems.

• Identifying problems in Windows Device Manager.

Check CMOS (BIOS) setup

Make sure the touchpad has not been disabled in the CMOS (BIOS) setup. In the setup, check the hardware device settings and see if the touchpad is enabled or disabled. If disabled, re-enable it, restart the laptop, and test the touchpad.

• How to enter the BIOS or CMOS setup.

Software driver issues

If the above options do not fix the problem, the software driver for the touchpad may be corrupted or not updated enough to work correctly. Visit the laptop manufacturer's website and download the most current touchpad driver for your specific laptop model. Install the driver, restart the laptop, and test the touchpad to see if it works.

Hardware defect

Lastly, if the touchpad still is not working correctly or at all, you may need to take it to a computer repair shop and have it fixed. It could require replacement of the touchpad itself or another component in the laptop. If you cannot repair the touchpad, connect and use an external mouse as a workaround.