The touchpad stopped working
My laptop touchpad does nothing. How do I turn it back on?
Written by The CommonFixes team · fact checked by CommonFixes review desk
Last updated
Short answer
Most laptops have a shortcut that disables the touchpad, and many switch it off automatically whenever a mouse is connected. The quickest thing to try first: press the touchpad shortcut — Look along the F keys for a small crossed out touchpad icon, usually F5, F6 or F9, and press it while holding Fn. Most people are done in about 5 minutes.
Full walkthrough below: 4 steps for Windows and Mac, rated easy.
Sounds like this
- •Pointer will not move
- •Taps ignored
- •Works only with a mouse plugged in
Why it happens
Most laptops have a shortcut that disables the touchpad, and many switch it off automatically whenever a mouse is connected.
Work through these in order
0% done- 1
Press the touchpad shortcut
Look along the F keys for a small crossed out touchpad icon, usually F5, F6 or F9, and press it while holding Fn.
- 2
Unplug the mouse
Open Settings, Bluetooth and devices, Touchpad, and make sure Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected is ticked.
- 3
Clean your fingers and the surface
Damp or greasy fingers stop the pad from reading properly. Wipe both with a dry cloth and try again.
- 4
Reinstall the touchpad driver
In Device Manager expand Mice and other pointing devices, right click the touchpad, choose Uninstall device, and restart. Windows reinstalls it automatically.
If none of that worked
If the pad is still dead after a restart with no mouse attached, its ribbon cable can loosen after a knock and needs a technician.
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Who wrote this and how we checked it
The CommonFixes team
Writer and researcher
We are a small group of people who spend our days repairing laptops and desktops for family, friends and small offices. Every guide here starts with a problem someone actually brought to us, and we only write down the steps that put the machine right.
- Everyday repairs
- Windows and Mac
- Plain language
CommonFixes review desk
Technical editor
Before a guide goes live, a second person walks through it on a real machine and checks each instruction against the maker's own support pages. Anything we cannot confirm is removed rather than guessed at.
- Fact checking
- Safety warnings
- Source links
This guide was last updated on 10 August 2026. If a step no longer matches what you see on screen, tell us on the contact page and we will test it again.
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