Is your Acer Nitro 5 touchpad not working? Discover practical solutions and troubleshooting steps to fix touchpad issues and enhance your laptop experience!
The touchpad on your Acer Nitro 5 is an essential component, allowing you to navigate, click, and perform various functions without the need for an external mouse. However, it can be frustrating when the touchpad suddenly stops working. Whether it’s unresponsive, not registering clicks, or acting erratically, this guide will help you troubleshoot and fix the issue. In this post, we’ll explore several methods to get your touchpad back to normal operation.
Check for Physical Issues
Before diving into software fixes, it’s important to ensure that there are no physical issues causing the touchpad to malfunction. Here are a few things to check:
- Clean the Touchpad: Dirt, dust, and grime can accumulate on the touchpad surface, affecting its sensitivity. Use a soft, lint-free cloth to gently clean the touchpad. Avoid using any liquid directly on the touchpad.
- Check for Damage: Inspect the touchpad for any visible damage, such as cracks or dents. If the touchpad is physically damaged, it may need to be replaced.
- Ensure Touchpad is Enabled: Sometimes, the touchpad may be accidentally disabled. On most Acer laptops, you can enable or disable the touchpad by pressing the Fn key along with one of the function keys (often F7 or F9). Look for a key with a touchpad icon.
Restart Your Laptop
Restarting your laptop is a simple yet effective troubleshooting step. It can resolve minor software glitches that might be causing the touchpad to stop working. To restart your Acer Nitro 5:
- Click on the Start menu.
- Select Power.
- Choose Restart.
After the restart, check if the touchpad is functioning properly.
Update or Reinstall Touchpad Drivers
Outdated or corrupted touchpad drivers can cause the touchpad to stop working. Updating or reinstalling the drivers can resolve this issue. Follow these steps:
Updating the Touchpad Driver
- Right-click on the Start menu and select Device Manager.
- Expand the Human Interface Devices or Mice and other pointing devices section.
- Right-click on the touchpad device (it might be labeled as Synaptics or ELAN), and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
- If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions to install it.
Reinstalling the Touchpad Driver
- Follow the same steps to access the Device Manager.
- Right-click on the touchpad device and select Uninstall device.
- Restart your laptop. Windows will automatically reinstall the touchpad driver during the startup process.
Check Touchpad Settings
Sometimes, the touchpad may be disabled or misconfigured in the settings. Here’s how to check and adjust the touchpad settings:
Enable Touchpad in Windows Settings
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Click on Devices.
- Select Touchpad from the left-hand menu.
- Ensure that the touchpad is enabled. If it is disabled, toggle the switch to enable it.
- Adjust the touchpad sensitivity and other settings as needed.
Enable Touchpad in BIOS
If the touchpad is disabled in the BIOS, it will not function in Windows. Here’s how to check the BIOS settings:
- Restart your laptop and press F2 (or Del) during the boot process to enter the BIOS.
- Navigate to the Main or Advanced tab using the arrow keys.
- Look for a setting related to the touchpad (it might be labeled as Internal Pointing Device).
- Ensure that the touchpad is enabled. If it’s disabled, enable it.
- Save the changes and exit the BIOS.
Run the Windows Troubleshooter
Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can help identify and fix touchpad issues. To run the troubleshooter:
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to Update & Security.
- Select Troubleshoot from the left-hand menu.
- Click on Additional troubleshooters.
- Find and select Hardware and Devices, then click Run the troubleshooter.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process.
Check for Windows Updates
Sometimes, a Windows update can fix bugs and issues with hardware, including the touchpad. Here’s how to check for updates:
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Select Windows Update from the left-hand menu.
- Click on Check for updates.
- If updates are available, install them and restart your laptop.
Perform a System Restore
If the touchpad issue started after a recent change to your system, such as installing new software or a Windows update, performing a system restore can help. System Restore will revert your laptop to a previous state where the touchpad was working correctly.
How to Perform a System Restore
- Press Windows + S and type Create a restore point, then select it from the results.
- In the System Properties window, click on System Restore.
- Click Next and choose a restore point from the list. Select a point when you know the touchpad was working.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system restore.
- Once the process is complete, check if the touchpad is functioning.
Reset Your Laptop
If none of the above solutions work, resetting your laptop to its factory settings might be the best option. This will remove all installed software and settings, reverting the laptop to its original state. Be sure to back up your important data before proceeding.
How to Reset Your Acer Nitro 5
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Click on Update & Security.
- Select Recovery from the left-hand menu.
- Under Reset this PC, click Get started.
- Choose either Keep my files or Remove everything depending on whether you want to keep your personal files.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset process.
Conclusion
Dealing with a non-functioning touchpad on your Acer Nitro 5 can be frustrating, but with the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the issue. Start with simple fixes like checking for physical damage and updating drivers, and progress to more advanced solutions like system restore or resetting the laptop. By following these steps, you’ll likely have your touchpad working again in no time.
