Is your HP laptop touchpad not working? Find solutions and troubleshooting tips to fix this issue and regain control over your device’s touchpad. Explore now!
The touchpad is one of the essential components of any laptop, allowing you to navigate your computer without the need for an external mouse. However, when the touchpad on your HP laptop stops working, it can be frustrating and disrupt your workflow. Fortunately, there are several methods to diagnose and fix this issue. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to get your touchpad back in working order.
1. Check if the Touchpad is Disabled
Sometimes, the touchpad may be accidentally disabled, either through a keyboard shortcut or within the system settings. Here’s how you can check and re-enable it:
- Keyboard Shortcut: Many HP laptops have a function key (Fn) that, when pressed in combination with another key (usually one of the F keys), disables or enables the touchpad. Look for an icon on the F keys that resembles a touchpad and press it along with the Fn key.
- Windows Settings:
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to Devices and then click on Touchpad.
- Make sure the touchpad is turned on.
2. Update or Reinstall the Touchpad Driver
Outdated or corrupt touchpad drivers can cause your touchpad to stop working. Updating or reinstalling the driver can resolve this issue. Here’s how:
- Press Windows + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
- Find and expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
- Right-click on the touchpad driver (usually listed as Synaptics, ELAN, or something similar) and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software. If a new driver is found, it will be installed automatically.
- If updating the driver doesn’t work, you can try uninstalling it:
- Right-click on the touchpad driver and select Uninstall device.
- Restart your laptop, and Windows should automatically reinstall the touchpad driver.
3. Check the Touchpad Settings in the BIOS
The touchpad might be disabled in the BIOS settings of your HP laptop. To check and adjust the BIOS settings, follow these steps:
- Restart your HP laptop and press the F10 key repeatedly as it starts up to enter the BIOS.
- Once in the BIOS, navigate to the Advanced tab using the arrow keys.
- Look for the Built-In Device Options and press Enter.
- Make sure the Touchpad is enabled. If it’s disabled, enable it and save your changes.
- Exit the BIOS and restart your laptop.
4. Perform a Hard Reset
A hard reset can resolve issues related to the touchpad by clearing any residual power that may be affecting its functionality. Here’s how to perform a hard reset:
- Turn off your HP laptop.
- Disconnect all external devices (USB drives, external monitors, etc.) and remove the power cable.
- Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds to discharge any remaining power in the laptop.
- Reconnect the power cable (but do not connect any external devices) and turn on your laptop.
- Check if the touchpad is now working.
5. Roll Back Windows Updates
Sometimes, a recent Windows update can cause compatibility issues with your touchpad. If you suspect that an update is the cause, you can roll back to a previous version of Windows:
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to Update & Security and then click on Recovery.
- Under Go back to the previous version of Windows 10, click Get started.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to roll back the update.
- Once the process is complete, check if the touchpad is functioning properly.
6. Run HP Diagnostics
If none of the above solutions work, running HP’s built-in diagnostics tools can help identify hardware issues with the touchpad. Follow these steps:
- Turn off your HP laptop.
- Turn it back on and immediately press the Esc key repeatedly until the Startup Menu appears.
- Press F2 to access the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics.
- Select Component Tests and then choose Touchpad.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to run the diagnostics. If any issues are found, the tool will provide further guidance.
7. Restore the System to a Previous Point
If your touchpad stopped working after installing new software or changing system settings, restoring your system to a previous state may resolve the issue. Here’s how:
- Press Windows + S and type Recovery in the search bar.
- Select Recovery and then click on Open System Restore.
- Choose a restore point from before the touchpad issue began and click Next.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process.
- Once your system has been restored, check if the touchpad is working again.
8. Perform a System Reset
If all else fails, performing a system reset might be the solution. This will restore your HP laptop to its factory settings, which can fix software-related touchpad issues. However, be aware that this will remove all your files and installed apps, so make sure to back up your data first.
- Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
- Go to Update & Security and select Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC, click Get started.
- Choose Remove everything to completely reset your laptop.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the reset.
- After the reset is complete, check if the touchpad issue is resolved.
9. Contact HP Support
If your touchpad still isn’t working after trying all these steps, the issue may be hardware-related and require professional repair. Contact HP Support for further assistance. They can provide you with more advanced troubleshooting options or guide you through the process of sending your laptop in for repair.
To reach HP Support, visit the HP Support website, where you can find contact information, warranty details, and other resources.
Conclusion
A non-working touchpad can be a significant inconvenience, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can usually resolve the issue without too much hassle. By following the solutions outlined in this guide, you should be able to identify the root cause of the problem and get your HP laptop’s touchpad working again.
