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Similar to their contemporaries, Dell laptops also incorporate touchpads that let people do many things from moving the mouse cursor to changing tabs. In most of the cases, touchpads on Dell laptops work well and assist Windows users as they navigate. Nonetheless, reports about Dell laptop touchpad not working still pop up from time to time. If you also cannot use the touchpads of your Dell laptop for some reason, you should find this article useful.
Touchpad On Dell Laptop Won’t Work: Troubleshooting
Re-enable Touchpad With Function Key
The number one cause of Dell touchpad not working is when users accidentally disable the touchpad feature. Standard laptops include a TouchPad-specific function key merged with the F keys and F9 is the most commonly used. Start by holding the Fn key then press all the F keys located at the top of your Dell keyboard. Next, determine whether the TouchPad returns to work. Certain models require you to hold down the function key while tapping the TouchPad key.
Note: Multiple users reported that they lost their touchpad functionality following a Windows update. However, they were able to resolve the issue after discovering that their Touchpad had been disabled in the Control Panel.
- Step 1: Launch Run by pressing the Windows key + R. Then launch the Control Panel by entering control panel and clicking Enter.
- Step 2: Navigate to Hardware and Sound in the Control Panel, then Mouse and Touchpad.
- Step 3: Within Mouse Properties, click on Additional mouse options and check to see if your Touchpad is activated. If not, go to the Dell TouchPad menu and select Enable device before restarting your computer.
If you can’t locate the settings mentioned above, open a new Run box, type “main.cpl” then press Enter. That should open the Mouse Properties window. Now, navigate to Dell Touchpad and click on Change Dell TouchPad Settings. Then, in the specialized Dell Touchpad area, turn the Touchpad toggle from Off to On and press the Save button. Lastly, see if the problem has been resolved.
Update/Rollback TouchPad Driver
A faulty driver or an incorrect installation done by a Windows update might potentially cause your Dell TouchPad to stop working. Many customers who were suffering the same issue were able to fix this issue by upgrading the TouchPad driver. Some of them even found rolling it back to its previous version a viable solution too.
- Step 1: Launch Run by pressing the Windows key + R then launch the Control Panel by entering devmgmt.msc and hitting Enter.
- Step 2: Expand the Mice and other pointing devices drop-down box in Device Manager, right-click on Dell Touchpad and pick Properties.
- Step 3: Navigate to Driver tab in the Dell Touchpad Properties window and hit the Update Driver option.
- Step 4: In the next window, check the option that says Search automatically for updated driver software and wait for the new driver to install on your computer.
Note! If the wizard informs you that you already have the most recent driver, return to the Driver page and select Roll Back Driver. Regardless, restart your computer after you finish and see how things turn out.
What Is Going On
There are three possible explanations once it comes to Dell laptop touchpad not working.
- First, the user may have mistakenly deactivated the touchpad.
- Second, the touchpad drivers may be corrupted or out-of-date.
- Third, the operating system itself is having issues which affects touchpad performance.
However, touchpad problems are most commonly seen following an improper Windows software update, although they can also occasionally occur unexpectedly.
How Do I Enable or Disable My Laptop Touchpad?
Having a touchpad on your laptop often proves to be a valuable asset. However, it doesn’t always work as it was intended to. For scenarios like these, disabling and then re-enabling the trackpad often helps users fix most of the issues.
To Enable Touchpad
- Step 1: Access Settings by pressing Windows + I key then click Devices.
- Step 2: Select Touchpad and choose Additional settings.
- Step 3: Under the TouchPad window pane, hit the Enable button to enable the touchpad.
To Disable Touchpad
- Step 1: Access Settings by pressing Windows + I key then click Devices.
- Step 2: Select Touchpad and choose Additional settings.
- Step 3: Under the TouchPad window pane, hit Disable button to disable the touchpad.
How Can I Disable Filter Keys on My Laptop?
Filter Keys is a feature that allows people to manage how Windows processes repeated keystrokes. Unfortunately, if enabled, this feature is known to cause a couple of keyboards in Windows 10 to stop operating. As a result, you should double-check that it’s turned on when your keyword won’t work.
- Step 1: Press Windows + I key to open Settings.
- Step 2: Select Ease of Access and choose the Keyboard option.
- Step 3: Scroll down to Use Filter Keys and Turn it off.
You may then close the window and resume your work without worrying about the Filter keys.
Tuan Do is an accomplished author, content provider, and IT specialist with a strong background in computer science. Having studied IT at Hanoi Bach Khoa University, he possesses extensive knowledge in the field and specializes in Microsoft Windows. Tuan plays a vital role as a valued member of 4G Britain magazine, where he provides engaging content, tutorials, and practical fixes for readers. His expertise allows him to simplify complex concepts, making him a reliable source of accurate and insightful tech information. With a deep passion for technology, Tuan is committed to keeping readers informed about the latest advancements in the industry. Through his contributions to 4G Britain, he empowers both tech enthusiasts and professionals by delivering valuable insights and solutions. Tuan’s dedication to providing exceptional content ensures that readers can rely on him as a trustworthy resource in the ever-evolving world of technology.