If you use a laptop, 2-in-1, or any other mobile computer, you may also use a touchpad. Therefore, you should configure your touchpad the way you want it. Windows 10 provides many options for managing simple settings such as adjusting touchpad sensitivity, as well as advanced settings for customizing touchpad gestures that trigger different actions. Of course, this all depends on your specific hardware and drivers. Let's see how to customize your touchpad in Windows 10.
NOTE. This guide is for Windows 10 May 2022 Update. Previous versions of Windows 10 may not have all the features we present in this guide. If you don't know what version of Windows 10 you have, read: How to check your Windows 10 version, OS build, edition, or type.
Different types of touch panels
Microsoft divides the touchpads available on the market into two broad categories:
- Precision touchpads are touchpads designed for modern laptops and tablets running Windows 10. These types of touchpads support a variety of gestures to help you navigate your PC faster. They offer a great user experience, but the downside is that they are not available on any laptop or tablet. To get all the gestures, features, and options that a precision touchpad has to offer, Microsoft requires touchpad manufacturers to meet a number of specific hardware requirements.
- Regular touchpads are all other touchpads that do not meet Microsoft standards for precision touchpads. By default, these touchpads do not support Windows gestures and have fewer available features and options than precision touchpads. Depending on the manufacturer and model of your touchpad, its drivers may include some of the features found on precision touchpads.
In general, more expensive laptops and Windows devices tend to have precision touchpads, while cheaper ones tend to have regular touchpads.
Disable touch screen input service for hybrid laptops
If your laptop is a hybrid (laptop and tablet in one with a touch display), there is a chance that the touch screen input service, which controls the functionality of the stylus, is interfering with your touchpad.
To disable the service, press win+R, then enter services.msc and find TabletInputService or Tablet PC Input Service . Right-click on it, then disable it. A very inconvenient solution for those who use a touch screen and touchpads, but you can then be smart and try to remove the drivers, roll back, update and then restart the service.
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What touchpad do you have?
Now that you know there are two types of touchpads, how do you know which touchpad you have on your Windows device? To find out, you must use the Settings app. Open it, go to "Devices" and select "Touchpad" on the left side of the window.
If your Windows 10 laptop or tablet has a Precision Touchpad installed, you'll see a message on the right side of the Settings window: "Your PC has a Precision Touchpad installed." Additionally, if your Windows 10 laptop or tablet has a precision touchpad, you can customize a lot of settings by dividing them into different sections such as touchpad, taps, scroll and zoom, or three-finger gestures.
If your laptop or tablet doesn't have a precision touchpad, you won't see the statement shown earlier. Additionally, the only setting you can adjust is touchpad sensitivity.
In the following sections of this guide, we will tell you about the touchpad settings available in Windows 10, how to adjust touchpad sensitivity in Windows 10, how to enable touchpad in Windows 10, and more. We cover both precision and regular touchpads (at the end of this guide), so read and use the information that applies to you based on your touchpad type.
Solving touchpad problems
The touchpad may not work for the following reasons:
- the virus blocks the operation of the touch panel;
- touchpad is disabled in BIOS settings;
- device drivers are damaged, outdated or missing;
- The physical part of the touchpad is damaged.
The first three points above can be corrected yourself.
It is better to entrust the elimination of physical damage to the specialists of the technical center. Please note that if you decide to open the laptop yourself to repair the touchpad, the warranty will no longer be valid. In any case, it is recommended to immediately contact specialized centers.
Removing viruses
Launch the antivirus installed on your computer and enable a full scan. Remove any viruses found, reboot your device and check if the touchpad works. If not, then there are two options: the touchpad does not work for other reasons, or the virus has managed to harm the files responsible for the operation of the touchpad. In the second case, you need to reinstall the drivers, and if this does not help, then reinstall the system.
Run a full scan and remove viruses from your computer
Checking BIOS settings
To enter the BIOS, turn off the computer, turn it on, and press the F12 or Delete key several times during the boot process. Any other buttons can be used to enter the BIOS, it depends on the company that developed the laptop. In any case, a prompt with hot keys should appear during the boot process. You can also find out the required button in the instructions on the company’s website.
Open BIOS
Find the “Pointing Devices” item in the BIOS settings. It may be called differently in different BIOS versions, but the essence is the same: the line should be responsible for the operation of the mouse and touchpad. Set the parameter “Enabled” or Enable for it.
Activate the use of Pointing Device
Exit the BIOS and save your changes. Done, the touchpad should work.
Save changes and close BIOS
Reinstalling and updating drivers
Expand "Device Manager" through the system search bar.
Open Device Manager
Expand the "Mice and other pointing devices" block. Select the touchpad and run the driver update.
Start updating touchpad drivers
Update drivers through automatic search or go to the touchpad manufacturer's website, download the driver file and install them manually. It is recommended to use the second method, since with it the chance that the latest version of drivers will be downloaded and installed correctly is higher.
Choose how to update drivers
Video: what to do if the touchpad does not work
How to enable or disable Precision Touchpad in Windows 10
If your Windows 10 laptop or tablet has a precision touchpad, you can enable or disable it by turning the touchpad switch on or off.
Windows 10 also lets you choose whether you want your touchpad to be enabled or automatically disabled when you connect your mouse to your laptop or tablet. To choose the touchpad behavior you prefer, select or clear the "Leave the touchpad on when a mouse is connected" checkbox.
What to do if nothing helps
If none of the methods described above helped to fix the problem with the touchpad, then there are two options left: the system files or the physical component of the touchpad are damaged. In the first case, you need to reinstall the system, in the second, you need to take the laptop to a workshop.
The touchpad is a convenient alternative to the mouse, especially when you have learned all the possible quick control gestures. The touchpad can be enabled or disabled through the keyboard and system settings. If the touchpad stops working, remove viruses, check the BIOS and drivers, reinstall the system, or have the laptop repaired.
Touchpad does not work on ASUS laptop
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The touchpad performs functions similar to those for which a computer mouse is intended. Although many laptop users would prefer the second version of the pointing device, for some, working with the touch panel has become quite familiar and, in part, even more convenient.
ASUS laptops are used quite widely, which means that questions regarding the functioning of the touchpads of these products arise much more often.
Below are the most common reasons why the touchpad on an ASUS laptop does not work, with options for resolving the problem.
The dysfunction of the touchpad can be explained by the fact that it was simply disabled. To return it to working condition, you need to use a special hardware on/off button.
It is usually located near the touchpad itself. She is small in size, but difficult to miss.
How to Adjust Touchpad Cursor Speed in Windows 10
Unfortunately, many touchpads have the default cursor speed set to very high or very low, which isn't great if you're not used to working with touchpads. However, if you have a precision touchpad, you can easily change its cursor speed by adjusting the "Change cursor speed" slider in the Touchpad settings.
Problems with the touchpad - scrolling does not work
Every second user encounters this situation, when scrolling does not work on the touchpad on a laptop. It is worth admitting that this causes a lot of inconvenience. However, you should not rush and take the laptop to a service center or reinstall Windows. First, it is enough to independently check the touchpad for functionality and try to find out why it does not work.
Scrolling may not work for several reasons:
- touch panel dirty;
- incorrectly set sensitivity parameters in the settings;
- lack of drivers;
- the touchpad is disabled by the user;
- hardware failures, etc.
How to change touchpad sensitivity for touches when you have a precision touchpad
If you have a precision touchpad, the Settings app in Windows 10 also lets you adjust pressure sensitivity. This is very useful for those times when you start typing on your laptop and accidentally touch the touchpad with your hands. In such cases, you may find that the cursor moves and you type in random places, or that you double-clicked on objects and you didn't even realize you did it. To avoid this, in the Touch area, click or tap touchpad sensitivity and choose whether you want the touchpad to have low sensitivity, medium sensitivity, high sensitivity, or maximum sensitivity.
Note that selecting the Sensitive option is the same as not using this feature, since there is no delay between taps or touches and the touchpad responding.
TIP: In most cases, Ctrl-Z should get you back to where you should be.
