Touchpad not working on Windows
A dead touchpad is often just switched off - by the Fn key or a setting - rather than broken. When it really is a driver problem, the typical signs are gestures and scrolling failing while basic movement works, or the touchpad vanishing from settings after an update.
Why this happens
- The touchpad is disabled by the Fn toggle key or was turned off when a mouse was connected.
- The touchpad driver (Synaptics, ELAN, or Windows Precision) failed or was replaced during an update.
- Gestures rely on the Precision driver - a generic mouse driver keeps the cursor moving but kills gestures.
Quick checks first
1Check the touchpad key and settings
Most laptops have an Fn key with a touchpad icon (often F5-F9) - press it once. Then Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad: the toggle on, and “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected” checked if you use a mouse.
2Restart the laptop fully
A full restart (not Sleep) reinitializes the touchpad controller - worth doing before any driver work.
3Does Windows see the touchpad?
Win+X → Device Manager → Human Interface Devices / Mice and other pointing devices. Look for a touchpad entry (Synaptics, ELAN, Precision Touchpad). Missing or marked with a warning icon - that's the driver side.
4Did it break after a Windows Update?
Settings → Windows Update → Update history. Touchpad drivers are frequently replaced by updates; if the date matches, rollback below is the targeted fix.
If the touchpad is still dead or gestures are gone, the next step is to identify the exact touchpad and check its driver - the Hardware ID tells you whether it's Synaptics, ELAN or something else.
Drivers most often behind this problem
Fixing it manually
Roll back or reinstall the touchpad driver
- Device Manager → the touchpad entry → Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver (if it broke after an update).
- If rollback is unavailable: Details → Hardware Ids, copy the first value (touchpads show HID\… or ACPI\… identifiers).
- Search the ID or your laptop model in our database, create a restore point and install the matching driver.
Restore gestures
- Gestures need the Precision or vendor driver, not the generic mouse driver Windows sometimes falls back to.
- After installing the correct driver, configure gestures in Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad.
Know the exact device model?
Search the touchpad driver database by laptop model or Hardware ID. Review matching Windows versions and available driver releases.
The laptop model is the practical identifier for touchpads - vendors ship model-specific packages. In Device Manager the touchpad also shows a Hardware ID (HID\… or ACPI\…) under Properties → Details.
Try for example: Synaptics Touchpad · read the Hardware ID guide · or browse the driver category
Browse keyboards, mice & input drivers by brand
Frequently asked questions
▸The cursor moves but scrolling and gestures don't work.
That's the classic sign of a generic driver: basic movement works through the fallback mouse driver, while gestures need the Precision or vendor touchpad driver. Installing the correct driver for your model usually restores them.
▸The touchpad died right after a Windows update.
Updates frequently replace touchpad drivers. Try Roll Back Driver first (Device Manager → touchpad → Driver tab); if rollback is unavailable, install the previous vendor version for your laptop model.