By Jacob
If you’re a Dell laptop user and your touchpad is not responding, it can be quite frustrating. The touchpad plays a crucial role in navigating your operating system, and when it malfunctions, it can disrupt your productivity or gaming experience. Fortunately, there are several solutions you can try to fix Dell touchpad not working error.
Why is the Dell Touchpad Not Working?
There can be various reasons why your Dell touchpad is not functioning properly. Some common causes include:
- Accidental Disablement: The touchpad may have been disabled accidentally by the user.
- Outdated or Corrupt Drivers: The touchpad drivers may be outdated or corrupted, preventing it from working correctly.
- Incorrect Touchpad Settings: Incorrect touchpad settings in Windows or BIOS configurations can cause the touchpad to stop working.
- Hardware Failure: Physical damage to the touchpad or its cables can result in a non-functional touchpad.
How to Fix the “Dell Touchpad Not Working” Error?
We’ve already talked about a few reasons why your touchpad might not respond to your normal touches. We will work on each problem one at a time to try to get your touchpad working again. To begin, we will check to see if the touchpad is enabled. We’ll turn it on if it isn’t already.
If the touchpad still doesn’t work after removing the old drivers and installing the newest ones for your laptop, we will move on to the next tips. Here are several solutions you can try to resolve the Dell touchpad not working issue:
Clean the Touchpad
Sometimes, dirt, grease, or debris can accumulate on the touchpad, causing it to malfunction. Gently clean the touchpad surface with a soft cloth or cotton swab dampened with a mild cleaning solution to remove any dirt or residue.
Restart Your Laptop
A simple restart can often resolve temporary glitches and memory issues that may be affecting the touchpad. Save your work, close all programs, and restart your Dell laptop. Disconnect any external mice before restarting.
Enable the Touchpad Using Keyboard Shortcut
Many Dell laptops have a touchpad function key that allows you to enable or disable the touchpad. Locate the touchpad function key (usually marked with a touchpad icon) on your keyboard. Press the Fn key along with the touchpad function key to toggle the touchpad on or off.
Check Touchpad Settings in Windows
If your Dell laptop doesn’t have a dedicated touchpad function key, you can enable the touchpad through Windows settings. Here’s how:
- Press the Windows key and type “touchpad settings” in the search bar.
- Open the “Touchpad settings” or “Mouse settings” option that appears.
- Make sure that the touchpad is turned on and adjust the touchpad sensitivity if needed.
- If you’ve made any changes to the settings, scroll to the bottom and click “Reset” to revert them back to default.
Check Touchpad Settings in BIOS
All of the hardware that is connected to the machine can be accessed by BIOS, which stands for “Basic Input Output System.” You can turn any hardware part on or off, as well as change the boot choices or system preferences. The touchpad is also part of this. Please follow these steps:
- Restart your Dell laptop and repeatedly press the BIOS key (usually F2) during startup to enter the BIOS settings.
- Navigate to the “System Configuration” or “Advanced” section.
- Locate the touchpad settings (sometimes under “Internal Pointing Device”) and ensure that it is enabled.
- Save the changes and exit the BIOS.
Update Touchpad Drivers
Device drivers that are broken or out of date are the second reason why touchpads stop working. Drivers are pieces of software or computer tools that help hardware talk to the operating system properly.
Because OS changes happen so often, hardware makers are always putting out new and updated drivers. Having the most recent version of your drivers is important if you want to get the most out of the devices you connect.
To manually update the touchpad drivers:
- Press the Windows key + X and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
- Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” section.
- Right-click on the Dell Touchpad (or similar) and select “Update driver”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to update the driver.
Another option is to use a third-party application to automatically update your touchpad drivers. Sometimes it’s tough to discover the right driver version for a specific laptop model.
If this is the case for you, or if you simply do not want to deal with the headache of manually updating drivers, you may consider using tools such as Driver Booster or Driver Easy. Both have a free and a paid edition and offer a vast list of features.
7. Run Touchpad Diagnostics
If none of the above solutions work, you can try running touchpad diagnostics using Dell’s SupportAssist application. This tool can help identify any hardware issues with the touchpad. Follow these steps:
- Open the SupportAssist application on your Dell laptop (if installed).
- Find the touchpad hardware test page and run the diagnostics.
- If the test fails, it indicates a hardware fault, and you may need to contact Dell Technical Support for further assistance.
Also Read: How to Check What Motherboard I Have? [2024 Method]
Final Thoughts
When your Dell touchpad isn’t working, it can be a frustrating experience. However, by following the troubleshooting solutions outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your touchpad functioning properly again. Remember to check the touchpad settings, update drivers, and perform necessary diagnostics to identify any underlying hardware problems. If you continue to have issues with your touchpad, you should take your laptop to a service center, where they will do a full diagnosis of your touchpad.
