If your Touchpad driver doesn’t work in Windows 10, the fix is usually one or more simple configuration or driver steps — not a complete PC replacement. This problem can be caused by a disabled setting, a bad or incompatible driver, power-management rules, a BIOS setting, or even hardware failure. In this article you’ll learn the most common 11 causes and step-by-step fixes so you can restore touchpad function safely and quickly.
Key Takeaway
Most touchpad problems in Windows 10 are driver or setting related — check the Touchpad toggle in Settings, update or reinstall the OEM driver from Device Manager, ensure the touchpad is enabled in BIOS, and try rolling back or using the manufacturer’s driver before assuming hardware failure.
Quick Fix Guide
| Reason for the Problem | Quick Solution |
|---|---|
| Touchpad disabled in Windows Settings | Turn on the touchpad in Settings > Devices > Touchpad. |
| Touchpad turned off by Fn key | Press the laptop’s Fn + (Touchpad key) or the dedicated touchpad toggle. |
| Disabled in BIOS/UEFI | Enable touchpad in BIOS/UEFI Setup under Input/Peripherals. |
| Corrupted or missing driver | Reinstall/update the driver via Device Manager. |
| Incompatible Windows Update driver | Roll back the driver in Device Manager > Driver tab or install manufacturer driver. |
| Power management turning device off | Disable power saving in Device Manager > Power Management for the touchpad. |
| Conflict with external mouse or HID driver | Unplug external mice and uninstall duplicate HID devices in Device Manager. |
| Touchpad not listed in Device Manager | Scan for hardware changes or show hidden devices in Device Manager. |
| Incorrect touchpad settings or gestures | Reset settings in Settings > Devices > Touchpad or the OEM control panel. |
| Corrupted system files | Run sfc /scannow and DISM commands to repair Windows files. |
| Hardware failure | Test in BIOS or use an external mouse; consult repair if the touchpad fails hardware tests. |
Detailed Fixes for “tu mets ici le problème du 11 reasons why Touchpad driver doesn’t work in Windows 10 (and how to fix it)”
1) Touchpad disabled in Windows Settings
Why it causes the problem:
- Windows 10 has a global touchpad toggle. If it’s off, the touchpad is ignored even if drivers are present.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings (press Windows + I).
- Go to Devices > Touchpad.
- Make sure the Touchpad toggle is set to On.
- If present, click Additional settings or your touchpad manufacturer link for advanced options.
Notes/tips:
- If you don’t see a Touchpad option, continue to the Device Manager steps below — the driver may be missing.
2) Touchpad turned off by Fn key or shortcut
Why it causes the problem:
- Many laptops include an Fn shortcut (e.g., Fn + F7, or a key with a touchpad icon) which toggles the touchpad hardware state.
Step-by-step solution:
- Look for a function key with a touchpad icon (often F5–F9).
- Press Fn + (that key) or the dedicated toggle key.
- If your keyboard has separate function lock behavior, try Fn + Esc or press the key alone — check your laptop manual.
Notes/tips:
- Some laptops show an on-screen icon when toggled; if not, try restarting after toggling.
3) Touchpad disabled in BIOS/UEFI
Why it causes the problem:
- BIOS/UEFI can disable the internal pointing device at a low level so Windows won’t see it.
Step-by-step solution:
- Restart and enter BIOS/UEFI (common keys: F2, F10, Del, Esc — check your model).
- Find sections such as Integrated Devices, Advanced, or Peripherals.
- Look for Internal Pointing Device, Touchpad, or Trackpad and set it to Enabled.
- Save and exit BIOS (usually F10).
Notes/tips:
- If BIOS has options like Advanced > Built-in Pointing Device > Auto/Enabled/Disabled, choose Enabled.
4) Corrupted or missing driver
Why it causes the problem:
- A missing, outdated, or corrupted driver prevents Windows from interpreting touchpad hardware.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager (right-click Start and choose Device Manager).
- Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
- Right-click the touchpad entry (e.g., Synaptics, ELAN, or HID-compliant mouse) and choose Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for updated driver software first.
- If update fails, right-click and choose Uninstall device — check Delete the driver software for this device if available.
- Reboot; Windows will attempt to reinstall the driver automatically.
- If Windows installs a generic driver, download and install the OEM driver from your laptop manufacturer’s support page.
Notes/tips:
- Use the exact model number of your laptop when downloading drivers. OEM drivers often enable advanced gestures.
5) Windows Update installed an incompatible driver
Why it causes the problem:
- Windows Update sometimes replaces a vendor driver with a generic or incompatible one.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager, right-click touchpad device, choose Properties > Driver tab.
- Click Roll Back Driver (if available) to revert to the previous driver.
- If rollback not available, download the correct driver from the manufacturer and install it manually:
- Run the driver installer from the manufacturer.
- Or in Device Manager, choose Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers and point to the downloaded driver folder.
Notes/tips:
- You can hide the problematic Windows Update driver using the Show or hide updates troubleshooter from Microsoft to prevent reinstallation.
6) Power management turning off the device
Why it causes the problem:
- Windows may turn off USB/HID devices to save power, which can disable the touchpad intermittently.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager.
- Right-click the touchpad device, choose Properties > Power Management.
- Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and click OK.
- Also open Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings and expand USB settings and PCI Express to set power saving to Off where applicable.
Notes/tips:
- This is especially relevant for laptops on battery power.
7) Conflict with external mouse or duplicate HID drivers
Why it causes the problem:
- External mice or duplicate HID devices can create driver conflicts or Windows settings that disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected.
Step-by-step solution:
- Unplug external USB or Bluetooth mice.
- In Settings > Devices > Touchpad, ensure Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected is checked.
- In Device Manager, expand Human Interface Devices and Mice and other pointing devices; uninstall duplicate or unknown HID devices:
- Right-click device > Uninstall device, then Scan for hardware changes.
Notes/tips:
- Re-pair Bluetooth mouse after testing to confirm touchpad still works with external mouse connected.
Why it causes the problem:
- If the touchpad hardware or driver is not enumerated, Windows can’t use it.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Device Manager.
- Click View > Show hidden devices.
- In Mice and other pointing devices, look for faded or unknown entries. Right-click and Uninstall those, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
- If still missing, run the Hardware troubleshooter: open Run (Windows + R), type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic, press Enter, and follow steps.
Notes/tips:
- If device never appears, check BIOS (see step 3) — and suspect a hardware issue if BIOS doesn’t see it either.
9) Incorrect touchpad settings or gestures
Why it causes the problem:
- Gestures, sensitivity, or multi-finger settings can make the touchpad feel unresponsive or behave oddly.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
- Reset sensitivity to Medium or Most sensitive and test.
- Toggle individual gestures (two-finger scroll, three-finger gestures) off and on to isolate the issue.
- If you have an OEM control panel (Synaptics/ELAN icon in Control Panel or system tray), open it and click Restore Defaults.
Notes/tips:
- Some advanced gesture features require the OEM driver rather than the generic Windows driver.
10) Corrupted system files or Windows issues
Why it causes the problem:
- System file corruption can break driver installation and device enumeration.
Step-by-step solution:
- Open Command Prompt (Admin) (right-click Start > Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
- Run sfc /scannow and wait for it to complete.
- If problems found, run:
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
- DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
- Reboot and check the touchpad.
Notes/tips:
- These commands repair Windows system files that might prevent drivers from installing properly.
11) Hardware failure
Why it causes the problem:
- Physical failure (broken cable, damaged touchpad, connector loose after repairs) will prevent detection or function even if drivers are correct.
Step-by-step solution:
- Reboot and enter BIOS — if the touchpad fails in BIOS too, it’s likely hardware.
- Try an external mouse to continue working; then:
- If under warranty, contact the manufacturer or vendor for repair.
- If comfortable, you can open the device (or take to a technician) to check the touchpad cable and connector; many laptops use a ribbon cable to the motherboard that can loosen.
- As a last resort, consider replacing the touchpad assembly.
Notes/tips:
- Don’t open the laptop if it voids warranty; consult manufacturer support first.
Additional tips and when to contact support
- Before major changes, create a System Restore point (Control Panel > System > System Protection > Create).
- Keep a working external mouse handy while troubleshooting.
- If you recently installed new hardware or software, uninstall it to test for conflicts.
- If the laptop is under warranty, contact the manufacturer support before attempting hardware repairs.
- For corporate devices, check with IT — some enterprise images lock drivers or BIOS settings.
FAQ
How can I prevent future touchpad driver problems?
Keep Windows and touchpad drivers updated from the laptop manufacturer’s website, avoid installing unverified driver packages, and create periodic system restore points before major updates.
Can I use Windows Update to find the right touchpad driver?
Windows Update can find drivers, but OEM drivers often provide better gesture support — prefer the driver on your laptop maker’s support page if Windows generic driver lacks features.
Are there advanced logs I can check for driver errors?
Yes — open Event Viewer (right-click Start > Event Viewer) and look under Windows Logs > System for driver-related errors and device enumeration failures around the time you boot or plug in devices.
What if touchpad works in BIOS but not in Windows?
If the touchpad is visible and functional in BIOS, the problem is almost certainly a driver or Windows-level configuration; reinstall the OEM driver and run sfc /scannow and DISM.
Is a Precision Touchpad different, and does it affect fixes?
Yes — a Precision Touchpad uses Microsoft’s built-in driver and settings under Settings > Devices > Touchpad, while OEM drivers (Synaptics/ELAN) use their own control panels. Some gesture issues are fixed by switching to the OEM driver or updating Windows to the latest build.
Conclusion
Most cases where the Touchpad driver doesn’t work in Windows 10 are solved by checking the Settings toggle, reinstalling or rolling back the driver, ensuring the touchpad is enabled in BIOS, or disabling power-management for the device. If those steps fail, use system-file repairs and hardware tests to determine whether you need professional repair.
