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Disabling or Enabling the Touchpad on a Dell Laptop

Summary: Follow the instructions on how to turn the laptop touchpad (laptop mouse, trackpad, mousepad) off and on.

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Article Content


Instructions

For information about questions such as "Why is my touchpad not working?" or "How do I use the touchpad on my laptop?", see Dell Knowledge Base article Fixing Your Laptop Touchpad Not Working in Windows.

Click the expanding section that matches the operating system that is installed on your computer for guidance on how to disable or enable the laptop touchpad on a Dell Laptop.

NOTE: Dell does not recommend disabling the touchpad unless you have installed an external USB, wireless USB, or Bluetooth mouse, or your computer has a touch screen.
NOTE: When the setting Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected is cleared (in Windows 11 it is located in the drop-down menu when you select the down arrow next to the Touchpad On/Off toggle), inserting the dongle for a wireless mouse with disable the touchpad even if the mouse is turned off.
NOTE: There are settings that prevent the cursor from jumping around while typing. If that is your issue, see the Dell Knowledge Base article Cursor Moves Around Erratically While Typing on the Notebook Keyboard.
  1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Key) key, and then press the q key.
  2. In the Search box, type Touchpad.
  3. Select Touchpad settings (System settings).
  4. Look for a Touchpad On/Off toggle.
    • When there is a Touchpad On/Off toggle option:
      1. Select the Touchpad On/Off toggle to turn the touchpad on or off.

       

    • When there is NOT a Touchpad On/Off toggle option:
      1. Select More touchpad settings or Additional settings.
      2. Select the Dell Touchpad tab (Figure 1.).
        Dell Touchpad Tab
        Figure 1: Dell Touchpad Tab
        NOTE: When the Dell Touchpad tab is not shown, it means one of two things:
        • Most likely your computer has a Precision Touchpad. To determine whether this applies to your computer, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Use the Precision Touchpad Features in Windows.
        • The utility is not installed. In that case, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers for more information about downloading drivers. The Dell Touchpad Driver and Utility are listed under Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices.
          • When there are no touchpad drivers that are listed, then no Dell drivers are available for the touchpad.
          • Depending on the manufacturer and drivers for your touchpad, you may or may not have an option to disable or enable the touchpad.
      3. Select the image of the touchpad.
        NOTE: When touching or clicking the image of the touchpad and you are not taken to the next screen it probably means that your computer has a Precision Touchpad, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Use the Precision Touchpad Features in Windows.
      4. Select the Touchpad On/Off toggle to turn the touchpad on or off.
      5. Select Save.
NOTE: After following the preceding steps and the touchpad still does not work correctly, see the Touchpad Diagnostics section below.
  1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Key) key, and then press the q key.
  2. In the Search box, type Touchpad.
  3. Using the up or down arrows, highlight Touchpad settings (System settings), and then press the Enter key.
  4. Look for a Touchpad On/Off toggle.
    • When there is a Touchpad On/Off toggle option:
      1. Press the Tab key until the Touchpad On/Off toggle is highlighted (it should have a box around it), and press the Spacebar to enable the touchpad.
    • When there is not a Touchpad On/Off toggle:
      1. Press the Tab key until Additional settings is highlighted, and press the Spacebar (a figure of a touchpad should be showing).
        NOTES:
        • When the highlighted tab is not the Dell Touchpad tab, perform the following steps:
          1. Press the Tab key until one of the tabs at the top is active (it should have a box around it).
          2. Using the left or right arrow keys, make Dell Touchpad the active tab (a figure of a touchpad should be showing).
        • When the Dell Touchpad tab is not listed, it means one of two things:
          • That the utility that enables and disables the touchpad is not installed, and you cannot enable the touchpad without an external mouse. In that case, find an external mouse and see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers for more information about downloading drivers. The Dell Touchpad Driver and Utility are listed under Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices.
          • That your computer has a Precision Touchpad. To determine whether this applies to your computer, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Use the Precision Touchpad Features in Windows 8(8.1) and 10.
      2. Press the Tab key once, and then press the Spacebar.
      3. Press the Tab key once (the minimize icon should have a box around it).
        NOTE: Should you lose your place in the steps below, start over by pressing the Tab key until the minimize icon has a box around it.
      4. Press the Down arrow key twice (the Default button should have a box around it).
      5. Press the Spacebar (the Touchpad On/Off toggle should light up).
      6. Press the Down arrow key once.
      7. Press the Right arrow key twice.
      8. Press the Up arrow key once.
      9. Press the Left arrow key once.
      10. Press the Spacebar (the Save button should turn from blue to black and your touchpad should now be active).
NOTE: After following the preceding steps, if the touchpad still does not work correctly, see the Touchpad Diagnostics section below.
  1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Key) key, and then press the q key.
  2. In the Search box, type Touchpad.
  3. Using the up or down arrows, highlight Mouse & touchpad settings, and then press the Enter key.
  4. Look for a Touchpad On/Off toggle.
    • When there is a Touchpad On/Off toggle option:
      1. Press the Tab key until the Touchpad On/Off toggle is highlighted (it should have a box around it), and press the Spacebar to enable the touchpad.
    • When there is not a Touchpad On/Off toggle:
      1. Press the Tab key until Additional Mouse Options is highlighted, and press the Spacebar (a figure of a touchpad should be showing).
        NOTES:
        • When the highlighted tab is not the Dell Touchpad tab, perform the following steps:
          1. Press the Tab key until one of the tabs at the top is active (it should have a box around it).
          2. Using the left or right arrow keys make Dell Touchpad the active tab (a figure of a touchpad should be showing).
        • When the Dell Touchpad tab is not listed, it means one of two things:
          • That the utility that enables and disables the touchpad is not installed, and you cannot enable the touchpad without an external mouse. In that case, find an external mouse and see the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers for more information about downloading drivers. The Dell Touchpad Driver and Utility are listed under Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices.
          • That your computer has a Precision Touchpad. To determine whether this applies to your computer, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Use the Precision Touchpad Features in Windows 8(8.1) and 10.
      2. Press the Tab key once, and then press the Spacebar.
      3. Press the Tab key once (the minimize icon should have a box around it).
        NOTE: Should you lose your place in the steps below, start over by pressing the Tab key until the minimize icon has a box around it.
      4. Press the Down arrow key twice (the Default button should have a box around it).
      5. Press the Spacebar (the Touchpad On/Off toggle should light up).
      6. Press the Down arrow key once.
      7. Press the Right arrow key twice.
      8. Press the Up arrow key once.
      9. Press the Left arrow key once.
      10. Press the Spacebar (the Save button should turn from blue to black, and your touchpad should now be active).
NOTE: After following the preceding steps, if the touchpad still does not work correctly, see the Touchpad Diagnostics section below.
NOTES:
  • Dell does not recommend disabling the touchpad unless you have installed an external USB, wireless USB, or Bluetooth mouse, or your computer has a touch screen.
  • There are settings that prevent the cursor from jumping around while typing. If that is your issue, see the Dell Knowledge Base article Cursor Moves Around Erratically While Typing on the Notebook Keyboard.
  1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Key) key, and then press the q key.
  2. In the Search box, type Touchpad.
  3. Touch or click Mouse & touchpad settings.
  4. Look for a Touchpad On/Off toggle.
    • When there is a Touchpad On/Off toggle option:
      1. Touch or click the Touchpad On/Off toggle to turn the touchpad on or off.
    • When there is not a Touchpad On/Off toggle:
      1. Touch or click Additional Mouse Options at the bottom of the screen.
      2. Touch or click the Dell Touchpad tab (Figure 1.).
        Dell Touchpad Tab
        Figure 1: Dell Touchpad Tab
        NOTES:

        When the Dell Touchpad tab is not listed, it means one of two things:

        1. The utility is not installed. In that case, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers for more information about downloading drivers. The Dell Touchpad Driver and Utility are listed under Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices.
          • When there are no touchpad drivers that are listed, then no Dell drivers are available for the touchpad.
          • Depending on the manufacturer and drivers for your touchpad, you may or may not have an option to disable or enable the touchpad.
        2. Your computer has a Precision Touchpad. To determine whether this applies to your computer, see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Use the Precision Touchpad Features in Windows 8(8.1) and 10.
      3. Touch or click the figure of the touchpad.
      4. Touch or click the Touchpad On/Off toggle to turn the touchpad on or off.
      5. Touch or click Save.
NOTE: After following the preceding steps, if the touchpad still does not work correctly, see the Touchpad Diagnostics section below.
  1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Key) key, and then press the q key.
  2. In the Search box, type Dell Touchpad.
    NOTE: When Dell Touchpad is not listed, it means one of two things:
    • The utility that enables and disables the touchpad may not be installed, and you cannot enable the touchpad without an external mouse. In that case, find an external mouse and see Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers for more information about downloading drivers (the Dell Touchpad Driver and Utility are listed under Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices).
    • Your computer uses a different utility to control the touchpad. To determine whether your computer uses another touchpad utility, perform the following steps:
      1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Key) key, and then press the q key.
      2. In the Search box, type main.cpl.
      3. Using the up or down arrows, highlight main.cpl, and then press the Enter key.
      4. Locate the Dell Touchpad tab.
        • When the highlighted tab is not the Dell Touchpad tab, perform the following steps:
          1. Press the Tab key until one of the tabs at the top is active (it should have a box around it).
          2. Using the left or right arrow keys make Dell Touchpad the active tab (a figure of a touchpad should be showing).
        • When the Dell Touchpad tab is not listed, the utility that enables and disables the touchpad is not installed, and you cannot enable the touchpad without an external mouse. In that case, find an external mouse and see the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers for more information about downloading drivers (the Dell Touchpad Driver and Utility are listed under Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices).
      5. Press the Spacebar.
      6. Press the d key.
      7. Use the Tab key to move to each option (there will be a box around it), and use the up or down arrows to Enable or Disable an option.
      8. Press the Tab key until OK is highlighted, and then press the Spacebar.
  3. Using the up or down arrows, highlight Dell Touchpad, and then press the Enter key.
  4. Press the Tab key once (the minimize icon should have a box around it).
    NOTE: Should you lose your place in the steps below, start over by pressing the Tab key until the minimize icon has a box around it.
  5. Press the Down arrow key twice (the Default button should have a box around it).
  6. Press the Spacebar (the Touchpad On/Off toggle should light up).
  7. Press the Down arrow key once.
  8. Press the Right arrow key twice.
  9. Press the Up arrow key once.
  10. Press the Left arrow key once.
  11. Press the Spacebar (the Save button should turn from blue to black, and your touchpad should now be active).
NOTE: After following the preceding steps, if the touchpad still does not work correctly, see the Touchpad Diagnostics section below.
NOTES:
  • Dell does not recommend disabling the touchpad unless you have installed an external USB, wireless USB, or Bluetooth mouse, or your computer has a touch screen.
  • There are settings that prevent the cursor from jumping around while typing. If that is your issue, see the Dell Knowledge Base article Cursor Moves Around Erratically While Typing on the Notebook Keyboard.
  1. Press and hold the Windows (Windows Key) key, and then press the q key.
  2. In the Search box, type main.cpl.
  3. Touch or click main.cpl in the list of programs.
  4. Touch or click the Dell Touchpad tab (Figure 1.).
    Dell Touchpad Tab
    Figure 1: Dell Touchpad Tab
    NOTE: When the Dell Touchpad tab is not listed, it means the utility that enables and disables the touchpad is not installed. See the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Download and Install Dell Drivers for more information about downloading drivers. The Dell Touchpad Driver and Utility are listed under Mouse, Keyboard & Input Devices.
  5. Touch or click the figure of the touchpad.
  6. Touch or click the Touchpad On/Off toggle to turn the touchpad on or off.
    NOTE: When the Touchpad On/Off toggle is not showing, it may mean that your computer uses a different utility to control the touchpad.

    To enable or disable the touchpad, perform the following steps.

    1. Touch or click Device Select.
    2. Select to Enable or Disable the Touchpad.
    3. Touch or click OK.
  7. Touch or click Save.
NOTE: After following the preceding steps, if the touchpad still does not work correctly, see the Touchpad Diagnostics section below.

If the preceding steps have not resolved your touchpad issues, see the Dell Knowledge Base article How to Run a Diagnostic Test Using SupportAssist.

  • The test determines if the touchpad is detected at a hardware level below the operating system. When it is detected, it means that the operating system, or installed software is preventing the touchpad from working. You can use a restore point to return the operating system to a time when the touchpad worked (in Windows 10, it is called refreshing the operating system). If that does not work, you may need to reinstall your operating system. For more information, see the Dell Knowledge Base article How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft Windows on a Dell Computer.
  • When an error is reported during the test, write down the error and the validation code. Then, on another Internet-connected device, browse to the SupportAssist Pre-Boot System Performance Check page to submit the issue.

Additional Information

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Article Properties


Affected Product

Chromebook, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Mobile Workstations

Last Published Date

28 Nov 2023

Version

16

Article Type

How To