XPS 13 Plus touchpad very sensitive

Question

Hey all,

I'm enjoying my new XPS 13 Plus, but have a question about the touchpad: it tends to sometimes register my finger moving across the surface as a tap when I'm not tapping. I have to be very gentle the way I touch it, and maybe I'm just ham-handed, but I'd like it to be less sensitive. I've changed the Sensitivity setting in Windows 11 to "Low sensitivity", but it doesn't seem to matter. As an experiment, I set it to "High", and that didn't seem to increase the sensitivity. I've checked thru my Dell Update app, but no new touchpad driver updates show. As an aside, that haptic thing is freaky - it actually tricks you into feeling like you made a physical click, even though the pad is a solid surface.

I had an additional issue with the wifi not being very fast - I was registering 196 Mb/s, when my XPS 17 was getting 367 Mb/s, via Ookla. I d/l'd the Intel Driver & Support Assistant, and it updated the wifi, and now it's as fast as my XPS 17. But Intel's Driver updater is no help for the touchpad, and Dell seems to roll out updates veeerrrrrry slooooowwwly.

Does anyone know who makes the touchpad, and where I might get an updated driver for it? Thanks.

underham · Answer

Seems a common complaint on XPS touchpads. After searching numerous threads on the topic the following settings (Windows 11) have improved things, though its not perfect.

In Bluetooth & Devices, Touchpad, Touchpad sensitivity set to 'low' & uncheck the ‘Tap twice and drag to multi-select' option.

In More touchpad settings (opens a new window), set double click speed to 'fast'.

The touchpad is by far the most annoying part of my XPS.

CodyShive · Answer

The sensitivity settings in Windows 11 do not appear to have any substantial effect.  This is a defect that needs to be addressed, either through a hardware recall/replacement of the touchpad (as Apple would do), or if it can be controlled by software, an updated driver would be in order.

Richman106 · Answer

Exactly the same problem with my new XPS 13, very disappointing.  I work 90% of the time in laptop mode without a keyboard or mouse and it is so frustrating. I wouldn't recommend anyone buy one of these until this problem is addressed.   My new XPS 13 has a very sleek keyboard but you can't even see where the touchpad is and there is next to no tactile response.  Buyer beware.

Gab_Bo · Answer

Same issues here, I just got the XPS 13 Plus and I am extremely disappointed. It is basically impossible to work on a ppt or xls file from the pad. I have changed the pad sensitivity in Windows 11 but looks like nothing really changed...

I am seriously thinking to return the laptop in the next days, this product is not for professional use.

Pandey_XYZ · Answer

@underham​ This solution works well for my XPS16 so far, thank you.

XPS13-9350 · Answer

I have this same issue on my new (2025) XPS-13-9350 and it's absolutely ruining every single attempt to use this laptop.

I don't understand how such a terrible touchpad design was able to pass testing and make it into production. It's almost impossible to move my cursor without clicking randomly along the path!

I have a (2021) XPS-13-9310 with the old touchpad design and it was perfect. Never had any issues. I don't understand how they could update the touchpad, make it SO MUCH WORSE and then ship the new design into production! I think I will have to return the new laptop as it's pretty much unusable without peripherals. I can never recommend a Dell again until this is fixed.

I tried @underham's solution, but I don't see any significant improvement.

XPS13-9350 · Answer

Update:I seem to have fixed the problem by updating the firmware! https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-au?app=drivers I downloaded the 'Dell Touchpad Firmware Update Utility' (had to use the Feb 2025 one as the Jul 2025 one kept giving an error). After updating the firmware the touchpad seems to be working well, so it seems this was a software issue for me.

Pandey_XYZ · Answer

I found out the real reason for my case: one of the socket in my extension cord is not properly grounded, when the laptop is plugged in it, the whole laptop surface has a mild current going through, when you touch the surface, you will feel it, and this affects the track pad use significantly, it makes it much more sensitive. I switched to a proper socket, then the problem is gone.

underham · Answer

This thread is getting old now but I eventually go fed up with the touchpad and relegated my xps to using it as an (expensive!) backup device. I noticed recently the touchpad seemed to be much improved on how it used to be so I guess somewhere a driver update has finally resolved the sensitivity issue. Shame this didn't happen 2 years ago and I would have been spared the experience of using a Macbook!

Richman106 · Answer

I also had these problems, and the smooth featureless keyboard drove me crazy.  I relegated the XPS to a destop hooked to a Dell hub with keyboard and monitors.  I had two previous XPS computers and loved them.  I hated to leave Dell but after this POS, I now use an HP laptop.  Sad.

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XPS 13 Plus touchpad very sensitive

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