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How to Use the Precision Touchpad Features in Windows

Summary: When your Precision Touchpad is not working as it should, see the section that best matches the issue you are having and follow the instructions.

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Article Content


Instructions

Some newer laptops have a Precision Touchpad installed that uses a driver that is built into Windows 8(8.1) and 10, which means it does not need a driver to be downloaded and installed.

  • See the top expanding section below to see whether your computer or tablet has the Precision Touchpad.
  • When your Precision Touchpad is not working as it should, see the expanding section below that best matches the issue that you are having and follow the instructions.
  • Use the SupportAssist application to ensure that your computer has the latest updates. For more information about SupportAssist, browse to the SupportAssist for PCs and tablets page.

Note: Checking whether your Tablet has the Precision Touchpad only applies to those that are running Windows and have a keyboard that is attached.
  1. In the Search box, type touchpad.
     
  2. Touch or click Touchpad settings (System settings).
     
  3. Look for Your PC has a precision touchpad.
    Note: When Your PC has a precision touchpad is not listed, your computer does not have a Precision Touchpad.
     
  4. From this page, you can enable or disable the Touchpad and the gestures that are supported on the Precision Touchpad. For more information about the new gestures available, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article, Try the latest touchpad gestures. This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.
  1. Ensure the touchpad or your finger has no dirt, grease, liquids, or food on it (the touchpad has to make good contact with your finger to work correctly).
     
  2. Ensure that the touchpad is turned on. For more information, see the How to Disable or Enable the Notebook Touchpad section.
     
  3. Save any data, close any open programs and restart the computer by using a wired USB mouse (if available) or Bluetooth mouse if it is already installed, if not, press hold the power button for at least 15 seconds to turn the computer off (you will lose any data that is not saved).
     
  4. Unplug everything except the power cable, including the following:
    • Speakers
    • Printers
    • Scanners
    • USB devices
    • USB flash drive or other external storage devices
    • External Monitor
    • External Keyboard
    • External Mouse
    • If your computer is attached to a docking station, undock it.
     
  5. Turn the computer back on and retest the touchpad.
    Note: Do not touch the touchpad until the computer is booted, as it goes through a calibration process during booting.
     
  6. When the cursor does work correctly, attach one device at a time and test the cursor movement to see which one may have caused the issue.
     
  7. Ensure that the BIOS is updated to the latest version. For more information, see Dell Knowledge base article What is BIOS and How to Download and Install the latest BIOS?
     
  8. Ensure that the latest version of the Intel Serial I/O Driver is installed.
    Note: The Intel Serial I/O Driver is located in the Chipset category on the downloads and drivers page for your computer. For more information about how to download and install drivers, see Dell Knowledge Base article Drivers and Downloads FAQs.
     
  9. The Precision Touchpad has added gesture features such as two-finger scrollingthree or four finger tap, and drag to scroll. These new features may be the reason for the erratic cursor movement since most are turned on by default. You can disable or modify the way that the features work in the touchpad properties.


    To change the Precision Touchpad settings, perform the following steps:

    Note: For more information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article, Try the latest touchpad gestures. This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.
    1. In the Search box, type touchpad.
       
    2. Touch or click Touchpad settings (System settings).
       
    3. In the Touchpad section, make changes as preferred.
       
    4. Close the Touchpad settings page.

Decreasing the touchpad sensitivity will help prevent the cursor from moving around, selecting or highlighting items on the screen while you are typing.

  1. Ensure the touchpad or your finger has no dirt, grease, liquids, or food on it (the touchpad has to make good contact with your finger to work correctly).
     
  2. In the Search box, type touchpad.
     
  3. Touch or click Touchpad settings (System settings).
     
  4. Using the drop-down menu under Touchpad Sensitivity, increase or decrease the touchpad sensitivity level.
    NOTE:
    • Most sensitivity allows you to keep using the touchpad when typing.
    • Low sensitivity is where you can hardly move the cursor while typing, and must wait about 1 second after typing to use the touchpad.

  5. Close the Touchpad settings page.

The Change the cursor speed slider bar allows you to increase or decrease the cursor speed.

  1. Ensure the touchpad or your finger has no dirt, grease, liquids, or food on it (the touchpad has to make good contact with your finger to work correctly).
     
  2. In the Search box, type touchpad.
     
  3. Touch or click Touchpad settings (System settings).
     
  4. Under Change the cursor speed, move the slider to adjust the cursor speed to the preferred level (slower to the left, faster to the right).
     
  5. Close the Touchpad settings page.

Use Taps to perform functions such as:

  • Tap with one finger to single-click
  • Tap with two fingers to right-click
  • Tap twice and drag to multi-select
  • Press the lower right corner of the touchpad to right-click

 

  1. Ensure the touchpad or your finger has no dirt, grease, liquids, or food on it (the touchpad has to make good contact with your finger to work correctly).
     
  2. In the Search box, type touchpad.
     
  3. Touch or click Touchpad settings (System settings).
     
  4. Select or clear the check boxes to enable or disable the options.
     
  5. Close the Touchpad settings page.
  1. In the Search box, type touchpad.
     
  2. Touch or click Touchpad settings (System settings).
     
  3. Scroll to the bottom on the touchpad setting screen and touch or click Reset.
     
  4. Close the Touchpad settings page.
Note: It is not recommended that you disable the touchpad unless you have an external USB, Bluetooth mouse that is installed or your computer has a touch screen. There are settings that prevent the cursor from jumping around while typing, when that is your issue, see the Adjusting the Touchpad Sensitivity to Help Resolve the Cursor Moving Around Erratically, Selecting or Highlighting Items While Using the Notebook Keyboard section.

When you still prefer to disable the Precision Touchpad, perform the following steps.

  1. In the Search box, type touchpad.
     
  2. Touch or click Touchpad settings (System settings).
     
  3. There are two options to disable the touchpad, do one of the options below.
    • To turn the touchpad off temporarily when a mouse is attached, touch or click the slider bar under Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected, to change the setting to off.
    • To completely turn the touchpad off, touch or click the slider bar under Touchpad, to change the setting to off.

  4. Close the Touchpad settings page.

Additional Information

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Article Properties


Last Published Date

26 Feb 2024

Version

14

Article Type

How To