How to Fix a Touch Screen Not Working Issue on Dell Computers

Prerequisites:

This article is a reference companion to the Dell Touchscreen Not Working on Laptop: Common Touch Issues support library page.

This article continues the Support Library article. Use it only after the basic troubleshooting in that article has been completed and the touch screen still fails. This article does not repeat those basic steps.

Required steps to complete before using this article.

• Restarting the computer
• Cleaning the screen
• Enabling the touch screen in BIOS
• Enabling or reinstalling the HID-compliant touch screen in Device Manager
• Updating drivers and BIOS with Dell SupportAssist
• Installing Windows updates
• Calibrating the touch screen
• Running the SupportAssist touch screen diagnostic test

If any of those items were not completed, complete them first using the Support Library article.

Applies to

• Dell laptops sold with a touch screen, including 2-in-1 convertible laptops.
• Dell All-in-One desktops sold with a touch screen.
• Dell touch-enabled monitors.
• Operating systems: Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Does not apply to

• Computers or monitors without a touch-capable display.
• Touchpad (trackpad) problems.
• Touch problems on third-party or non-Dell monitors. Use the monitor manufacturer's website.
• Computers running an operating system other than Windows 11 or Windows 10.

Symptoms this article addresses

Use this table to jump to the section that matches the symptom.

Cause

After basic troubleshooting, a touch screen that still fails usually has one of these causes:

• The display does not support touch.
• The USB cable between a Dell touch monitor and the computer is not connected.
• A screen protector blocks touch detection.
• A Windows power management setting turns off the touch device, often after sleep.
• The monitor driver or touch firmware is out of date.
• A Windows configuration problem that System Restore or an operating system reset can correct.
• The touch panel hardware has failed.

Before you begin

• Save all open work. Some steps restart the computer.
• Have the computer model or Service Tag available. See Find your Service Tag or Serial Number.
• Have an internet connection.
• Back up personal files before Step 6 and Step 7. Step 7 deletes all user data.

Resolution

This article answers questions such as:

• How do I check whether my Dell laptop or monitor has a touchscreen?

• How do I fix a touchscreen that does not respond?

• How do I install the monitor driver and touch firmware?

• How do I use the Windows System Restore?

• How do I restore the computer to factory defaults?

Complete the steps in order. Test the touch screen after each step. If touch works, stop. If touch does not work, continue with the next step. Each step states its own goal, scope, and expected result.

Step One: Confirm that Windows reports touch support for the display

Scope: Dell laptops and Dell All-in-One desktops.

Goal: Confirm that Windows detects a touch-capable display.

1. Right-click the Windows icon and select System.
2. Under Device specifications, read the Pen and touch entry.
3. If it says No pen or touch input is available for this display, the computer does not have a touch screen. Troubleshooting touch cannot help. Stop here.
4. If the entry shows touch support, check the original system configuration or monitor specifications at Dell.com/support to confirm.

Expected result: You know whether Windows reports touch support for the display.

Step Two: Connect the USB cable on a Dell touch monitor

Scope: Dell touch-enabled monitors only.

Goal: Confirm that the monitor has both a video connection and a USB connection to the computer. A touch monitor needs a USB cable from the monitor to the computer in addition to the video cable. Touch does not work without the USB connection.

1. Check the monitor documentation at Dell manuals to confirm that the monitor supports touch.
2. Connect a USB cable from the monitor's USB upstream port to a USB port on the computer.
3. Test the touch screen.

Expected result: Touch works on the monitor after the USB cable is connected.

Step Three: Remove the screen protector

Scope: Any Dell touch display with a screen protector or screen guard installed.

Goal: Remove a screen protector that blocks capacitive touch detection.

1. Turn off the computer or monitor.
2. Remove the screen protector or screen guard. A protector can block touch input when it is not designed for capacitive touch screens or has air bubbles under it.
3. Turn on the device and test the touch screen.

Expected result: Touch works with the screen protector removed.

Step Four: Turn off the power-saving option for the touch device

Scope: Windows 11 and Windows 10, when touch fails after the computer wakes from sleep.

Goal: Stop Windows from turning off the HID-compliant touch screen device to save power.

1. Right-click the Windows icon and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click HID-compliant touch screen and select Properties.
4. Open the Power Management tab. Some touch screen drivers do not provide this tab. If the tab is missing, close the Properties window and continue with Step 5.
5. Clear the check box Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Click OK.
7. Restart the computer, put the computer to sleep, wake it, and test the touch screen.

Expected result: Touch keeps working after the computer wakes from sleep.

Step Five: Install the monitor driver and touch firmware

Scope: Dell touch-enabled monitors only.

Goal: Install the monitor driver and any touch firmware that Dell publishes for the monitor model.

1. Go to Dell Drivers & Downloads.
2. Enter the monitor model or select Browse all products and choose the monitor.
3. Download and install the monitor driver and any touch firmware or touch utility listed for the monitor.
4. Restart the computer and test the touch screen.

Expected result: Touch works on the monitor after the monitor driver and touch firmware are installed.

Step Six: Run Windows System Restore

Scope: Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Goal: Return Windows to an earlier working state without erasing personal files. Use System Restore before restoring factory defaults.

See Dell Knowledge Base article How to Use System Restore in Microsoft Windows.

Expected result: Touch works after Windows is restored to a point when touch worked.

Step Seven: Restore the computer to factory defaults

Scope: Dell laptops and Dell All-in-One desktops. Dell monitors do not run Windows and are not restored this way.

Goal: Reinstall the operating system to rule out a software cause.

1. Back up all personal files to external storage or cloud storage.
2. See Dell Knowledge Base article Repair and Restore your Computer Using SupportAssist OS Recovery.
3. After the restore finishes, test the touch screen before installing other software.

Expected result: Touch works on a fresh operating system. If touch still fails, the cause is most likely hardware. Continue with Step 8.

Step Eight: Contact Dell Technical Support for hardware repair

Goal: Arrange repair when touch still fails, or when the SupportAssist touch screen test failed in the Support Library article.

A failed SupportAssist touch screen test, or touch that still fails on a fresh operating system, indicates a likely touch panel hardware failure.

1. Collect the following information:
• Service Tag or monitor model number.
• Operating system and version (Windows 11 or Windows 10).
• Result of the SupportAssist touch screen test (passed or failed).
• Which steps from the Support Library article and from this article were completed.
2. Contact Dell Technical Support and request repair options. Repair options depend on the warranty or service contract status. Check status at Check Support Status.

Expected result: A repair or replacement path is identified for the touch panel.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Dell touch monitor not responding to touch even though the display works?
A Dell touch monitor needs a USB cable from the monitor to the computer in addition to the video cable. Connect the USB cable to the monitor's USB upstream port and to a USB port on the computer, then test touch.

Why does the Dell touch screen stop working after the computer wakes from sleep?
Windows can turn off the HID-compliant touch screen device to save power. In Device Manager, open the Properties of HID-compliant touch screen, open the Power Management tab, and clear Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. If the tab is missing, this setting is not available for that touch screen driver.

How do I check whether Windows reports touch support on my Dell computer?
Right-click the Windows icon, select System, and read Pen and touch under Device specifications. The entry No pen or touch input is available for this display means the display does not support touch.

Can a screen protector stop a Dell touch screen from working?
Yes. A screen protector that is not designed for capacitive touch screens, or that has air bubbles under it, can block touch input. Remove the protector and test touch.

Should I use System Restore or a factory reset first?
Use System Restore first. System Restore keeps personal files. A factory reset deletes all user data and should be the last software step before hardware repair.

Does a factory reset fix a hardware touch failure?
No. A factory reset corrects only software causes. If touch still fails after a factory reset, the touch panel hardware has most likely failed. Contact Dell Technical Support.

What does it mean when the SupportAssist touch screen test fails?
A failed test indicates the touch screen hardware has most likely failed. Contact Dell Technical Support for repair options.

Where is the touch screen driver on a Dell computer?
The driver appears in Device Manager under Human Interface Devices as HID-compliant touch screen. The driver is built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and Windows Update installs it automatically when needed.

Can I fix a cracked Dell touch screen myself?
No. Contact Dell Technical Support for repair options based on the warranty or service contract status.