How To Activate Touchpad On HP Laptop

How To Activate Touchpad On HP Laptop

The touchpad of an HP laptop is a handy tool for navigating the device when there isn’t a mouse nearby. The touchpad’s default standard setting is on; however, it gets switched off for some reason. This often occurs when keys are hit accidentally or after software updates and alterations in system settings.  You should check if the HP laptop is physically disabled, use the touchpad function key, activate the touchpad through the control panel, and update the driver. Laptop users should also reinstall the driver, check for BIOS settings, and take the laptop for professional laptop repair services.

7 Steps To Activate Touchpad on HP Laptop

Activating the touchpad on your HP laptop is comparatively easy and can greatly enhance your computing experience. This article will show you how to easily turn on and customize your touchpad settings for seamless navigation and control.

1. Check if the Touchpad is Physically Disabled

Some HP laptops have a feature where the touchpad can be turned off through a quick physical action to enable the touchpad on the HP laptop. This might include:

Double-tapping on the Touchpad’s Corner

On some HP laptops, you can turn the touchpad on or off by double-tapping a small indicator light or mark in the corner of the touchpad. If you see a tiny LED light on your touchpad, your touchpad has likely been turned off this way. Try double-tapping on the light to activate it again.

2. Using the Touchpad Function Key

Most HP laptops have function keys that offer shortcuts for system settings. One of these keys is typically designated for turning the touchpad on or off.

  • Identify the Function Key: Look at the top row of your keyboard (the F keys). On many HP laptops, this is often the F5 or F6 key. This might help to activate the touchpad HP laptop.
  • Press the Function Key: To activate the touchpad, press the function key while holding the Fn key (located at the bottom left of the keyboard). For example, if the touchpad symbol is on F5, press Fn + F5 simultaneously. This should turn the touchpad back on.

3. Activate the Touchpad through the Control Panel

Windows users can also activate the touchpad via the classic Control Panel interface. Here’s how:

  • Open the Control Panel: Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type Control Panel and press Enter.
  • Select Mouse Settings: Once the Control Panel is open, navigate to the Mouse settings by typing “mouse” into the search bar or finding it in the Hardware and Sound category to fix the HP laptop touchpad not working.
  • Access Device Settings: In the Mouse Properties window, there should be a tab for Device Settings, Touchpad, or something similar (this depends on your HP model). Select this tab.
  • Enable the Touchpad: If you see the touchpad listed under the device options, select it and click Enable. Apply the changes and close the window.

4. Updating the Driver

Outdated or corrupted touchpad drivers can cause issues. Follow these steps to update your drivers:

  • Access Device Manager: Press Windows + X on your keyboard and select Device Manager from the list.
  • Find the Touchpad Device: In Device Manager, look for Mice and other pointing devices and expand the section. Your touchpad should be listed there to activate the touchpad HP laptop.
  • Update the Driver: Right-click on the touchpad device and select Update Driver. Then, choose Search automatically for updated driver software. Windows will search for the latest driver and install it if available.
  • Restart Your Laptop: After updating the driver, restart your laptop to ensure the changes take effect.

5. Reinstalling the Driver

If updating the driver doesn’t work, you may need to reinstall the touchpad driver.

  • Uninstall the Touchpad Driver: In the Device Manager, right-click on the touchpad device and select Uninstall device. Confirm your choice.
  • Restart Your Laptop: After uninstalling, restart your laptop. Upon rebooting, Windows should automatically reinstall the touchpad driver as a tip to activate the touchpad on an HP laptop.
  • Manually Download the Driver: If the driver isn’t automatically reinstalled, visit the HP Support website and search for the touchpad driver for your specific laptop model. Download and install the driver manually.

6. Check for BIOS Settings

In rare cases, the touchpad may be turned off at the BIOS level. Here’s how to check:

  • Access the BIOS: Restart your HP laptop and repeatedly press the Esc or F10 key (depending on your model) as soon as it starts to enter the BIOS menu.
  • Navigate to Device Settings: Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Advanced or System Configuration tab. Look for an option related to the Internal Pointing Device or Touchpad.
  • Enable the HP Laptop Touchpad: If it is disabled, select the option and press Enter to enable it.
  • Save Changes: Press F10 to save and exit the BIOS. Your laptop will restart, and the touchpad should be active.

7. Get Professional Help

Taking your laptop for professional repair services ensures expert diagnosis and solutions, extending its lifespan and maintaining optimal performance. Certified technicians can effectively address hardware or software issues using quality parts and tools. Don’t risk further damage—trust repair services professionals to restore your laptop to peak condition.

How do you activate the touchpad on your HP laptop?

To activate the touchpad on your HP laptop, go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad and toggle the switch to “On.” You can also press the Fn key + F7 keys simultaneously to toggle the touchpad on or off.

Why is the touchpad on the HP laptop disabled?

The touchpad on your HP laptop might be disabled for various reasons, such as accidentally pressing the Fn+F7 or Fn+F9 keys, which toggle the touchpad on or off, or a software conflict with other devices or applications.

How do you customize the touchpad settings on your HP laptop?

To customize the touchpad settings on your HP laptop, go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad and adjust the sensitivity, tap-to-click, two-finger scrolling, and gesture settings as needed.

Conclusion

Dealing with an unresponsive touchpad on an HP laptop can be frustrating, but you can quickly resolve the issue with these simple methods. To activate touchpad on HP laptop, you should physically check that your touchpad isn’t disabled. Then, use the touchpad function key to turn it on and enable it from the control panel. Update the driver. People should also reinstall the driver, check for BIOS settings, and take the laptop for professional repairs from experts like The Mobile Market.