How To Fix Non-Responsive Touchpad in Windows 11

Touchpads are pretty much the essential way to navigate your laptop, so when they stop working, it’s just plain annoying. Sometimes it’s a minor glitch, or maybe because of a recent update, and other times it’s hardware-related. Whatever the cause, figuring out why it’s not responding can feel like pulling teeth, especially with Windows 11 making settings a bit cumbersome. This list contains some tried-and-true methods — nothing fancy, just stuff that’s worked in the past. Hopefully, one of these fixes gets your touchpad up and running without faffing around too much.

How to Fix a Touchpad That Won’t Work on Windows 11

Fix 1: Reboot Your PC

It kind of sounds trivial, but rebooting can clear out all those background bugs that aren’t obvious. This is especially handy if your touchpad stopped working after a quick update or random glitch. Usually, a quick restart restores the normal state.

• Click the Start menu or press Ctrl + Alt + Del, then select Restart.

On some setups, this might fix the issue right away. If it didn’t help, move on to the next fixes.

Fix 2: Make Sure the Touchpad Is Enabled in Settings

This is common after Windows updates — sometimes settings get reset or accidentally turned off. Double-check if your touchpad isn’t disabled in the system options. On Windows 11, the path is a bit hidden but easy enough to navigate:

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I.
2. Go to Bluetooth & Devices > Touchpad.
3. Look for the toggle labeled Touchpad and make sure it’s set to ON.

If that switch was off, turn it on and test your touchpad. If it’s already on or it didn’t help, let’s try updating the drivers next — that’s often the culprit.

Fix 3: Update Your Touchpad Drivers

Old or corrupted drivers can make the touchpad act weird or not respond at all. Updating them is usually straightforward, but it requires a bit of digging in the Device Manager. Here’s what to do:

1. Press Windows key + R to bring up the Run dialog.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.
3. Expand Mice and other pointing devices. You should see your touchpad listed there.
4. Right-click on the touchpad device and choose Update Driver.
5. Opt for Search automatically for drivers. Windows will look for the latest driver and install it if available.

Note: On some systems, you might want to visit the manufacturer’s website (like Dell, HP, ASUS) and download the latest driver manually. That sometimes beats Windows Update for newer hardware.

Fix 4: Use Hardware Troubleshooter

If the issue might be hardware-related, Windows’ built-in troubleshooter can sometimes find problems that manual checks miss. Here’s how to run it:

1. Right-click the Start button, select Windows Terminal (Admin), or search for Command Prompt and run it as administrator.
2. Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter.
3. A troubleshooter window will appear. Click Next and follow the prompts.
4. If Windows detects any hardware issues, it’ll suggest repairs — just follow the prompts to see if it can fix the problem automatically.

Fair warning: this isn’t a silver bullet, but it’s worth a shot before ripping the device apart.

Fix 5: Temporarily Disable Third-Party Antivirus

Sometimes, your antivirus software might interfere with hardware functions — especially if it’s overly protective or buggy. Especially if you recently installed new security software, give this a try:

• Open your antivirus app.
• Find the setting to disable it temporarily — usually under Settings > Protection.
• Turn it off, then restart your PC and see if the touchpad works.

If it’s fixed, then you might need to add an exemption or replace the antivirus software. Or at least keep it disabled until you find a better fix.

Fix 6: Roll Back Touchpad Drivers (If the Issue Started After an Update)

If the touchpad stopped working after a recent Windows update, rolling back the driver can sometimes undo the changes that caused the problem:

1. Open Run again with Windows key + R.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
3. Locate Mice and other pointing devices, right-click your touchpad, then choose Properties.
4. Switch to the Driver tab and click Roll Back Driver. If the button is greyed out, Windows doesn’t have a previous driver version saved.
5. Follow the options, then restart your machine to see if the touchpad is back.

This is kind of a hit or miss — but on some setups, it’s the fix that gets everything working again.

Fix 7: Update Windows

Sometimes, Windows itself needs a quick update for everything to play nice. Several bugs, including touchpad glitches, get fixed with patches, so it’s worth checking for updates:

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I).
2. Go to Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

After updating, restart and test. Lots of times, this is enough to clear up bugs without much hassle.

Fix 8: Reset Windows as a Last Resort

If nothing else worked and you’re still stuck, maybe it’s time for the nuclear option — reset the whole OS. Yeah, it’s a pain, but if the core system files are corrupt or messed up, it might be the only way out:

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click on Advanced Options > Recovery.
3. Choose Reset this PC and follow the prompts.

Better to back stuff up before doing this, just in case something goes sideways.

Fix 9: Hardware Repair or Replacement

If all else fails, and nothing fixes the problem, then it’s probably a hardware issue. The touchpad might be dead or disconnected inside the laptop. In that case, best to see a repair shop or contact your device manufacturer.

Wrapping Up

Blindly fiddling with settings can be frustrating, but these steps cover most of the common causes behind a non-responsive touchpad. For many, a quick driver update or a setting toggle does the trick. If not, checking hardware or doing a Windows reset might be the only options left. Usually, one of these fixes will get things moving again — it’s just a matter of finding the cause.

Summary

• Restart the PC — sometimes, that alone fixes minor glitches.
• Check the touchpad is enabled in Windows Settings.
• Update or rollback drivers if needed.
• Run hardware troubleshooter.
• Temporarily disable antivirus, if suspected interference.
• Update Windows to patch bugs.
• Reset Windows as a last resort.
• Consult a repair shop if it’s likely hardware failure.

Wrap-up

Most of the time, these fixes cover the bases — from simple toggles to driver tweaks. Hardware issues are trickier, but for most users, a combination of driver updates and settings tweaks will do the trick. Fingers crossed this helps, and the touchpad is back in action without a trip to tech support. Worked for me — hope it works for you, too.