What to do if your HP laptop’s touchpad is not working

Is your HP laptop's touchpad not responding, moving erratically, or just plain not working? The touchpad, also known as a trackpad, is an essential navigation tool on laptops, so when it stops functioning properly, it's important to find a solution fast.

At Asurion, we prioritize protecting your tech and helping you make the most of it. Whether you're dealing with an unresponsive touchpad, a cursor that won't move, or a touchpad that's too sensitive, we've got you covered. 

Restart your laptop

One of the simplest and quickest ways to resolve touchpad issues is to restart your HP laptop. This clears random access memory (RAM) and gives your system a fresh start, which can often fix glitches and minor software problems.

To restart your HP laptop

1. Save any open files, and close all programs.

2. Click the Windows Start button.

3. Select Power > Restart.

Check for updates

Making sure your operating system (OS) and drivers are up to date can help resolve touchpad issues. Microsoft regularly releases updates for Windows that include bug fixes, security patches, and driver updates. Additionally, updating your HP laptop's basic input/output system (BIOS) or unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) firmware can sometimes fix touchpad problems, particularly if the issue started after a system update.

To check for Windows updates:

1. Open the Windows Start menu.

2. Type "check for updates", and click the corresponding search result.

3. In the Windows Update settings window, click Check for updates. If any updates are found, click Install now and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Restart your laptop if prompted.

Adjust touchpad settings

Sometimes, touchpad issues can be resolved by adjusting your laptop's settings. Many HP laptops allow you to quickly disable and re-enable the touchpad using a simple gesture or keyboard shortcut. Additionally, some models have a PalmCheck feature that can cause touchpad problems if enabled.

To turn your HP touchpad off and on

1. Locate the touchpad icon in the notification area of your taskbar in the lower-right corner of the screen.

2. Double-click the icon to open the touchpad settings. Look for an option to enable/disable the touchpad and turn it off and then on again.

4. If you don't see a touchpad icon, try double-clicking the upper-left corner of the touchpad itself—this is a common shortcut to turn the touchpad on and off.

To disable PalmCheck

1. Open the Windows Start menu, and type "mouse settings". Click Mouse settings in the search results.

3. In the Mouse settings window, locate the touchpad settings under Additional mouse options or Advanced settings.

4. Look for a PalmCheck option, and make sure it's disabled or cleared.

5. Click Apply and OK to save the changes.

Try System Restore

If your touchpad stopped working after a recent software change or Windows update, you may be able to fix the problem by reverting your system to a previous state using System Restore.

To use System Restore

1. Open the Windows Start menu and type "system restore." In the search results, click "Create a restore point."

3. In the System Properties window, click System Restore. Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point from a date when your touchpad was working properly.

5. Click Next > Finish to start the restore process.

Note: System Restore will remove any programs or drivers installed after the selected restore point, but it won't affect your personal files.

Consider hardware issues

If none of the previous solutions work, there may be a hardware issue with your touchpad. In this case, we recommend bringing your laptop to a professional repair service, such as uBreakiFix by Asurion, for further diagnosis and repair.

Before you do, though, try performing a hard restart. This will clear your laptop's temporary memory without erasing your personal data.

To perform a hard restart on your HP laptop:

1. Turn off your laptop.

2. Disconnect the power cable, and remove the battery (if possible).

3. Press and hold the Power button for 15–20 seconds.

4. Reconnect the battery and power cable.

5. Turn on your laptop, and check whether the touchpad is working.

If your touchpad still doesn't function after trying these solutions, you should consider consulting an expert.