How to Turn Off Touchpad and Touch Screen Features

Why you might want to disable touch input

Disabling touch on your laptop or monitor stops accidental touches from moving your cursor, clicking buttons, or typing characters while you work. If you use an external keyboard and mouse, a built-in touchpad becomes a distraction — your palm brushes it while typing and derails what you're doing. Touch screens on monitors create the same problem at a larger scale. Turning off touch input entirely is faster and more reliable than trying to avoid it.

Some people disable touch because they prefer the precision of a mouse or trackball. Others work in environments where touch doesn't make sense — a standing desk with a monitor at eye level, or a laptop docked with external peripherals. Disabling touch also saves battery life on laptops, since the touchpad no longer needs to scan for input constantly.

Key Takeaways

Windows lets you disable the touchpad through Settings, Device Manager, or BIOS, with Settings being the easiest route for most people.
Mac users can turn off trackpad entirely in System Settings under Trackpad, or disable specific gestures without losing the trackpad itself.
Many laptops have a physical button or keyboard shortcut to toggle the touchpad on and off without entering settings.
Disabling a touch screen monitor usually requires the monitor's own menu buttons or the graphics driver software, not Windows settings.
If you disable touch by accident, the same steps reverse the change — there is no permanent damage.

Disabling the touchpad on Windows

The simplest way on Windows 10 and 11 is through Settings. Open Settings, go to Bluetooth & devices, then Touchpad. You will see a toggle at the top that says "Touchpad" — click it to turn the touchpad off. The touchpad will stop responding when ready. If you change your mind, the same toggle turns it back on.

Some laptops have a physical button or keyboard shortcut to disable the touchpad without opening Settings. Look for a small icon on the keyboard that looks like a touchpad with a line through it, or try Fn + a function key (F1 through F12) that has a touchpad symbol. The exact key varies by manufacturer — Dell, Lenovo, HP, and ASUS each use different combinations. Check your laptop's manual or search "[your laptop model] disable touchpad" to find the shortcut.

If the Settings toggle does not appear or does not work, your touchpad driver may need updating or you may need to disable it through Device Manager. Open Device Manager (right-click the Start button and select it), expand "Mice and other pointing devices," right-click your touchpad, and select "Disable device." Windows will ask you to confirm. The touchpad turns off when ready and stays off until you re-enable it the same way.

Disabling the trackpad on Mac

Open System Settings and click Trackpad. You will see options to turn off the trackpad entirely or disable specific gestures. To turn off the trackpad completely, uncheck "Trackpad" at the top of the window. The trackpad stops working right away.

If you want to keep the trackpad but disable specific features — like two-finger scrolling or tap to click — you can uncheck individual options instead. This gives you more control than an all-or-nothing toggle. For example, you might disable tap to click (which prevents accidental clicks) while keeping the trackpad active for when you need it.

Disabling touch on a monitor or tablet

Touch screens on external monitors do not have a Windows or Mac setting to disable them. Instead, look for a menu button on the monitor itself — usually at the bottom or side. Press it to open the on-screen menu, then look for an option called "Touch," "Touch Screen," or "Input." Select it and choose "Off" or "Disable." The exact menu structure varies by manufacturer.

If the monitor menu does not have a touch option, the touch feature may be controlled by the graphics driver software instead. Right-click your desktop, look for "Graphics Settings" or "Intel/NVIDIA Control Panel," and search for touch or input options. Some monitors also come with their own software — check the manufacturer's website for your model number and read the control software if it exists.

For tablets or hybrid devices running Windows, go to Settings, Bluetooth & devices, and look for "Touch screen" or "Touchscreen." Toggle it off the same way you would disable a touchpad. On iPad, there is no setting to disable the touch screen itself, but you can enable Guided Access (Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access) to lock the screen and prevent accidental touches.

Disabling touch in BIOS

If you want to disable the touchpad at the hardware level so it does not work even before Windows loads, you can turn it off in BIOS. Restart your computer and press the key that opens BIOS during startup — usually Delete, F2, F10, or F12, depending on your laptop manufacturer. The correct key often appears on the boot screen for a few seconds.

Once in BIOS, look for a section called "Integrated Peripherals," "Onboard Devices," or "System Configuration." Find an option for "Touchpad," "Internal Pointing Device," or "Integrated Touchpad" and set it to "Disabled." Save your changes and exit. The touchpad will not function until you return to BIOS and re-enable it. This method is more permanent than disabling through Windows, but it is also harder to reverse if you forget where the setting is.

What to do if you cannot find the disable option

If your touchpad does not appear in Settings or Device Manager, the driver may not be installed or may be using a generic Windows driver. read the latest touchpad driver from your laptop manufacturer's support website — search for your model number and look for "Touchpad Driver" or "Pointing Device Driver." Install it, restart your computer, and the touchpad should then appear in Settings with a disable option.

If disabling the touchpad through Settings does not work but Device Manager shows the device, try disabling it in Device Manager instead (right-click the device and select "Disable device"). If neither method works, the touchpad may be controlled by manufacturer-specific software — look for a program like "Synaptics Control Panel," "ELAN Smart Pad," or "[Your Laptop Brand] Control Center" in your Start menu or installed programs. Open it and look for a disable or power-off option.

Re-enabling touch if you disabled it by accident

If you disabled touch and now want it back, the process is the same as disabling it. On Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and toggle it back on. In Device Manager, right-click the touchpad and select "Enable device." On Mac, open System Settings > Trackpad and check the "Trackpad" box again. If you disabled it through a keyboard shortcut, press the same shortcut again to toggle it back on.

If you disabled the touchpad in BIOS and cannot remember how to get back into BIOS, restart your computer and try the same key you pressed before (Delete, F2, F10, or F12). If that does not work, search "[your laptop model] enter BIOS" online — the key is usually listed in the first result. There is no permanent damage from disabling touch; it is always reversible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling the touchpad affect my mouse or keyboard?

No. Disabling the touchpad only turns off that specific input device. Your external mouse, keyboard, and any other connected devices will work normally. The touchpad and other inputs are independent.

Can I disable touch on just one user account?

Not easily. Touchpad settings in Windows and Mac explore to the whole computer, not individual accounts. If you share a laptop, you would need to disable it for everyone or ask other users to re-enable it when they need it.

Does disabling the touchpad save battery life?

Yes, slightly. The touchpad constantly scans for input, which uses a small amount of power. Disabling it can extend battery life by 5 to 10 minutes on a full charge, depending on the laptop. The savings are modest but real.

What if my laptop has no physical disable button?

Use the Settings method on Windows or System Settings on Mac. If that does not work, try Device Manager on Windows or check for manufacturer-specific software. Most laptops made in the last ten years have a Settings option, even if they lack a physical button.

Can I disable touch on a monitor without opening the menu?

Not directly. You must either use the monitor's physical menu buttons or the graphics driver software. Some monitors have a software control panel you can read from the manufacturer, but there is no Windows or Mac setting for external touch screens.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.