Why you might want to disable your touchpad
Disabling your touchpad stops the cursor from moving when your palm or wrist brushes it while you type. This is the most common reason people turn it off — accidental touches cause the cursor to jump to the wrong spot, deleting text or clicking buttons you didn't intend. If you use an external mouse, keyboard, or trackball, you don't need the touchpad active.
The good news is that disabling your touchpad is reversible. You can turn it back on the same way you turned it off, so there's no risk in trying this if you're not sure whether you want it off permanently.
Key Takeaways
- Most laptops let you disable the touchpad through Settings on Windows or System Preferences on Mac, without installing anything new.
- Some laptops have a physical button or keyboard shortcut (often Fn plus a key with a touchpad icon) that toggles the touchpad on and off when ready.
- If your touchpad has its own driver software installed, you can disable it there and often set it to turn off automatically when a mouse is connected.
- Disabling the touchpad does not affect your keyboard or any external mouse you plug in — only the built-in pad stops working.
Check for a physical toggle or keyboard shortcut first
Before opening any settings, look at your keyboard for a key with a touchpad icon — usually a small rectangle with dots or lines inside. On many laptops, holding the Fn key (bottom left of the keyboard) and pressing that key will toggle the touchpad on and off. The change happens when ready, and you'll often see a notification on screen confirming the touchpad is disabled.
Some older or business laptops have a dedicated physical button above or below the touchpad itself. Press it once to disable, once more to re-enable. If you see either of these options, this is the fastest way to turn off your touchpad.
Disable the touchpad in Windows Settings
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click on "Bluetooth & devices" in the left menu, then scroll down and click "Touchpad."
You'll see a toggle at the top that says "Touchpad" with an on/off switch. Click the switch to turn it off. The touchpad will stop responding when ready. If you change your mind, come back to this same screen and click the switch again to turn it back on.
If you want the touchpad to turn off automatically whenever you connect an external mouse, look for an option in this same Touchpad settings screen that says something like "Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected" — uncheck that box if it's there, and Windows will handle the switching for you.
Disable the touchpad on a Mac
On macOS, click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Preferences" (or "System Settings" on newer Macs). Click "Trackpad" in the list on the left.
You'll see several tabs at the top: "Point and Click," "Scroll & Zoom," and "More Gestures." None of these tabs have an on/off switch for the entire trackpad. Instead, look for a checkbox that says "Tap to click" or similar options and uncheck them all. This disables the trackpad's response to touch, though it won't completely shut off the hardware.
If you want to fully disable the trackpad on a Mac, you'll need to use the trackpad driver settings. Some Macs allow this through the Accessibility settings — go back to System Preferences, click "Accessibility," then "Pointer Control," and look for trackpad options there. The exact steps vary by Mac model and macOS version.
Use the touchpad driver software if it's installed
Some laptops come with dedicated touchpad driver software made by the manufacturer — common ones include Synaptics, Elan, or Precision Touchpad drivers. If your laptop has this software, it often gives you more control than the built-in Windows or Mac settings.
To find it, open the Control Panel on Windows (search "Control Panel" in the Start menu) and look for "Mouse" or "Touchpad" in the list. Click it, and you should see a window with tabs for different touchpad settings. Look for a tab called "Device Settings" or "Advanced," and you'll usually find an on/off toggle there. Some of these programs also let you set rules — for example, "disable touchpad when a USB mouse is connected" — which you can configure in the same window.
On a Mac, open System Preferences and search for your touchpad driver name (check your laptop's manual or the manufacturer's website if you're not sure what it's called). The driver software will open in a separate window with its own on/off controls.
What to do if the touchpad won't turn off
If you've tried the keyboard shortcut and the Settings menu but the touchpad still responds, restart your laptop. Sometimes the driver needs to reload to recognize the change. After restart, try disabling it again through Settings.
If it still doesn't work, check the manufacturer's website for your specific laptop model and read the latest touchpad driver. Outdated drivers sometimes ignore disable commands. Uninstall the old driver through Control Panel (Windows) or System Preferences (Mac), restart, and install the new one. After that, the disable option should work.
If you're using an external mouse and the touchpad keeps interfering even when disabled, make sure the mouse is plugged in or connected via Bluetooth before you disable the touchpad. Some laptops re-enable the touchpad if no other input device is detected, as a safety measure to keep you from being stuck without a way to move the cursor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling the touchpad affect my keyboard?
No. The keyboard and touchpad are separate devices. Disabling the touchpad only stops the built-in pad from responding to touch — your keyboard will work exactly as before, and any external mouse or trackball you plug in will work too.
Can I disable the touchpad only when I'm typing?
Yes, if your laptop has touchpad driver software. Many drivers include a "palm detection" or "typing mode" setting that automatically disables the touchpad when it senses you're typing, then re-enables it when you stop. Check the driver settings window under "Advanced" or "Device Settings" to turn this on.
What if I accidentally disabled the touchpad and can't find the settings?
If you used a keyboard shortcut, press Fn and the touchpad key again to turn it back on. If you disabled it through Settings and can't remember how, use your external mouse to navigate back to the same settings menu and toggle it on. If you have no mouse and no touchpad, restart your laptop — many will re-enable the touchpad on startup if no other input device is present.
Does disabling the touchpad save battery power?
Slightly, but not enough to notice. The touchpad uses very little power compared to your screen or processor. Disabling it won't meaningfully extend your battery life, so disable it only if it's causing accidental clicks or cursor jumps.