Your touchpad is likely disabled in settings, not broken

When your HP laptop touchpad stops working in Windows 10, the problem is almost always that it has been turned off in your settings or device manager — not that the hardware failed. You can turn it back on in three places: your keyboard shortcut, your settings menu, or your device manager. Most people find it fastest through the keyboard shortcut, which takes about 10 seconds.

The touchpad can get disabled accidentally by pressing a keyboard combination, by Windows updates that reset your settings, or by someone else using your laptop. The good news is that re-enabling it requires no downloads, no restarts, and no technical knowledge.

Key Takeaways

  • Most HP laptops have a keyboard shortcut to toggle the touchpad on and off — usually Fn + F6 or Fn + F9, depending on your model.
  • If the keyboard shortcut does not work, you can turn the touchpad back on through Windows Settings by searching for "Touchpad" and toggling it on.
  • Device Manager is the backup method if Settings does not show a touchpad option, and it lets you see whether Windows recognizes the touchpad hardware at all.
  • After you turn the touchpad back on, test it by moving your finger across the pad — you should see the cursor move when ready.

Try the keyboard shortcut first

HP laptops usually have a dedicated key or key combination to turn the touchpad on and off. Look at your keyboard for a key with a touchpad icon — it often looks like a small rectangle with a finger on it. On most HP models, this is Fn + F6 or Fn + F9, but some models use Fn + F5.

Press and hold the Fn key (usually in the bottom left corner of your keyboard), then press the function key with the touchpad symbol. You should see a notification on your screen saying the touchpad is now on. If nothing happens, move to the Settings method below.

If you are not sure which key has the touchpad icon, look at the row of function keys across the top of your keyboard. The icon will be a small rectangle, sometimes with a finger or hand symbol. If you still cannot find it, the Settings method will work just as well.

Enable the touchpad through Windows Settings

Click the Windows Start button (the four squares in the bottom left corner) and type Touchpad into the search box. Click on "Touchpad settings" when it appears. This opens a window with touchpad options.

Look for a toggle switch that says "Touchpad" at the top of this window. If the toggle is in the off position (usually gray or to the left), click it to turn the touchpad on. The toggle should turn blue or move to the right, and your touchpad should start working when ready. You can close this window after that.

If you do not see a "Touchpad" option in the search results, your laptop may be using a different touchpad driver. In that case, move to the Device Manager method below, which works on all HP models.

Use Device Manager if Settings does not show touchpad options

Right-click the Windows Start button and select "Device Manager" from the menu. A window will open showing all the hardware connected to your laptop. Look for a category called "Mice and other pointing devices" and click the arrow next to it to expand that section.

You should see your touchpad listed there — it might say "Synaptics Touchpad", "ELAN Touchpad", "HP Touchpad", or something similar. If you see a small down arrow or red X on the touchpad name, that means it is disabled. Right-click on the touchpad and select "Enable device". Windows will turn it back on, and you should be able to use it right away.

If you do not see any touchpad listed under "Mice and other pointing devices", your laptop may not have a touchpad driver installed. In that case, you will need to visit the HP support website, enter your laptop model number, and read the touchpad driver from there. Once downloaded, run the installer and restart your laptop.

What to do if the touchpad still does not work

If you have turned the touchpad on through all three methods and it still does not respond, the problem may be a missing or outdated driver. Go to the HP support website, search for your laptop model (you can find this by pressing Windows key + Pause/Break or by looking at the sticker on the bottom of your laptop), and read the latest touchpad driver for Windows 10.

Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions. When the installation finishes, restart your laptop. After the restart, your touchpad should work. If it still does not, the hardware itself may be damaged, and you will need to contact HP support or visit a repair shop.

How to prevent accidental touchpad disabling

If your touchpad keeps turning off by itself, you may be pressing the keyboard shortcut without realizing it. Pay attention to whether you are accidentally hitting Fn + F6 or Fn + F9 while typing. Some people rest their hands in a way that triggers this combination.

You can also disable the keyboard shortcut itself if it keeps happening. In Touchpad Settings, scroll down and look for an option that says "Keyboard shortcut" or "Fn key combination". Toggle this off, and the keyboard shortcut will no longer work — you can only turn the touchpad on or off through Settings after that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my touchpad keep turning off?

You are probably pressing the keyboard shortcut by accident while typing or resting your hands. The most common culprits are Fn + F6 and Fn + F9. If this keeps happening, you can disable the keyboard shortcut in Touchpad Settings so you can only turn it on or off through the Settings menu instead.

Is my touchpad broken if it does not turn on?

Not necessarily. Most of the time the touchpad is just disabled in software. If you have tried all three methods — keyboard shortcut, Settings, and Device Manager — and it still does not work, then the hardware may be damaged. At that point, contact HP support or take your laptop to a repair shop.

Do I need to restart my laptop after turning the touchpad back on?

No. Turning the touchpad on through the keyboard shortcut or Settings takes effect when ready, and you can use it right away. You only need to restart if you installed a new driver from the HP website.

What if I cannot find the touchpad icon on my keyboard?

Not all HP models have a visible touchpad icon on the function keys. If you cannot find one, just use the Settings method instead — search for "Touchpad" in the Windows Start menu and toggle it on from there. This works on every HP laptop.

Can I disable the touchpad permanently if I use an external mouse?

Yes. In Touchpad Settings, you can toggle the touchpad off and leave it off. You can also set it to turn off automatically when an external mouse is connected, which is a useful option if you switch between using a mouse and the touchpad.