Hardware incompatibility is not at all a new term and it can occur without any prior notice. If you ever face the laptop touchpad not working problem, then do not panic. It is a more than a common issue and most of the Asus laptop users report to face this trouble on a daily basis. But the matter of fact is that it can occur irrespective of the brand or laptop model you are using.
If you are presently facing this problem, then it could be either due to OS glitch or due to any hardware fault. Whatever be the reason, you must configure the ways that can mitigate the problem. Here, in this article, we have discussed the most common ways that even a layman can apply to resolve a non-functional touchpad of an Asus laptop.
Comprehensive Guide to Fix Asus Touchpad not Working
The first and the foremost steps should be to verify whether the problem is generated due to any touchpad error or due to the OS-error. If the OS is not responding, then it means that it is not capable of executing any commands. Thus, the touchpad not working issue arises. To verify the fact, hold down the Windows key and see whether the Start menu opens or not.
1. Enable the Touchpad Using Fn Keys
Now, if the computer is responding without any flaws, then check if you have mistakenly disabled the touchpad or not. Most of the laptops come along with the Function keys feature to disable and enable the touchpad. So does Asus laptop.
In this case, try pressing the Fn key to turn On and Off the touchpad. Repeat the process for a couple of times and see if this helps you or not.
Note: This process might turn off the screen function as well. So, do not panic and press that button once again to recover from it.
2. Verify and Reconnect the USB Device
Often, certain external devices tend to disable the touchpad automatically. If you have recently connected any USB input devices, then it could be the root cause for the touchpad error. Thus, turn off the computer, disconnect all the recently attached external devices.
Now, restart the computer and verify if the touchpad is working or not. Reconnect the USB device to proceed with the troubleshooting. If the problem recurs, then try not to use the USB device or move to the next alternative solution.
3. Reconfigure the Touchpad Settings
If you have reconfigured the touchpad settings, then it might prevent you to use the touchpad for any other work. Thus, let us proceed and get to the mouse’s settings to enable the touchpad once again.
Note: Before you start you must connect a USB external mouse to resolve the problem without any hindrance. Further, if your Asus laptop comes along with a TrackPoint, then you can use that as well to perform the steps below.
To Access the Touchpad Settings:
To initiate the process, press the Windows key and type “touchpad” in the search dialog box, hit the Enter key. As soon as the command gets executed, a list of search results will appear. Select the Touchpad Settings option from the list.
Now, the Touchpad window will open, check the switch next to the Touchpad On/Off label. If the toggle switch is set to Off, then change it to the On position.
To Access the Mouse Settings:
Often, the mouse settings are turned Off, then it can also result in the non-functionality of the touchpad. Thus, to verify the settings, press the Windows key and in the search dialog box type “Control Panel”, then press the Enter key.
Now, in the Control Panel, locate and click on the Hardware And Sound option. Right under the ‘Devices and Printers’ tab, you will get the Mouse option, click on it. The Mouse Properties window will open, locate the touchpad settings, usually right next to the Hardware tab.
Note: The name of the tab tends to vary depending on the manufacturer and the model of the laptop you are using.
Verify if the checkbox, beside the label “Enable touchpad” is marked. If not, then mark it and adjust the settings based on your preference. Finally, click on the Apply button and the OK to save all the recent changes. When done, test the touchpad, whether it is working without any glitch or not.
Additional Procedure if the Touchpad option fails to appear:
If you note that the touchpad tab is not visible in the Mouse Properties window, then you must go through the steps below:
- Go to the Mouse Properties window and click the Hardware tab. Locate the entry labeled as HID-compliant mouse, in the Device list.
- If you have already connected a USB mouse to your laptop for the troubleshooting purposes, then two HID-compliant mouse entries will be visible.
- Click on both these entries and mark the one that does not have the USB in the Location Property.
- As soon as you are able to locate the HID-compliant mouse entry for the touchpad, right-click on it and select the Properties button.
- A new window will appear “HID-compliant mouse Properties”, just check the Device status and note if you are able to see a message “This device is working properly”.
If the status depicts something else, then it is a clear indication that you need to update the Drivers.
4. Update the Touchpad Drivers
Often, we as a user forget to update the drivers, which is regarded as a great fault. If you are on the same page, then using obsolete drivers for a prolonged time can generate random technical breaches. Go through the steps below to update the drivers at the earliest:
At first, you have to identify and comprehend the detailed information regarding any hardware issue through the Device Manager. Press the Windows key and type “device manager” in the search dialog box. As soon as you hit the Enter key, the Device manager window will pop up.
Locate and click on the ‘Your PC’ tab. Right under this tab, you will get the ‘Mice and other pointing devices’ entry, click on it to navigate to the touchpad you are using.
Right-click on the Touchpad icon and select the option Update Driver Software. Now, click on ‘Search automatically for updated driver software’ and follow the onscreen instructions.
Now, you can use the procedures as mentioned earlier to check the status of the touchpad.
In case the device’s status shows that it is enabled, then either disable it and then enable it again or you can reset the settings. This will definitely fix the touchpad not working problem.
5. Check the BIOS settings
It might happen that you are unable to view the touchpad listed in the Device Manager, then it must be disabled in the BIOS. To check the BIOS settings, you need to restart the computer and press the F12 key to open the Boot menu or the F2 to navigate to the Setup Utility.
Then, check the Hardware Device Settings and note whether the touchpad is disabled or not. If it is disabled the re-enable it by changing the settings and restart the laptop. Finally, test whether you are still dealing with touchpad not working issue.
6. Verify if the System Files are Corrupted
There is also a fair chance that the system files might be corrupted, and thus it results in the touchpad not working. To fix this problem, either you have to activate a restore point and restore the system to a date when the touchpad was working without any glitch. Otherwise, you can also choose to go for a complete OS repair installation.
To Activate a Restore Point:
The system restores simply allows you to roll back the state of the system files. But, the only problem that may arise, that it may delete all the settings and you need to implement them again, after creating the restore. If you are using Windows 10, then move forward and learn the steps:
Navigate to Start and type “restore” in the Search dialog box. When a list of result appears, click on “Create a restore point”, the System Properties window will appear. In that window, right under the System Restore section, click on the System Restore button.
As soon as you hit the Next button, you will get a list of suggestions regarding the recent restore point and your last critical update. You can also check the box next to “Show more restore points”, in case you are not sure about the date when the problem initially began.
Finally, make a selection and click the Next button. You will be asked to confirm the action, select the OK button and click on Finish.
To Repair Installation of the OS:
This is simply a method of installing a new build over the existing installation, using the install DVD. Follow the steps below to proceed:
At first, insert the install Disc and press a key when prompted to boot from the Windows installation disc. You will get a window where you need to provide the information regarding the language, time and currency format and keyboard or input method.
After that, as soon as you hit the Repair Your Computer option, you will note that the “System Recovery Option” window appears, thereafter you choose the version of Windows.
Get to the Startup Repair and follow the onscreen instructions. Make the correct selection and replace the current version with any upgraded file from the online source. Now, all you have to do is wait for the utility reports. If the problem is minor, then the Startup Repair will be able to bring the touchpad to its normal condition.
Note: If carried out in a proper manner, then the method will prove to be more than beneficial. This steps will help you without erasing your software and personal files.
Lastly…
Now, the last analysis will be that you have completely fixed the Asus touchpad not working issue. If you note that despite applying the above resolutions, you are still facing laptop touchpad not working issue, then it more than possible that the touchpad has become completely non-functional and needs to be repaired.
Either the touchpad needs a complete replacement or any other hardware component associated with it needs to be repaired.
Further, if you are presently happily working on your Asus laptop, after implementing the solution, then share your views. You can post about your experience in the comment section below and encourage us to provide you more tech-articles.
