The touchpad on a laptop is one of the most important features, allowing users to scroll and click through webpages and apps easily. It usually does everything that a normal mouse is intended to do. However, some users favor using a mouse because that is commonly more comfortable. Next, users with touchscreen-enabled computers often prefer to swipe and tap their screens like a tablet.
In another use case scenario, while working on a document, one might want to disable the touchpad provisionally to avoid unintentionally tapping something or moving something around as the mouse pointer is in a close range while tapping on the keyboard. Also, If you prefer connecting a physical mouse to your laptop, inputs might clash with the mouse due to accidental touches, and hence you can’t have the touchpad working as an input device too. For such numerous reasons, people often need to turn their touchpads off. In this post, I will guide you on How to Disable TouchPad in Windows 11/10.
How to Disable Touchpad in Windows 11/10
There are certainly a lot of ways using which the touchpad could be disabled; here’s the list of the easiest possible methods to do so:
- Using Settings
- Using Device Manager
- Via Shortcut on Keyboard
- Disable TouchPad when Mouse is Connected
Most of these will work without admin permission.
1] Using Settings
The Settings panel is one of the easiest elementary ways to access any setting related to your PC. It can be used for disabling the touchpad as well. Here’s how to do so:
- Open the Settings Panel in Windows (Win+ I) or search for the same in the Start Search Box.
- Scroll down, Navigate and find: Devices -> Touchpad
- Next, turn the toggle under the Touchpad menu, OFF to disable the touchpad.
2] Using Device Manager
Since the Touchpad is a hardware device, it could be disabled using the Device Manager utility present in Windows. Here’s how to do so:
- Open the Device Manager by either using the Run Dialog Prompt (Win + R) or searching for the same using the Start Search Box and choosing the main listed result.
- Next up, under Mice and Other Pointing Devices, find your trackpad.
- Now, right-click and choose Disable Device.
- To reverse the action back, follow the same process, and instead of choosing Disable Device, choose Enable device, and you’re good to go.
3] Via Control Panel
The control panel could also form an option to disable or enable the touchpad back on a Windows operating machine; however, the option is buried deep under the settings. Here’s where to find it:
- Open the Control Panel on your Windows 11/10 PC by searching for the same in the Start Search Box.
- Next, On the Control Panel Home, navigate to Hardware and Sound.
- Here, under Devices and Printers, you’ll find an option for Mouse.
- Click on the Mouse option to open Mouse Properties. Next, head over to the Hardware.
- Now find and click the button stating Properties. In the new window that opens, navigate to the Driver tab, and choose the Disable Device option.
4] Disable Touchpad when Mouse is Connected
Although one can easily disable the touchpad completely when using an external pointing device, Windows offers its users an option only to turn off the touchpad when an external mouse has been connected, which enables it back when the external device is disconnected. Here’s how to set it up.
- Open the Settings Panel in Windows 11/10 (Win+ I) or search for the same in the Start Search Box.
- Scroll down, Navigate and find: Devices -> Touchpad
- Next, uncheck the checkbox stating Leave the touchpad on when a mouse is connected.
With this, whenever you connect an external mouse, Windows will automatically disable the touchpad.
Do you prefer to keep the touchpad temporarily or permanently locked? Do let us know by dropping a comment down below.