Touchpad Disable Methods for Laptops: Hotkeys, Settings, BIOS and More

All modern laptops include a touchpad to simplify interaction, especially when a mouse is not available. Sometimes it becomes necessary to disable the touchpad, and each model uses its own key combination to do so. This guide explains the various methods to disable the touchpad across different laptop models.

What is a touch pad?

The touchpad, often built by Synaptics, sits beneath the keyboard on many laptops. It is designed to substitute for a traditional mouse, allowing cursor control, left and right clicks, and a host of gestures. With finger contact on the touch surface, it can read actions accurately and supports tasks such as scrolling, zooming, mirroring, swiping, clicking, and wheel spinning.

Disable the touchpad with a hotkey?

Most laptop makers include key combinations for additional functions, including toggling the touchpad on and off. In many models, the relevant shortcut is activated by pressing Fn plus a function key, commonly F7, F9, or a similar F-key. The active key for the touchpad is usually marked with a small icon. The following list highlights typical shortcuts for popular brands:

1. Acer – Fn + F7.
2. Asus – Fn + F7 or Fn + F9.
3. Dell – Fn + F5 or Fn + F7.
4. HP – double tap in the top left corner of the touchpad.
5. Lenovo – Fn + F5 or Fn + F8.
6. MSI – Fn + F3.
7. Omen – Fn + F11.
8. Sony – Fn + F1.
9. Samsung – Fn + F5.
10. Toshiba – Fn + F5.

How to disable the touchpad with a dedicated button

A less common method involves a dedicated button near the touchpad. Pressing this button disables the touchpad, and pressing it again reactivates it, without any keyboard shortcut.

How to disable the touchpad from the Settings in Windows 10

The touchpad can be turned off through Windows settings. Follow these steps:

1. Open Start and select the gear icon to access Settings.
2. Go to Devices and choose Touchpad.
3. In the window that appears, toggle off the touchpad under Touchpad.

There is an option Do not disable touchpad when mouse is connected. Unchecking this box will automatically disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected. The same menu allows customization of touchpad actions and the option to disable certain features if needed.

How to disable the touchpad via Mouse Properties

Most Synaptics touchpads can be disabled through their properties. Here is how to do it:

1. Open Settings from Start.
2. Use the search bar to type Control Panel and open it.
3. Search for Mouse in the Control Panel and select it.
4. In Mouse properties, locate Device Settings.
5. Choose Disable and save with Apply.

The menu also lets you set a preference to disable the touchpad automatically when an external mouse is connected. Enable Disable internal pointing device when a USB pointing device is connected to apply this behavior.

How to disable the touchpad via Device Manager

If needed, the touchpad driver can be disabled through Device Manager. Steps are straightforward:

1. Press Win + R.
2. Enter devmgmt.msc and press OK.
3. Open Mice and other pointing devices.
4. Find the touchpad, right-click, and choose Turn off device. The exact name varies by model, often Synaptics TouchPad or HID compliant touchpad.

If the panel does not respond, another device in the same section can be disabled instead. The touchpad can be left disabled permanently if necessary, though re-enabling is simple and safe to attempt later.

Disable Touchpad in BIOS

Another method is to disable the touchpad from BIOS. Steps are typically as follows:

1. Restart the laptop.
2. When the startup screen appears, press the BIOS access key such as Del or F2, or use the indicated shortcut on screen. Some systems accept keys like Ctrl+F2, Fn+F2, Ctrl+Alt+Del, or Ctrl+Alt+Esc.
3. Enter the Advanced section and locate Internal pointing device.
4. Set it to Disabled and save changes with the recommended option, usually via F10, then restart.

Disabling the touchpad this way is permanent until BIOS settings are changed again. If needed, enable the touchpad by returning to the BIOS and switching Internal pointing device to Enabled. BIOS versions vary by manufacturer, so some screens may look different. The guide outlines the most common method to disable the touchpad in the BIOS.

There is also a hardware option that involves disconnecting the touchpad cable. This is not advised, as it can void warranties, cause damage, or affect internal components. Proceeding with such hardware changes carries risk and should be avoided by most users.