While many people use a USB mouse with their laptop, sometimes your mouse isn’t around, or you’re used to using the laptop touchpad instead.
If your Toshiba laptop touchpad suddenly stops working, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is faulty.
There could be a problem in mouse settings that you can solve in a few easy steps. However, sometimes the issue may be in the hardware.
Keep on reading as we go through the most common Toshiba laptop touchpad issues and the best methods to fix them.
Why is your Toshiba laptop touchpad not working?
There are multiple reasons your Toshiba laptop touchpad may be disabled or not working correctly.
Whether the issue concerns the settings on your Toshiba laptop or the hardware, it is usually something that doesn’t require much expertise when it comes to fixing it.
The mouse touchpad is disabled on your Toshiba laptop
One of the most common issues is that the mouse touchpad is disabled in your mouse settings.
Luckily, this is an issue you can solve in a couple of clicks, and it is one of the easiest ways to fix the touchpad.
Touchpad driver software issue
Every single hardware component in your laptop requires a corresponding driver. A driver is merely a connection between the hardware components and the software.
Without a functioning driver, you won’t be able to manage the hardware element in question, which is precisely why a faulty touchpad driver may cause it to stop working.
Whether the driver needs an update or it is corrupted, it is necessary to repair it or download the required update to solve this issue.
External device interference
USB input devices can seriously affect every aspect of your laptop’s performance – mouse pad included.
If you can’t figure out what the burning issue may be with your laptop touchpad, it could be that an external device is interfering with it.
Corrupt operating system files
External USB devices aren’t the only factor that could compromise your computer’s system.
Corrupt operating system files may be the reason behind a faulty touchpad, not just on your Toshiba laptop but on any other model, including an HP laptop and ASUS laptop.
These corrupt files could be damaged or infected by a virus or malware, which is certainly something to address as soon as possible, and not just for the sake of your touchpad.
The touchpad is malfunctioning
If none of the mentioned problems seem to be the case, it is possible that this is a hardware issue and your Toshiba touchpad is malfunctioning.
Perhaps you’ve dropped your laptop or spilled some fluid that has reached the internal structure of your laptop and caused the touchpad to fail.
How to fix a Toshiba laptop touchpad not working
Let’s look at some of the best methods you can try to fix your Toshiba touchpad and prevent this issue in the future.
1. Enable the touchpad with a key combination
You can easily disable the touchpad with a key combination without even noticing, so this may be what has caused the Toshiba touchpad to stop working.
Several methods can be used to enable the touchpad, and the one with a key combination will be different for every laptop model.
You should look at your Toshiba laptop keyboard and locate a Function Key with a touchpad icon. All you need to do is press it and follow any further instructions.
Depending on the model, an audio signal or visual confirmation on the screen may indicate the touchpad is now enabled.
Even if there is no confirmation, you can test this function using the touchpad. If there is still no response from it, you should try another method of enabling the touchpad on your laptop.
Keep in mind that, on certain models, it is necessary to press and hold the Fn button before you press the Function Key with the touchpad icon to enable it.
You may also try pressing the Fn and Function Key simultaneously to enable the mouse pad.
2. Change the touchpad settings
If the first method didn’t work for your Toshiba laptops, you can launch the touchpad settings and enable the touchpad from there.
Launch the Control Panel, then find the Hardware and Sound option and click on it. Select Mouse under the Drivers and Printers tab, then click on Touchpad (there might be a brand name in front of the touchpad option, such as Dell Touchpad).
In the touchpad settings menu, you will find either a checkbox or a toggle switch option, where you should enable the touchpad.
3. Change the BIOS settings to enable the touchpad
This is yet another quick way to ensure that the touchpad is enabled on your Toshiba laptop. As the computer is booting up, launch the BIOS settings (the keypress to launch this menu is different for every laptop, and you can find it in the user manual).
Once the BIOS menu pops up, navigate to Hardware settings (which may be labeled differently depending on the model) and enable the touchpad.
4. Uninstall the corrupted touchpad driver
A corrupted touchpad driver may be why you’re unable to use the touchpad on your laptop.
Launch the Control Panel, navigate to System and Security, and select System. Now select Device Manager and find the Human Interface Devices tab.
In this menu, double-click on the name of the touchpad, and then open the touchpad properties and select Driver. Select Uninstall, but make sure that the Delete the driver software for this device is unchecked.
Confirm your choice by clicking OK, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. Once the process is completed, restart your laptop.
5. Update the touchpad driver
In case of an outdated driver, you can easily update it in a few steps. Go to the Control Panel, then click on Hardware and Sound option and click on it.
Navigate to Mouse under the Drivers and Printers tab, then select Touchpad (there might be a brand name in front of the touchpad option, such as Dell Touchpad).
Once the Touchpad Settings menu shows up, select Driver, then click on Update Driver. Once the Update Driver Software menu opens, select Search automatically for updated driver software.
If the system offers no driver updates, it could be that your touchpad driver isn’t outdated and has no pending updates.
However, you can check this result by visiting the official Toshiba website. Look for available software and driver updates and download them if a newer version is available.
6. Install a new touchpad driver software
You may have to install brand-new touchpad driver software if the update doesn’t work. Launch the Touchpad Settings described in the previous method, then click on the Update Driver button.
Now select Browse my computer for driver software, and then click on Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
A list will show up, where you should select HID-compliant touchpad, then hit Next to start the process. Click on Yes to confirm your choice and follow the on-screen instructions.
With this new driver software, all the bugs and errors that may have been the problem with the previous one should disappear, and you should be able to use your touchpad normally.
