On ASUS laptops, the touchpad is the primary input device, so when it stops working, the system can feel almost unusable. You may notice that the cursor does not move, touchpad gestures stop working, the touchpad is completely unresponsive, or it works intermittently. This issue can appear suddenly after a Windows update, driver change, or accidental setting change.
In most cases, an ASUS laptop touchpad not working is caused by disabled touchpad settings, missing or outdated drivers, function key toggles, or Windows input issues, not by hardware failure. The steps below will help you identify and fix the problem safely.
How to Fix ASUS Laptop Touchpad Not Working
Follow the steps below in order. After each step, check whether the touchpad starts working before moving on to the next one.
1. Check the Touchpad Function Key on Your ASUS Laptop
Many ASUS laptops allow the touchpad to be turned on or off using a keyboard shortcut.
- Look for a touchpad icon on one of the function keys (F1–F12)
- Common keys include F6, F9, or F10, depending on the model
- Press Fn + the touchpad key once
- Wait a few seconds and test the touchpad
It’s easy to disable the touchpad accidentally while typing.
2. Enable Touchpad from Windows 11 Settings
Windows 11 allows the touchpad to be disabled system-wide.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Go to Bluetooth & devices
- Click Touchpad
- Make sure Touchpad is turned ON
- Expand the settings and confirm gestures are enabled
If the toggle is OFF, the touchpad will not respond at all.
3. Restart Windows Explorer and the System
Temporary system glitches can stop input devices from responding.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Right-click Windows Explorer
- Select Restart
- Restart your laptop normally afterward
This refreshes input-related background processes.
4. Check Touchpad Status in Device Manager
If the touchpad driver is disabled, Windows will ignore it.
- Right-click Start and open Device Manager
- Expand Human Interface Devices and Mice and other pointing devices
- Look for ASUS Touchpad, ELAN, Synaptics, or Precision Touchpad
- If the device shows a down arrow icon, right-click it
- Select Enable device
A disabled driver will cause the touchpad to stop working completely.
5. Update the Touchpad Driver
Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of touchpad issues.
- Open Device Manager
- Right-click the touchpad device
- Select Update driver
- Choose Search automatically for drivers
- Restart your laptop after installation
If Windows does not find an update, install the driver manually from ASUS.
6. Install the Official ASUS Touchpad Driver
Windows generic drivers may not fully support ASUS features.
- Visit the official ASUS support website
- Search for your exact laptop model
- Download the latest Touchpad / Input driver
- Install the driver and restart your laptop
This step fixes most ASUS-specific touchpad problems.
7. Check BIOS Touchpad Settings
Some ASUS laptops allow the touchpad to be disabled in BIOS.
- Restart the laptop
- Press F2 or Del repeatedly during boot
- Enter BIOS/UEFI setup
- Look for Internal Pointing Device or Touchpad
- Make sure it is set to Enabled
- Save changes and exit BIOS
If disabled here, Windows cannot detect the touchpad.
8. Disable Tablet Mode and External Mouse Conflicts
Certain settings can interfere with touchpad input.
- Disconnect any external mouse
- Open Settings > System
- Make sure Tablet mode is not forcing touch input
- Restart the laptop
Some systems disable the touchpad when an external mouse is connected.
9. Check Windows Update and Optional Driver Updates
Missing optional updates can cause input issues.
- Open Settings > Windows Update
- Click Check for updates
- Install all available updates
- Go to Advanced options > Optional updates
- Install any available driver updates
Restart after updates complete.
10. Test Touchpad in Safe Mode (Hardware Check)
This helps determine if the issue is software-related.
- Boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode
- Test the touchpad
- If it works in Safe Mode, software or drivers are causing the issue
- If it does not work, hardware inspection may be required
Final Thoughts
An ASUS laptop touchpad not working is usually caused by disabled settings, missing drivers, BIOS configuration, or Windows update conflicts, not permanent hardware damage. In most cases, enabling the touchpad, installing the correct ASUS driver, or checking BIOS settings resolves the issue completely.
Keeping Windows 11 updated and using official ASUS drivers helps prevent touchpad problems in the future.