Fix: Touchpad Settings Missing on Windows 11

The Touchpad is one of the fundamental input devices for laptops, which provides intuitive & efficient navigation to enhance the user experience. However, the Touchpad settings sometimes go missing mysteriously on Windows 11, which is frustrating.

In this guide, we will discuss some effective solutions with step-by-step instructions right after examining the causes of the issue.

Why can’t I see Touchpad settings in Windows 11?

• The Touchpad option is disabled from the Device Manager app.
• Incompatible, outdated, or missing driver.
• Corrupted or pending Windows update.
• Older or incompatible Touchpad hardware.

How do I fix the Touchpad settings missing issue on Windows 11?

Before proceeding with any steps to fix the trackpad settings missing, go through the following preliminary checks:

• Ensure your Windows is up to date.
• Try restarting your computer.
• Check your Touchpad for physical damage.
• Verify that you are logged in with a user profile with administrator rights.
• Connect an external mouse to carry on the troubleshooting steps.

1. Run the hardware troubleshooter

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and click OK to open Hardware and Devices troubleshooter.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Select Apply repairs automatically and click Next.
5. Next, choose the device to troubleshoot; if you can’t find the device, click the I don’t see my device listed option.
6. The tool will try & find the issue and apply fixes to resolve the issue; follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

Restart your computer to let the changes take effect. You can run the troubleshooter to fix other hardware issues like the printer not working issue.

2. Rollback the Touchpad driver

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager.
3. Locate and click Human Interface Devices to expand it.
4. Right-click the Touchpad driver and select Properties.
5. On the Properties window, go to the Drivers tab.
6. Click the Roll Back Driver button.
7. Select the reason and click Yes to confirm the choice.

In case the Roll Back Driver option is greyed out for you, you don’t have the older version of the driver. So, skip this method and proceed to the next one.

3. Re-enable the Touchpad driver

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager.
3. Locate and click Human Interface Devices to expand it.
4. Look for your Touchpad driver. If you can’t find it, click View from the main menu and select Show hidden devices.
5. Now go to the list again, right-click the Touchpad driver, and select Disable device.
6. Wait for a minute, right-click it again, and choose the Enable device option.
7. Now, reboot your computer and check if the issue persists.

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4. Update/Reinstall the Touchpad drivers

1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type devmgmt.msc and click OK to open the Device Manager.
3. Locate and click Human Interface Devices to expand it.
4. Right-click the touchpad driver and select Update driver.
5. Click Search automatically for drivers. If there is an update available, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
6. If not, right-click the driver again and select Uninstall device.
7. Go to Action, and click Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the driver.

Keeping your drivers updated can also help you prevent common trackpad issues like the touchpad not working issue.

5. Verify if the Touchpad is enabled in BIOS

1. Press the Windows key, select the Power button, then click Restart.
2. Your computer will shut down; when it boots up again, press the designated key to enter BIOS; usually, it is F2 or F10. If you do not know yours, check the user manual.
3. Once in BIOS, locate Touchpad, Trackpad, or Internal Pointing Device settings, and make sure it is enabled. If not, use the arrow keys to enable it and press F10 to save the changes.

6. Uninstall the latest Windows update

1. Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to Windows Update, and click Update history.
3. Scroll to Related settings, and click Uninstall updates.
4. Locate the last update and click Uninstall.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process, then restart your computer.

Every time you perform any of these methods, press Windows + I to open Settings>go to Bluetooth and devices, then look for Touchpad in the right pane.

If nothing worked for you, then the issue might be due to a hardware problem; therefore, for further assistance, you need to contact the device manufacturer.

In case you are facing other trackpad issues like click not working on Windows, read this guide to learn the detailed solutions.

If you have any questions or suggestions about the subject, feel free to mention them in the comments section below.