Disabling a Laptop's Touchpad

Written by Barry Dysert (last updated May 1, 2017)

2

When using your laptop, you may find that you occasionally get spurious cursor movement because you accidentally brush across the touchpad. I prefer using a mouse to the touchpad, so I'm at no disadvantage in disabling it and I therefore avoid unintentional cursor movement. Disabling a laptop's touchpad is a simple exercise, once you know where to go.

Go to Start | Settings and click Devices. On the left side, click Mouse & Touchpad. Scroll down and at the bottom click the "Additional Mouse Options" link. (See Figure 1.)

Figure 1. Navigating to the laptop's touchpad.

This brings up a new window. Click the "Device Settings" tab, ensure your mouse is selected in the Devices window, and check the box labeled "Disable internal point device when external USB pointing device is attached." (See Figure 2.)

Figure 2. Disabling the laptop's touchpad.

Don't be thrown off by the mention of a "USB pointing device." I use a Bluetooth mouse, and this still works. OK your way out, and now your touchpad is disabled.

 This tip (241) applies to Windows 10.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 35 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer. He is currently a software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. When not working with Windows or writing Tips, Barry is an amateur writer. His first non-fiction book is titled "A Chronological Commentary of Revelation." ...

MORE FROM BARRY

How to Find Apps Faster

This tip reveals a little-known trick that enables you to move around your Start menu a little faster. The result is ...

Discover More

Understanding System Protection

System Protection is an automatic feature of Windows. It uses restore points that can be a virtual lifesaver if an ...

Discover More

Setting a Restore Point

Restore Points let you go "back in time" to a point before you made system changes that could prove harmful to your ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Connecting a Bluetooth Device

If you're the proud owner of a Bluetooth device, you probably want to get right to connecting it to your computer. This ...

Discover More

Creating a Custom Power Management Plan

Don't like the built-in power management plans that Windows provides? You can create your own to better fit your power needs.

Discover More

Finding a Device Driver's Version

Device drivers are used to allow a hardware device to communicate effectively with Windows. You might need to know a ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 4 + 9?

2017-05-02 21:58:21

Barry

You re-enable the touchpad by clicking the checkbox, in other words just undo what you did to disable it.

2017-05-02 21:29:34

RON RICHARDS

Re Subject DISABLE A LAPTOPS TOUCH PAD - Being a Mouse Man I'm keen to disable my Touch Pad BUT there are times that I would need to occasionally use the Touch Pad. - SO before I race ahead and follow these instructions are they reversible? - If so can one just reverse the instructions OR is there another set of instructions needed to reconnect the Touch Pad?
Thank you for your time - By the way I have Windows 10 installed on my computer.

Newest Tips
Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.