Disabling a Laptop's Touchpad

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

Changing User Permissions for a File

All objects on your computer (e.g., files) have permissions that allow or deny various types of access. This tip shows ...

Discover More

How the Registry is Organized

There may come a time when you need to view or even modify the registry. In such a case, it's good to know how the ...

Discover More

Using Powercfg to Delete an Existing Power Scheme

You may have created a new power scheme for whatever reason, but when it has outlived its usefulness, you want to delete ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Using Powercfg to Query an Existing Power Scheme

This tip shows you how to use the command-line Powercfg utility to query a given power scheme from your current environment.

Discover More

Using Powercfg to Change the Name of a Power Scheme

The Powercfg utility allows you to control how power is used on your system. This tip shows you how to use the ...

Discover More

Adjusting the Mouse for Left-Handed Users

Since Windows is so customizable, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft has made accommodations for left-handed ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

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}] 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 eight minus 6?

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
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.