The quickest way to disable your touchpad
Most laptops let you turn off the touchpad through Settings or Device Manager, and the method depends on whether you use Windows or Mac. On Windows, you can disable it in Settings under Devices > Touchpad, or use a keyboard shortcut if your laptop manufacturer built one in. On Mac, go to System Settings > Trackpad and uncheck the options you want to turn off. If neither of those works, you can disable it through Device Manager on Windows by right-clicking the touchpad device and selecting "Disable device."
The reason you might want to disable your touchpad is usually because an external mouse works better for you, or because the touchpad keeps triggering accidentally when you're typing. Disabling it completely is simpler than adjusting sensitivity settings if you plan to use a mouse full-time.
Key Takeaways
- Windows laptops have a touchpad toggle in Settings under Devices > Touchpad, which is the easiest method for most users.
- Many Windows laptops include a keyboard shortcut (often Fn + a function key with a touchpad icon) that turns the touchpad on and off instantly.
- Mac users can disable the trackpad in System Settings > Trackpad by unchecking "Tracking" or other specific features.
- If Settings doesn't show a touchpad option, use Windows Device Manager to find and disable the touchpad driver directly.
- Disabling the touchpad is reversible — you can turn it back on using the same method whenever you need it.
Disable touchpad in Windows Settings
Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, then navigate to Devices in the left sidebar. Click Touchpad and you'll see a toggle at the top that says "Touchpad." Click it to turn the touchpad off. The toggle will turn gray, and your touchpad will stop responding immediately.
If you don't see a Touchpad option under Devices, your laptop manufacturer may not have included this setting. In that case, move to the Device Manager method below. Some older Windows laptops or budget models skip this feature entirely.
You can return to this same screen anytime to turn the touchpad back on by clicking the toggle again. Some people leave it off permanently and only enable it when they need to use the laptop without a mouse.
Use a keyboard shortcut to toggle the touchpad
Many laptop brands include a dedicated keyboard shortcut to turn the touchpad on and off without opening Settings. Look at your function keys (F1 through F12) for a small icon that looks like a touchpad or hand. This is usually on one of the F keys, often F5, F6, F7, or F9, depending on your brand.
Press Fn + that function key to toggle the touchpad. For example, on many Dell laptops it's Fn + F3, and on Lenovo it's often Fn + F8. The touchpad will turn off or on immediately, and you may see a notification on screen confirming the change. This method is faster than opening Settings if you plan to toggle it frequently.
If you're not sure which key it is, check your laptop's manual or search online for "[your laptop brand] disable touchpad keyboard shortcut." The exact combination varies widely between manufacturers.
Disable touchpad through Windows Device Manager
If the Settings method doesn't work, you can disable the touchpad driver directly. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Look for a category called Mice and other pointing devices and click the arrow to expand it.
You'll see a list of pointing devices. Look for one with "Touchpad," "Trackpad," or the name of your laptop manufacturer (like "Synaptics" or "ELAN") in the name. Right-click it and select Disable device. A dialog box will ask you to confirm — click Yes. The touchpad will stop working immediately.
To turn it back on later, open Device Manager again, find the same device, right-click it, and select Enable device. The touchpad will work again after a few seconds. This method is permanent until you re-enable it, so it's useful if you want the touchpad off for an extended period.
Disable trackpad on Mac
On Mac, open System Settings and click Trackpad in the sidebar. You'll see several options: Tracking, Scrolling, Clicking, and others depending on your macOS version. To disable the trackpad entirely, uncheck the Tracking box. This stops the trackpad from moving your cursor.
If you only want to disable certain features, you can uncheck individual options instead. For example, unchecking Tap to click keeps the trackpad working for movement but disables tapping. Unchecking Force Click and haptic feedback disables pressure-sensitive clicks.
To turn the trackpad back on, return to System Settings > Trackpad and check the boxes again. There is no keyboard shortcut for this on Mac, so you'll need to use Settings each time.
Adjust touchpad sensitivity instead of disabling it
If you want to keep the touchpad available but reduce accidental touches, you can lower its sensitivity instead of turning it off completely. In Windows Settings > Devices > Touchpad, scroll down to find Sensitivity and move the slider to the left. This makes the touchpad less responsive to light touches, which helps if you're typing and your palm keeps triggering clicks.
You can also enable Leave touchpad on while typing (if your laptop supports it) to prevent accidental input during typing sessions. Some laptops have a Palm rejection setting that automatically ignores touches from the side of your hand.
On Mac, you can adjust Tracking speed in System Settings > Trackpad to make the cursor move slower or faster, which can help if sensitivity is the real problem. Lowering the speed makes precise movements easier and reduces accidental clicks.
Troubleshooting when the touchpad won't disable
If you've tried the Settings method and the touchpad still works, the keyboard shortcut may be overriding it. Try pressing the keyboard shortcut again to see if it toggles the touchpad off. Some laptops prioritize the hardware shortcut over the software setting.
If Device Manager shows no touchpad device, your laptop may use a built-in trackpad that can't be disabled through the driver. In this case, your only option is the Settings toggle or keyboard shortcut. Restart your laptop after disabling through Device Manager — sometimes the change doesn't take effect until you reboot.
If you've disabled the touchpad and need to re-enable it but can't remember how, you can always plug in an external mouse and use that to navigate back to Settings or Device Manager to turn it back on. The touchpad will still respond to the keyboard shortcut even when disabled, so try that first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling the touchpad affect my external mouse?
No. Disabling the touchpad only turns off that specific input device. Your external mouse will continue to work normally whether the touchpad is on or off. You can disable the touchpad and use a mouse without any problems.
Can I disable the touchpad only while typing?
Yes, if your laptop supports it. In Windows Settings > Touchpad, look for an option called "Leave touchpad on while typing" or "Disable touchpad while typing" and toggle it on. This automatically turns the touchpad off when it detects keyboard input and turns it back on when you stop typing.
What if I accidentally disabled the touchpad and can't turn it back on?
Plug in an external mouse or use a keyboard shortcut if you remember it. Then open Settings or Device Manager using the keyboard and mouse to re-enable the touchpad. If you're stuck, restart your laptop — this won't undo the change, but it gives you a fresh start to navigate the menus.
Is it safe to disable the touchpad permanently?
Yes, it's completely safe. Disabling the touchpad doesn't damage anything — it just turns off the driver or the hardware feature. You can re-enable it anytime by following the same steps. Many people who use external mice disable their touchpad permanently without any issues.
Why does my touchpad keep re-enabling after I disable it?
Some laptops have a BIOS setting that controls the touchpad, and Windows settings may not override it. Restart your laptop and try disabling it again through Device Manager instead of Settings. If it keeps re-enabling, check your laptop manufacturer's support page for a BIOS update or a dedicated control panel app that manages the touchpad.