Disable your touchpad through Settings or BIOS

You can turn off your laptop's touchpad in two main ways: through your operating system settings, or through your computer's BIOS (the firmware that runs before Windows or macOS loads). The settings route is faster and works for most people. The BIOS route is more permanent — the touchpad won't wake back up even if you restart — but requires more steps and varies by laptop model.

Most people disable the touchpad because they use an external mouse and the touchpad keeps triggering accidentally when their palm brushes it while typing. If that's your situation, the settings method is usually enough. You can turn it back on the same way if you need it later.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows lets you disable the touchpad in Settings under Bluetooth & devices, and the option appears only if your touchpad has a driver installed.
  • Mac users can turn off the trackpad in System Settings under Trackpad, with separate toggles for clicking, dragging, and other gestures.
  • Many laptops have a physical keyboard shortcut (often Fn + a touchpad icon) that toggles the touchpad on and off instantly.
  • BIOS disabling is permanent until you re-enable it there, but the exact steps differ by manufacturer — check your laptop's manual or support page first.
  • If Settings shows no touchpad option, your touchpad driver may be missing or outdated, and you may need to reinstall it from your laptop maker's support site.

Disable the touchpad in Windows Settings

Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I, or click the Start menu and type "Settings". Once Settings opens, select Bluetooth & devices from the left sidebar, then click Touchpad.

At the top of the Touchpad page, you'll see a toggle switch labeled Touchpad. Click it to turn the touchpad off. The switch will turn gray, and your touchpad will stop responding immediately. If you don't see a Touchpad option in Bluetooth & devices, your touchpad driver is not installed or is not recognized — skip ahead to the "Touchpad driver is missing or outdated" section below.

To turn the touchpad back on later, return to the same screen and click the toggle again. You can also customize touchpad behavior on this page — for example, you can disable it only when a mouse is connected, or adjust sensitivity — but the main toggle is the fastest way to shut it off completely.

Disable the trackpad on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. In the sidebar, click Trackpad. (If you don't see Trackpad in the sidebar, click the search icon at the top and type "Trackpad", then click the result.)

On the Trackpad page, you'll see several toggles for different features: Tap to click, Tracking speed, Force Click and haptic feedback, and others. To disable the trackpad entirely, turn off Tap to click and Force Click and haptic feedback. You can also lower the tracking speed to its minimum, which makes the trackpad less responsive without fully disabling it.

macOS does not have a single "off" switch for the trackpad like Windows does. If you want the trackpad completely unresponsive, disable both tapping and force click, and the trackpad will be effectively off. To restore it, turn those toggles back on.

Use a keyboard shortcut to toggle the touchpad

Many laptops have a built-in keyboard shortcut that turns the touchpad on and off instantly. The shortcut usually involves the Fn key (bottom-left of the keyboard) plus a key with a touchpad icon on it. Look at your keyboard — you may see a small touchpad symbol on one of the F keys (F1 through F12), often with a line through it.

Press Fn and that key together. For example, on many Dell and HP laptops, it's Fn + F6 or Fn + F7. On Lenovo ThinkPads, it's often Fn + F6. On Asus laptops, it may be Fn + F9. The exact key varies by model, so check your laptop's manual or search "[your laptop model] disable touchpad keyboard shortcut" online if you're not sure which key to use.

If you find the right shortcut, you can toggle the touchpad on and off without opening Settings at all. This is the fastest method if your laptop supports it. Some laptops also have a physical button or switch near the touchpad itself — check the edges of the touchpad area.

Disable the touchpad in BIOS

BIOS is the firmware layer that runs before your operating system starts. Disabling the touchpad here makes it stay off even after restart, and it's harder to accidentally turn back on. However, the steps vary significantly by laptop manufacturer, and you need to restart your computer to access BIOS.

Restart your laptop and watch the screen carefully as it boots. You'll see a message like "Press F2 to enter Setup" or "Press Del to enter BIOS" — the key varies by brand. Press that key repeatedly as soon as you see the message. If you miss it, let the computer finish booting and try again.

Once you're in BIOS, look for a section called Integrated Peripherals, Onboard Devices, Internal Devices, or Advanced. Inside that section, find an option for Touchpad, Integrated Pointing Device, or Trackpad. Highlight it and press Enter or the spacebar to toggle it off. The exact name and location depend on your laptop model — if you can't find it, search "[your laptop model] disable touchpad BIOS" or check your laptop's manual.

After you've disabled it, look for a Save and Exit option (usually F10) and press that key. Your laptop will restart with the touchpad disabled. To re-enable it later, restart again, enter BIOS the same way, and toggle the touchpad back on.

Touchpad driver is missing or outdated

If you don't see a Touchpad option in Windows Settings, your touchpad driver is either not installed or not working. A driver is software that tells Windows how to communicate with the touchpad hardware. Without it, Windows can't control the touchpad.

First, check if the touchpad is listed in Device Manager. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager. Look for a category called Mice and other pointing devices and expand it. If you see your touchpad listed there (it might say "Touchpad", "Trackpad", "Synaptics", "Elan", or "Alps"), right-click it and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software and let Windows search for the latest version.

If the touchpad doesn't appear in Device Manager at all, or if updating the driver didn't work, you'll need to download the driver from your laptop manufacturer's support website. Go to the support page for your laptop model, search for "touchpad driver" or "trackpad driver", and download the file for your Windows version (32-bit or 64-bit — you can find this in Settings under System > About). Run the installer and restart your computer. After restart, the Touchpad option should appear in Settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will disabling the touchpad affect my keyboard?

No. The touchpad and keyboard are separate devices. Disabling the touchpad only stops the touchpad from working — your keyboard will function normally. You can still type and use keyboard shortcuts.

Can I disable the touchpad only when a mouse is connected?

Yes, on Windows. In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, scroll down and look for an option like "Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected" or "Disable touchpad when external mouse is detected". Toggle this option on, and the touchpad will turn off automatically when you plug in or connect a mouse.

What if the keyboard shortcut doesn't work?

The shortcut may not work if your touchpad driver is missing, or if the shortcut is disabled in your laptop's settings. Try the Windows Settings method instead. If Settings doesn't show a Touchpad option, reinstall the driver from your laptop maker's support website.

Is it safe to disable the touchpad in BIOS?

Yes, it's completely safe. Disabling hardware in BIOS doesn't damage anything — it just tells the computer not to use that device. You can re-enable it the same way if you change your mind.

My touchpad stopped working after an update. How do I fix it?

A Windows or driver update may have disabled the touchpad or broken the driver. Open Device Manager, find your touchpad under Mice and other pointing devices, right-click it, and select Update driver. If that doesn't work, uninstall the driver, restart your computer, and Windows will reinstall it automatically. If the touchpad still doesn't work, download the latest driver from your laptop manufacturer's support page.