Check if your touchscreen is disabled in Windows settings
The most common reason a touchscreen stops working is that it has been disabled in your operating system, not broken in hardware. Windows lets you turn touchscreen input on and off through Settings, and it often gets switched off accidentally or during a software update.
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select the Settings app. Go to Bluetooth & devices, then Touch. If you see a toggle that says "Touch input" and it is in the off position, click it to turn it back on. Your screen should respond to touch immediately after you do this.
If you do not see a Touch section at all, your device may not have a touchscreen, or Windows does not recognize it as connected. Move to the next section to check your hardware connection.
Key Takeaways
- A disabled touchscreen usually lives in Windows Settings under Bluetooth & devices, where you can turn it back on with a single toggle.
- If Settings shows no Touch option, check Device Manager to see whether Windows recognizes your touchscreen as a connected device.
- Updating or reinstalling the touchscreen driver often fixes unresponsive screens that are physically connected but not working.
- Restarting your computer clears temporary glitches that can disable touch input without changing any settings.
Look for the touchscreen in Device Manager
If the Touch toggle does not exist in Settings, Windows may not be recognizing your touchscreen at all. Device Manager shows every piece of hardware your computer knows about, and you can check whether your touchscreen appears there.
Press the Windows key and type "Device Manager", then open it. Look for a category called Human Interface Devices and click the arrow next to it to expand the list. You should see something like "HID-compliant touch screen" or a brand name like "Synaptics TouchPad". If you see it listed, your hardware is connected and Windows recognizes it — the problem is the driver or a setting. If you do not see any touchscreen listed, your device either does not have one or the connection is loose.
On a laptop, the touchscreen is built in and cannot come loose, so no listing means your device was not sold with a touchscreen. On a desktop monitor or tablet, check the cable connecting the screen to the computer — unplug it and plug it back in firmly, then restart your computer and check Device Manager again.
Update or reinstall the touchscreen driver
A driver is the software that tells Windows how to talk to your touchscreen. If the driver is outdated, corrupted, or missing, your screen will not respond to touch even though the hardware is connected. Updating or reinstalling the driver fixes this in most cases.
In Device Manager, find your touchscreen under Human Interface Devices, right-click it, and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software and let Windows search online for a newer version. If an update is found, Windows will install it and ask you to restart your computer.
If updating does not work, right-click the touchscreen again and select Uninstall device. Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver when it starts up, which often fixes corruption that an update alone cannot repair. After restart, check Settings again to see if the Touch toggle has returned.
Restart your computer to clear temporary glitches
A restart clears temporary software problems that can disable your touchscreen without changing any settings or drivers. This is worth trying before you spend time updating drivers or checking connections.
Save any open work, then restart your computer normally — do not use sleep or hibernate mode. After the restart, test your touchscreen by tapping the screen. If touch input suddenly works, a temporary glitch was the cause and no further action is needed.
Check for Windows updates
A Windows update sometimes disables touchscreen support or breaks the driver that controls it. Checking for and installing any pending updates can fix the problem if an update caused it, or provide a newer driver that works better.
Open Settings and go to Update & Security (or System > About on newer Windows versions), then click Check for updates. If updates are available, install them and restart your computer when prompted. After restart, test your touchscreen again.
Disable and re-enable the device in Device Manager
Sometimes disabling the touchscreen in Device Manager and then re-enabling it resets the connection between Windows and the hardware, which can restore touch input when other steps have not worked.
Open Device Manager and find your touchscreen under Human Interface Devices. Right-click it and select Disable device. Wait a few seconds, then right-click it again and select Enable device. Windows will reinitialize the connection. Restart your computer and test the touchscreen.
Contact the manufacturer if hardware is damaged
If you have tried all the steps above and your touchscreen still does not work, the hardware itself may be damaged. This is more likely if your screen was recently dropped, exposed to liquid, or physically cracked.
Find the manufacturer of your device — for a laptop or tablet, check the brand on the case; for a monitor, look at the bezel or back. Visit their support website and search for "touchscreen repair" or "hardware replacement". Most manufacturers offer mail-in repair or can direct you to an authorized repair center. If your device is still under warranty, repair may be covered at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my touchscreen stop working after a Windows update?
Updates sometimes disable touchscreen support or install a driver that does not work with your specific hardware. Check Device Manager to see if your touchscreen is listed, and try updating or reinstalling the driver. If that does not work, rolling back the Windows update through Settings > Update & Security > Recovery may restore touch input.
Can I use my computer without a touchscreen if it will not turn back on?
Yes. A keyboard and mouse or trackpad work normally even if the touchscreen is broken or disabled. You can use your computer for everything except touch input. If you need touch input for work or school, contact the manufacturer about repair options.
What if Device Manager shows my touchscreen but it is grayed out?
A grayed-out device is disabled. Right-click it and select Enable device. Windows will turn it back on. If it becomes grayed out again after restart, the driver may be corrupted — try uninstalling and reinstalling it as described in the driver section above.
Is it safe to uninstall the touchscreen driver?
Yes. Uninstalling the driver does not damage your hardware. Windows will automatically reinstall it when you restart, and the fresh installation often fixes problems that an update alone cannot repair. Your touchscreen will not work until the driver is reinstalled, but that happens automatically.