Both Windows 10 and Windows 11 allow users to turn off the touchpad so that users who prefer using an external mouse can turn off the touchpad.
The touchpad can be turned off or on through the built-in Settings app. In fact, Windows 11 has over six ways to turn off/on the touchpad.
Sometimes, users accidentally turn off the touchpad using function keys or in the Settings app while fiddling with other options and unsure how to turn on the touchpad without a mouse.
Fortunately, you can turn on the Windows 10/11 laptop’s touchpad without using a mouse.
Here are three ways to turn on the touchpad without a mouse.
NOTE: These methods can help you turn on the touchpad only if proper touchpad drivers are installed on your computer.
Method 1 of 3
Turn on the touchpad without a mouse in Windows 10/11
Step 1: Open the search flyout using the Windows + S hotkey.
Step 2: Type Turn the touchpad on or off and then press the Enter key to open the Touchpad page of Settings with the Touchpad option selected.
Note that you do not need to select the search field. After opening the search flyout, you just have to type Turn the touchpad on or off.
Step 3: Press the spacebar key once to turn on the touchpad immediately.
Method 2 of 3
Turn on the touchpad using the keyboard in Windows 11
Step 1: On your Windows 10/11 laptop, simultaneously press the Windows logo and I keys (Windows logo + I) to open the search.
Step 2: Type Touchpad settings, and then press the Enter key to open the touchpad settings page of the Settings app.
Step 3: Here, the Touchpad option is selected by default. All you need to do is press the spacebar key once to turn on the touchpad.
If the Touchpad option is not selected by default, use the Tab key on the keyboard to select it and then press the spacebar key to turn on the touchpad.
Method 3 of 3
Turn on the touchpad using keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10/11
Not all laptops offer a dedicated function key to turn the touchpad on or off. That said, some laptops do offer a function key to toggle the touchpad on and off.
If your laptop has one, you can use it to turn on the touchpad. The function key to turn on the touchpad varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Generally, a touchpad symbol is printed on one of the function keys if your laptop supports turning the touchpad on or off via the keyboard. Hold down the Function key and then try pressing the function key that has the touchpad symbol.
