In this post, you will see:
- How to disable touchpad when a mouse is connected
- How to turn off touchpad completely
- How to reset touchpad in Windows 10
- How to open touchpad settings in Windows 10
- How to create a touchpad settings shortcut
- Additional notes
In this case, I use a Windows 10 laptop with a precision touchpad. Let’s get started.
How to disable touchpad when a mouse is connected
If you want your Windows 10 laptop touchpad to be automatically disabled as soon as the external mouse is connected, follow these steps:
Open Settings. You can do this using the key combination: Windows + I.
Hit Devices.
Click Touchpad in the left sidebar.
Uncheck the option Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected, which you will find above.
That’s it.
Note: Select the option above to switch to the default setting.
How to turn off touchpad completely
Hit Devices > Touchpad.
Disable the toggle switch under the Touchpad above.
Note: If you want to return to the default setting, activate the toggle switch above.
Read: How to change mouse settings in Windows 10
Alternative methods
Method #1
Search F1-F12 for the touchpad icon.
Once you have found it, press the Function key and the button that you find (in my case, it is F9) at the same time.
Note: If you want to activate the touchpad, press the same key combination.
Method #2
Find and expand “Mice and other pointing devices.”
Right-click on the entry that belongs to the touchpad.
Hit Disable device.
Press the Yes button in the pop-up.
Note: In order to activate, you must activate the above entry.
Method #3
In the BIOS settings of your laptop, look for the “Internal Pointing Device” option or something similar with respect to the touchpad.
Disable that option and save your BIOS settings.
Note: To activate, you must activate it.
Read: How to enable mouse keys in Windows 10
How to reset touchpad in Windows 10
Here’s how to set the laptop’s touchpad settings and gestures to the default settings in Windows 10:
Hit Devices > Touchpad.
In the “Reset your touchpad” section, you will find the Reset button. Hit it.
How to open touchpad settings in Windows 10
Method #1
Open the Settings app.
Hit Devices.
Press the Touchpad in the left sidebar.
Method #2
Open the Start menu.
Enter touchpad and you will find Touchpad settings. Press it.
Method #3
Open Settings.
Enter touchpad in the search box.
You can find Touchpad settings. Hit it.
Method #4
Open Run. Enter ms-settings:devices-touchpad and then press Enter.
That’s all.
Remember that you can also use this command in the address bar of the File Explorer, in the address toolbar, in the Task Manager (File > Run new task).
Alternatively, you can use the command start ms-settings:devices-touchpad in the Command Prompt or PowerShell to do this task.
How to create a touchpad settings shortcut
Follow the steps below to create a touchpad settings shortcut on your Windows 10 desktop or File Explorer.
Right-click on the blank area of the desktop or File Explorer.
Move the mouse over “New” in the context menu and press “Shortcut.”
Enter ms-settings:devices-touchpad in the “Create Shortcut” pop-up window and click the “Next” button.
Enter the shortcut name if you do not prefer the suggested one.
Click on the “Finish” button.
Read more: Where is calculator in Windows 10?
Additional notes
In the Touchpad Settings, you can find these settings:
Use the slider under “Change the cursor speed” to change the cursor speed.
Slide it to the left to reduce speed and to the right to increase speed.
In the Taps section, you will find the following:
Open the drop-down list and change the sensitivity of the touchpad to your liking.
- Tap with a single finger to single-click
- Tap with two fingers to right-click
- Tap twice and drag to multi-select
- Press the lower right corner of the touchpad to right-click
The above options are self-explanatory, aren’t they? Customize them to your needs.
Scroll and zoom
Drag two fingers to scroll – with this option you can scroll with two fingers.
The direction of the scroll can be selected using the drop-down list below this option.
Pinch to zoom – self-explanatory, right?
Three-finger gestures and Four-finger gestures
In these sections you can customize what your three and four fingers swipes and tap will do.
Play with these options. Select Nothing if you want to disable them.
Note:
On the right sidebar you will find the link to the Advanced gesture configuration. Hit it.
Now you can find options for individually customizing swipes and tap for three and four finger gestures.
Play with them as you like.
