Asus Touchpad Not Working
You reboot your Asus laptop after an update. Upon signing in, all seems well – that is, until you attempt to move the cursor around the screen using the touchpad, and discover that it’s simply not moving anywhere.
Of course, if you have a mouse on hand, you can attach it to a USB port and continue with your business. That, however, just avoids the actual problem – the broken touchpad!
Reasons For Your Touchpad Not Working
Anytime a device – integrated or added – suddenly fails, your temptation might be to think the hardware had a premature death.
While this may be true in some cases, it’s better to consider less drastic reasons first. Though computers and their operating systems can be complex in nature, there are usually simple areas to zero in on before calling that technician, including the Asus touchpad not working.
Verify if the Touchpad has been Disabled
In Windows 10, use the search box to find the Control Panel.
Once open, find and choose the Mouse item. From here, select the tab for the touchpad. If disabled, click the button to Enable Device.
You may also check for a means of disabling the touchpad on the laptop itself. A function key has been known to toggle the touchpad on or off. You may need to experiment but can start with an fn-F9 combo.
Asus Touchpad Drivers May Be Corrupt, Missing or Outdated
It’s not uncommon for any device’s driver to require updating at some point. In fact, you could bet good money that it will happen.
Drivers are code that was written for a particular environment. That environment will typically change over time. There are scenarios where an upgrade of Windows – or even an update – may cause certain devices to stop working properly.
Whatever the reason, it is time to seek out a better driver for your device.
Allow Windows to Attempt Touchpad Driver Update
A simple approach is to allow Windows to search for and install the needed driver. This sometimes works. Other times, not so much.
To try it, use the search box on the Windows taskbar to find and select the Device Manager. From here, locate the touchpad’s driver and right-click.
Select “Update Driver Software” – you’ll be brought to a screen with two choices. One allows for the option to automatically update the driver, while the other is to search for one locally manually.
Choose the first option and cross your fingers. If Microsoft doesn’t have a version of their driver in the repository, you probably have an old version, or a plug and play version that will limit the abilities of the trackpad.
Manually Update the Latest Asus Touchpad Drivers
If Windows isn’t able to find the correct driver, you may be tempted to take it upon yourself to do the digging.
You’ll need to look up some information, such as the device’s model and serial number. Once you have that, proceed to the manufacturer’s website. If you’re able to find a match, download it.
Afterward, you can use the installer package (if applicable) or go back into Device Manager and choose the option to search for it locally manually.
Automated Approach to Keeping Drivers Current
There’s another option that might have avoided this scenario.
Software, such as Driver Support, can automate the task of finding and installing drivers for you. Not only does it make the task easier, but it can help avoid future driver-related issues.
Alternate Culprits to Consider
Devices, in general, can conflict with other devices or software. Sometimes it’s not clear what that conflict is and will require some troubleshooting itself. This can include booting into safe mode, running diagnostics software and so on.
Then, of course, we have to remember that devices do fail at times. If this becomes evident, it’s time to call the manufacturer.
Driver Support Can Avoid These Scenarios
All devices attached to your computer require drivers – not just touchpads. These drivers will, at some point, need to be updated. You can do this each time something goes wrong – or consider an easier and more proactive approach.
Driver Support has been providing an automated solution for keeping drivers up to date since 1996. The service will inventory all supported device types and update the drivers as needed.
You can go back to worrying about other things, like which method of moving the cursor you prefer – the mouse or touchpad.
