The touchpad is an integral part of the laptop. This is a very convenient thing when there is no computer mouse nearby. But not all users like to use this functional element of the laptop, and in general, there are situations when it gets in the way. For example, there are often cases when, while typing, you can touch the touchpad with your hand, which interferes with normal operation. Also, in case of some breakdowns, phantom clicks may appear, which will prevent you from using the equipment normally. Even if you are just using a mouse, it is better to disable the touchpad, because sometimes their drivers can conflict with each other. In this regard, the relevant question is how to disable the touchpad on a Lenovo laptop.
There are many ways to turn it off. There are simple ones that require pressing just a few buttons, but this does not always help. There are more complicated options that require some knowledge. Careless actions can be dangerous, since you can disable not only the touchpad, but also other parts of the system, or even render the entire system unusable. And to prevent this from happening, read carefully the instructions that we provide below.
Disabling with a separate switch
On a Lenovo laptop, the easiest way to disable the touchpad is to use a separate switch. It is usually located in an area just above the sensor itself. If you don't see this button, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Most likely, it is touch-sensitive and located on the touchpad itself. Look in the corners of the sensor and you will find it.
If the button does not help you, it is most likely broken. If this is the case, then you need to contact a service center to replace it. You can do this yourself, but then there is a risk of breaking the entire touchpad, and not just its shutdown button.
Disabling with a hotkey combination
If the button doesn't work, the best way to disable the touchpad is a hotkey combination. Each manufacturer has a different combination. For Lenovo laptops it is FN + F5 or F7. One of the F-keys will have a crossed out panel icon, and this is the key you need to press.
This method works in almost all cases, but sometimes it may still not work. Most often this is due to the fact that your laptop model may have a slightly different combination assigned. If you type the correct combination, but nothing comes out, then the problem lies in the software of your device.
Via task manager
If you are unable to turn off the touchpad on the touchpad, you can try contacting the task manager. This is an undesirable method, since you will have to disable one of the system processes, and if you confuse it with any other, you can break the system.
To get to the task manager, you just need to hold CTRL + ALT + DELETE. You will be taken to a menu where you need to select Task Manager. After that, go to the processes tab. It contains all the processes that occur in your laptop.
Now you need to find the process that is associated specifically with the touchpad and disable it.
Each laptop calls this process differently. This method is very dangerous because you can disable something wrong, so it is better not to resort to this.
Possible problems activating the touchpad on a Lenovo laptop
Touchpad failure is not always caused by OS or BIOS settings. While it is easy to disable the touchpad on any Lenovo laptop model, problems may arise with activating the sensor.
What can cause it and how to fix it
The most unpleasant thing is a physical breakdown of the laptop’s sensor, since its elimination requires contacting a service center. But more often the cause of the problem is faulty software, for example, outdated or missing drivers. To update them you need:
- Open "Device Manager". You can find it in the Start menu or hold down the Win + R combination and enter the command “devmgmt.msc” in the window that opens.
- In the “Mice and other pointing devices” section, find the sensor.
- Right-click on the desired line and select “Remove device” from the context menu items.
- At the top of the window, find and expand the “Action” tab, click on the “Update configuration” line.
If Windows does not find suitable software, you will need to download and manually install the driver for a specific laptop model from the official Lenovo website.
In addition, problems with sensor activation may be related to the mouse connection. If the touchpad works when you disconnect the device, you will need to change the settings to resolve the issue. Namely, in the mouse settings, uncheck the item that allows you to disable the touchpad when connecting an external device.
In most cases, turning the touchpad on and off does not cause problems. Some physical problems (for example, if the touch panel cable has come loose) can be fixed on your own, but disassembling the laptop without the necessary skills can lead to new problems and loss of warranty. Therefore, if configuring drivers, mouse settings and BIOS does not produce results, it is recommended to contact specialists.
The touchpad is an integral part of the laptop. This is a very convenient thing when there is no computer mouse nearby. But not all users like to use this functional element of the laptop, and in general, there are situations when it gets in the way. For example, there are often cases when, while typing, you can touch the touchpad with your hand, which interferes with normal operation. Also, in case of some breakdowns, phantom clicks may appear, which will prevent you from using the equipment normally. Even if you are just using a mouse, it is better to disable the touchpad, because sometimes their drivers can conflict with each other. In this regard, the relevant question is how to disable the touchpad on a Lenovo laptop.
There are many ways to turn it off. There are simple ones that require pressing just a few buttons, but this does not always help. There are more complicated options that require some knowledge. Careless actions can be dangerous, since you can disable not only the touchpad, but also other parts of the system, or even render the entire system unusable. And to prevent this from happening, read carefully the instructions that we provide below.
Disable via Device Manager
If the touchpad on your Lenovo laptop does not turn off, then try turning it off through the device manager. It's not as dangerous as Task Manager because you won't be able to harm the system. The essence of this method is to simply disconnect the touchpad from the system.
You need to go to the device manager through the control panel. In the list, find “Mice and other devices” and use the settings to disable the touchpad you don’t need.
This method most often helps, but if this does not help, then you need to move on to radical measures.
Managing the touchpad of a Lenovo laptop in Windows 10
In the search, type “Mouse Options”, or go to Settings – Devices – Mouse. Click on "Advanced Mouse Options".
In the new window, on the “ELAN” tab, click on the “Stop device” button. And confirm to disable the touchpad.
To turn it back on, just click on the “Activate device” button.
Automatically disable the touchpad when connecting a mouse
In the settings that I showed above, it is possible to make sure that when you connect a mouse to a Lenovo laptop, the touchpad turns off automatically. And when it was turned off, it turned on. I think this is better than turning it off manually all the time. And it’s logical, if the mouse is connected, then why do we need a touchpad.
To do this, just check the box next to “Disable when connecting an external USB mouse.” As far as I understand, this feature does not work with Bluetooth mice.
If you do not have such a section in your settings, then it is quite possible that you need to install a driver for the touchpad for your laptop.
Disabling via BIOS
If disabling the touchpad on a Lenovo laptop causes any difficulties, then you should try turning it off through the BIOS. In order not to damage the system, you need to follow the instructions and not press anything unnecessary, because every button in the BIOS can disrupt the operation of the system.
You can get into the BIOS only after rebooting the operating system. At the moment of startup, you need to press ESC (depending on the model, the key you need to press may differ). This will take you to the menu you need. There you need to select the “Advanced” tab for the “Internal Porting Device” item and set the status to “Disable”.
Disabling using programs
If for some reason all of the above methods did not help you, or you simply do not want to get into the BIOS or system settings, then third-party programs can help you. This method does not always work, since applications are not optimized for every laptop. In addition to optimization, drivers can also interfere, so this method does not work with 100% probability, but it’s still worth a try.
Such programs should be taken very seriously as they affect the system and if they fail, the entire laptop can be affected. Most of this software is in English, such as, for example, the program for disabling the touchpad on a Lenovo Touchpad Blocker laptop.
Touchpad Blocker
This is a very handy application that every laptop needs. Its essence is that it does not completely block the touchpad, but only partially protects it from accidental clicks. For example, when you type text, the touchpad will be locked so that you don't accidentally touch it with your hand.
There are also some disadvantages, for example, the lack of Russian translation, as noted above. The entire program is in English, so before using it, translate all the items and buttons so that you know exactly what to press. Another disadvantage is that this utility will slow down the system a little. Due to the fact that it is constantly running in the background, the performance of the laptop may drop slightly.
TouchFreeze
This program is similar to the previous one and performs exactly the same actions. It will block the touchpad when typing. But this program works right away, that is, you don’t need to do anything, you just install the utility, and it will work without additional settings and actions.
But this software product does not work everywhere. The program will not work on older operating systems before Windows Vista. The laptop model also affects the performance of the application. On outdated models, it is unlikely that everything will work as it should.
We hope we have answered all your questions regarding how to enable or disable the touchpad on a Lenovo laptop. Remember that any actions with equipment are carried out by you at your own peril and risk.
Using the Lenovo touchpad instead of an external mouse
A touchpad as a replacement for a regular mouse has advantages and disadvantages. First of all, it should be taken into account that a laptop is a portable device, which is often preferred precisely because of its autonomy and mobility. In conditions where there is no flat surface to place a laptop, the ability to use it without a mouse is very important.
In modern laptops, the touchpad is convenient and allows you to perform all the necessary actions:
- Open context menu. To do this, you need to press the button at the bottom of the touchpad or click on the touchpad with two fingers.
- Scroll the page. The mouse wheel replaces sliding on the touchpad with two fingers.
- Select text. If there is a button/buttons at the bottom of the panel, you need to hold down the left one, hovering the cursor at the beginning of the intended selection, and without releasing, move your other finger over the sensor. Or you can replace pressing a button with a double click on the touchpad.
But the touchpad also has disadvantages that may make it necessary to disable it:
- high sensitivity - the cursor reacts even to an accidental touch, for example, with a sleeve;
- the inability to work quickly and accurately, which is especially noticeable in games;
- risk of accidental pressing when using the keyboard.
In addition, some cheap laptop models come with low-quality touch panels that periodically fail and respond inadequately to user actions.
