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If your laptop touchpad stops working when you connect a mouse, it may be set to turn off automatically—not broken. To use both devices, turn on the touchpad and change the mouse-connected setting in Windows or macOS. If that does not restore it, check the laptop’s touchpad hotkey and driver.
First, check whether the touchpad is set to turn off with a mouse
LG Support’s answer to “When I connect a mouse, the touchpad stops working. Is this normal?” says: “This may be due to the ‘Disable touchpad when a mouse is connected’ option being turned on.” In other words, this behavior can be intentional. The setting you need depends on your operating system and whether you want the touchpad active while the mouse is connected.
| Operating system | To use the touchpad and mouse together | To disable the touchpad while using a mouse |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 or 11 | Turn on the touchpad and select Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected. [Microsoft] | Clear that option. Some laptops may offer the setting in a manufacturer utility instead. [Dell] |
| macOS 26 | In Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control, turn off Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present. [Apple] | Turn on Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present. [Apple] |
Menu names and locations can vary with OS releases and laptop models. macOS versions older than 26 may use different labels, and non-Apple mouse driver software can affect the Mac setting. [Apple]
Fix the touchpad in Windows 10 or 11
1. Turn on the touchpad and choose whether it should work with a mouse
- Open Settings and search for Touchpad settings. On Windows 11, you can also go to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
- Make sure Touchpad is on. Expand the touchpad options if needed.
- Select Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected if you want to use both devices. If you prefer the touchpad to turn off while using a mouse, clear the option.
The option may be in a manufacturer utility rather than Windows Settings on some laptops. Microsoft covers Windows 10 and 11, but the available controls can vary by version and device. [Microsoft] [Dell]
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2. Disconnect a wireless mouse receiver during the test
If you use a wireless mouse, switch it off and unplug its USB receiver from the laptop. A connected receiver can still trigger the mouse-connected behavior when the mouse itself is off, if Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected is cleared. [Dell]
3. Check the laptop’s touchpad hotkey or utility
A keyboard shortcut or manufacturer utility may disable the touchpad independently of the mouse setting. Do not assume there is one universal shortcut: ASUS says its hotkey varies by model, and MSI documents different combinations for some model families, including Fn+F3 on some models and Fn+F4 on certain others. Check your laptop’s manual or manufacturer support page for the correct key or utility. [ASUS] [MSI]
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4. Update or reinstall the touchpad driver
- First check for a driver through Windows Update. Microsoft also documents using Device Manager as an alternate way to update a driver.
- If updating does not help, find the touchpad in Device Manager. It may appear under Human Interface Devices or Mice and other pointing devices, then reinstall it using Microsoft’s instructions.
- For model-specific drivers, follow the laptop manufacturer’s support instructions.
Microsoft’s touchpad troubleshooting guide describes the update and reinstall steps. LG laptops may also require an LG startup utility for touchpad operation; check the instructions for your model. [LG Support]
5. Contact the laptop manufacturer if it still does not work
If the settings, hotkey and driver steps do not restore the touchpad, contact the laptop maker. Microsoft advises contacting the device manufacturer when updating or reinstalling the driver does not resolve the problem. LG says its laptop may need inspection after its settings and driver checks. Do not assume a replacement part is needed without a model-specific hardware diagnosis. [Microsoft] [LG Support]
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Fix the touchpad in macOS
- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control.
- Turn off Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present to use the built-in trackpad alongside a mouse.
Apple’s guide is for macOS 26. If the option does not behave as expected, Apple notes that non-Apple mouse driver software can affect it. [Apple]
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if the laptop runs Linux?
Touchpad controls depend on the Linux distribution and desktop environment, so there is no single menu path established here. Check your distribution’s and laptop manufacturer’s documentation for the mouse-connected setting and model-specific hotkey. If you share the distribution, desktop environment and laptop model with support, they can point you to the applicable instructions.
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