How to Disable Touchpad on Windows 10

Windows

Updated March 20, 2019

With the invention of touchpads, wireless and wired mice, and even touchscreens, you can truly customize the ways you use these devices to carryout your everyday PC-related tasks. However, for those who only need a touchscreen and mouse to use Windows 10, here's how to disable a touchpad on Windows 10.

Instructions in this guide apply to laptops running Windows 10 that also have touchpad interfaces.

Why Disable Touchpad in Windows 10?

There are various reasons to disable a laptop's touchpad. Some users prefer using a mouse because it's generally more comfortable for them, while others might want to disable the trackpad temporarily to avoid accidentally tapping something or moving the mouse pointer while working, like when typing on a keyboard.

A touchpad's usual proximity to the keyboard does make it more vulnerable to these kinds of accidents. Some people even have touchscreen-enabled PCs and simply prefer to swipe their laptop screens to navigate around.

If you decide to disable the trackpad on a Windows 10 laptop, make sure you have another interface enabled and ready to use beforehand. Depending on the device, there may or not be a manual button you can press to control your touchpad's functionality. Without a button like that or another functioning interface, it can be difficult to turn your touchpad back on.

How to Disable Touchpad on Windows 10

Before following the steps below, check to see if there's a physical key on your laptop you can press to disable/enable your touchpad's functionality. The key may have an icon resembling a touchpad. If your device doesn't have such a button, follow the instructions below.

Select the Windows icon in the bottom left corner of your screen, then select the gear icon to open the settings.

Alternatively, type "Settings" into the Windows search bar located on the bottom left of the screen, to the right of the Start Menu icon, then select Settings.
Select Devices. From here, you have two ways to disable your touchpad: Using the Mouse settings or using the Touchpad settings.
Mouse Settings: Select Mouse > Additional mouse options, then select the Device Settings tab. From here, select the product name of your touchpad from the list. Once you've selected the product name, select Disable > OK.
Touchpad Settings: Select Touchpad > Additional settings. Select the product name of your touchpad from the list, then select Disable > OK.

To configure your mouse/touchpad settings to automatically turn on and off when an external mouse is connected or disconnected, select Disable internal pointing device when external USB pointing device is attached.
You're done!