How to Enable the Touchscreen in Windows 11

If you disabled it, you can turn it on in a few steps

By
Brad Stephenson
Brad Stephenson - Lifewire Writer
Brad Stephenson
Freelance Contributor
  • Western Sydney University
Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. He writes about Windows 10, Xbox One, and cryptocurrency.
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Updated on February 10, 2022
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher headshot
Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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What to Know

  • Open Device Manager and select Human Interface Devices > HID-compliant touch screen > Action > Enable device.
  • Repeat for any additional HID-compliant touch screen listings within the Human Interface Devices list.
  • If you can’t find HID-compliant touch screen, your Windows 11 device may not have a touch screen.

Are you trying to find a way to enable the touch screen on your Windows 11 tablet, laptop, or computer? This article will walk you through the process of turning on the touch functionality if it’s been turned off and what to do when you can’t get the touch screen to work.

How Do I Turn On Windows Touch Screen Functionality?

The touch screen functionality on your Windows 11 device can be turned on directly from within the operating system’s settings. Here’s how to do it.

  1. Open the Start menu.

    Start button in Windows

  2. Type Device Manager in the Start menu’s search bar.

    You can start typing as soon as the Start menu is open. There’s no need to click the search bar.

    Windows 11 Start menu Search box.

  3. Select Device Manager.

    Device Manager in Windows 11 Start menu search results

  4. Expand the Human Interface Devices list.

    Human Interface Devices in Device Manager

  5. Select the first HID-compliant touch screen item.

    If you can’t see this option, it’s possible your Windows 11 device doesn’t have a screen that supports touch.

    HID-compliant touch screen in Device Manager

  6. On the top menu, select Action.

    Action tab in Device Manager

  7. Select Enable device.

    Enable Device in Device Manager Action Menu

  8. Now select the second HID-compliant touch screen item from the list.

    Second HID-compliant touch screen item in Device Manager

  9. Select Action.

    Action tab in Device Manager

  10. Select Enable device. Your Windows 11 touch screen should now be activated.

    Enable Device in Device Manager Action Menu

How Do I Enable the Touchscreen on My Laptop Keyboard?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a designated key nor any keyboard shortcuts that switches the touch screen on or off in Windows 11. The only way to enable the touch functionality in Windows 11 is to follow the above steps by using the built-in system settings.

While all Microsoft’s Surface products have a touch screen, some Windows 11 laptops and computers don’t. Check with the manual and the store where you bought it from to see if it has this feature.

If you’re just wondering how to wake a Windows 11 device from Sleep and turn its screen on, all you need to do is press any key on your keyboard.

Many people like to wake the screen up on a Windows 11 device by pressing the space bar since Its size and position on the keyboard simply make it the most convenient one to press.

Why Is Touch Screen Not Working in Windows 11?

If the touch screen functionality isn’t working properly or at all in Windows 11, there are a couple of things you may want to check and try.

  • Enable the touch screen via the above steps. The touch screen should be enabled by default when you get a new Windows 11 device, but it’s possible it was off as default.
  • Update the touch screen driver. Right-click each HID-compliant touch screen in Device Manager and select Update Driver.
  • Restart Windows 11. A quick restart can fix a lot of problems.
  • Install the latest Windows 11 update. Windows updates can fix many hardware issues.
  • Check the hardware. If your new Windows 11 tablet, laptop, or computer was cheaper than the other models, it might not have a touch screen.
  • Calibrate your touch screen. A series of specific Windows touch settings could fix the problem.
  • Troubleshoot your broken touch screen. Work your way through a series of Windows 11 touch screen solutions.
FAQ
  • How do you enable the touchscreen on Windows 10 and Windows 8?

    To enable the touchscreen on Windows 10 or 8, start by opening the Device Manager. Then, select Human Interface Devices > HID-compliant touch screen > Action > Enable device.

  • How do I enable touchscreen for Photoshop?

    Photoshop automatically provides touch capabilities on devices that have touchscreen capabilities enabled. Gestures you can use include two-finger pan, two-finger pan and zoom, two-finger pan and rotate, five-finger cycle screen mode, and two-finger free transform.

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