How to Fix Touchpad Gestures Not Working on Windows

Touchpad gestures have become integral to our computing experience, allowing us to navigate, scroll, and perform various actions efficiently. However, when these gestures suddenly stop working on your Windows device, it can frustrate and hinder your productivity.

We will look at the common reasons behind this issue and provide step-by-step solutions to get your touchpad gestures working again.

Reasons Why Touchpad Gestures Stopped Working

Before we check into the fixes, it’s essential to understand why your touchpad gestures stopped working. Here are some common culprits:

• Outdated or corrupted drivers
• Recent Windows updates
• Incorrect touchpad settings
• Hardware issues
• Conflicting software or applications

8 Fixes: Touchpad Gestures Not Working on Windows

Check your Touchpad Settings

Sometimes, touchpad gestures may be turned off or misconfigured in your Windows settings. Checking and adjusting touchpad settings can resolve the issue quickly.

• Open the Windows Settings (Windows key + I)
• Go to Devices > Touchpad
• Ensure that the “Touchpad” toggle is switched on
• Scroll down to “Gestures and interaction” and verify that the desired gestures are enabled.

Check for Windows Update

Microsoft regularly releases updates that can fix bugs and improve hardware compatibility. Ensuring your system is up-to-date can resolve touchpad gesture issues.

• Open Windows Settings
• Go to Update & Security > Windows Update
• Click “Check for updates.”
• If updates are available, download and install them
• Restart your computer after the updates are installed

Restart Your PC

A simple restart can often resolve temporary glitches or conflicts affecting your touchpad’s performance.

• Click on the Start menu
• Select the Power icon
• Choose “Restart”

Enable Touchpad Gestures

Touchpad gestures may sometimes be turned off at the system level. Enabling them can restore functionality.

• Open Control Panel
• Navigate to Hardware and Sound > Mouse
• Look for a tab related to your touchpad (e.g., “ELAN,” “Synaptics,” or “Device Settings”)
• Enable the gestures you want to use

Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Windows has built-in troubleshooters that automatically detect and fix common hardware issues, including touchpads.

• Open Windows Settings
• Go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot
• Scroll down and select “Hardware and Devices.”
• Click “Run the troubleshooter” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Update Touchpad Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of touchpad gesture issues. Updating them can often resolve the problem.

• Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager.”
• Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” category
• Right-click on your touchpad device and select “Update driver.”
• Choose “Search automatically for updated driver software,”
• Follow the prompts to complete the update

Keeping your drivers up-to-date is essential for optimal device performance, including touchpad functionality. While Windows provides built-in tools for driver updates, some users may find third-party driver update utilities such as Fortect helpful.

Fortect Premium with driver updater automatically scans your system, identifies outdated drivers such as the touchpad, and assists with updates, making the process hassle-free.

You can take advantage of the free trial before committing to the Fortect premium plan. However, in this case, you’ll need to update each driver manually, such as the touchpad driver.

Download and install Fortect now.

Reinstall Touchpad Drivers

If updating the drivers doesn’t work, a clean reinstallation might be necessary to eliminate any corrupted files.

• Open Device Manager
• Expand “Mice and other pointing devices.”
• Right-click on your touchpad device and select “Uninstall device.” Restart your computer
• Windows should automatically reinstall the drivers upon restart.

Reset Touchpad Gestures Settings

If you’ve made changes to your touchpad settings in the past, resetting them to default can sometimes resolve gesture-related issues.

• Open Windows Settings
• Go to Bluetooth and Devices > Scroll down to Touchpad
• Click the arrow down next to the touchpad button
• Click “Reset” under “Reset touchpad settings.”
• Confirm the action and test your gestures.

Conclusion

Touchpad gestures are designed to enhance your Windows experience, and when they stop working, it can be a significant inconvenience. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve most touchpad gesture issues.

Remember to try these solutions in order, starting with the most straightforward fixes, like checking your settings and restarting your PC. If none of these solutions work, it is worth considering whether there’s a hardware issue with your touchpad. You must consult a professional technician or your device manufacturer’s support team.