How do I disable touchpad in Windows 10?

Anonymous
2019-02-28T19:27:56+00:00

I have a new HP laptop. But I don't like using the touchpad so I installed my mouse. With the version of Windows 10 that came with the computer, I easily found where I could disable the touchpad in Settings. But recently it upgraded to version 1809, and reverted to the setting with the touchpad enabled. Now I can't find anything in Settings to disable it anymore. I even spoke to a Microsoft technician over the phone, who was also couldn't disable it. (In Device Manager, the setting to disable the touchpad is greyed out.) So how do I disable it?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

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Kapil Arya 38,451 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2020-07-21T13:13:16+00:00

Hello,

Try these steps and see if that helps:

  1. Press Windows Key + X to open Win + X menu and select Control Panel from the list.
  2. When Control Panel opens, go to Hardware and Sound section and select Mouse.
  3. When Mouse settings window opens, you should see ELAN or Device Settings tab. Switch to it.
  4. Locate Disable internal pointing device when external USB pointing device is attached option and enable it.
  5. Click Apply and OK to save changes.

If issue still persists, try this:

  1. Open Registry Editor and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Elantech/Othersetting/DisableWhenDetectUSBMouse key in the left pane.
  2. Change the value from 0 to 1 and close Registry Editor.

Hope this helps!

Steps referenced from https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Video-Display-and-Touch/Where-is-the-setting-to-disable-the-Elan-touchpad/m-p/7053015#M189607.

Note: HP.com is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-10-17T21:24:19+00:00

    I have the same problem, tried everything. Finally cut out a piece of a cardboard box the size of pad and taped it on. For me the index card was too thin.

    Microsoft caused the problem but does not address the solution.

    THAT IS PATHETIC

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-10-18T19:46:14+00:00

    I went back to Control Panel => Hardware and Sound => Device Manager => Mice and other pointing devices where I had two "HID - compliant mouse" drivers, but no touchpad driver listed.

    Disabling the first one disabled my mouse, which I re-enabled with the touchpad. Disabling the second 'mouse driver' disabled my touchpad. That driver was mislabeled, apparently.

    This doesn't explain why the on/off toggle wasn't offered in the other solution, but I no longer care. If you see two mouse drivers listed, maybe this will work for you.

    A friend did some searching and reported that Microsoft uses "HID - compliant mouse" as a generic name for drivers. If true, that seems like a terrible idea to me, bound to cause trouble.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-10-18T20:09:10+00:00

    I found that I had a single driver listed for both the mouse and the touchpad.  I looked at the touchpad driver and it did have a target "Disable Device" however it was not highlighted and therefore I could not chose to disable it.  It did have a target to "Uninstall Device" which I am somewhat reluctant to do in case I do need the touchpad sometime.  At this point, I am struggling along putting up with this.  Changing the touchpad to low sensitivity makes it a bit less prone to accidental brushes of the heel of my palm.  I have an HP laptop and I wonder if it's HP that will need to update the software to reinstate the touchpad target to turn it off.  I see that people with different laptops are able to disable the touchpad, but unfortunately, not with the HP laptops.  Oh well!

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  4. Anonymous
    2019-10-18T20:18:45+00:00

    I have a new HP laptop  purchased in Sept, I have an ELAN touchpad. Initially I could not find a way to disable, however, an MS update downloaded to my machine about 2 weeks ago. I discovered in the "Programs" listing (when you click on the window icon, lower left of screen) there is an ELAN Touchpad Settings program that allows you to select "disable" quite easily.

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