When your laptop touchpad behaves erratically or stops working entirely while charging, it can be both frustrating and disruptive to your workflow. This issue is not uncommon and often stems from a combination of hardware and software factors.
Understanding the Problem
The touchpad is a critical input device for laptops, and its malfunction can severely hinder productivity. When the issue occurs specifically while charging, it often points to power-related interference or driver conflicts.
Common symptoms include unresponsive touchpad movements, erratic cursor behavior, or complete failure. These issues may arise due to improper grounding, outdated drivers, or power settings that conflict with the touchpad’s operation. Let’s dive into the troubleshooting steps to address these concerns.
1. Check for Grounding Issues
One of the primary reasons for touchpad malfunction during charging is electrical grounding problems. Laptops rely on proper grounding to ensure stable operation of internal components. If your charger or power outlet lacks proper grounding, it can cause electrical interference, affecting the touchpad.
To test this, try using a different power outlet or charger. If the issue persists, consider using a grounded extension cord or surge protector. Additionally, ensure that your laptop’s power adapter is compatible and in good condition.
2. Update or Reinstall Touchpad Drivers
Outdated or corrupted drivers are a frequent culprit behind touchpad issues. Drivers act as the communication bridge between your hardware and operating system. If they’re outdated, the touchpad may not function correctly, especially under specific conditions like charging.
To update your drivers, follow these steps:
- Open Device Manager by pressing Windows + X and selecting it from the menu.
- Expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
- Right-click your touchpad driver and select Update driver.
- Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen instructions.
If updating doesn’t resolve the issue, consider uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. This process can eliminate any corruption that might be causing the problem.
3. Adjust Power Settings
Windows power settings can sometimes interfere with the touchpad’s functionality, especially when the laptop is plugged in. Certain power-saving features may disable or limit the touchpad’s performance to conserve energy.
To adjust these settings:
- Open Control Panel and navigate to Power Options.
- Select your current power plan and click Change plan settings.
- Choose Change advanced power settings.
- Scroll down to USB settings and ensure that USB selective suspend setting is disabled.
This adjustment ensures that the touchpad receives consistent power, even when the laptop is charging.
4. Disable Touchpad Sensitivity Adjustments
Some laptops feature touchpad sensitivity adjustments that can cause erratic behavior. These settings may be overly sensitive to electrical interference, particularly when the device is charging.
To disable these adjustments:
- Open the Touchpad settings from the Control Panel or Settings app.
- Look for options related to sensitivity or palm detection.
- Disable any settings that might reduce touchpad responsiveness.
This step can help stabilize the touchpad’s performance, especially during charging.
5. Test with a Different Charger
If none of the above solutions work, the issue might lie with your charger. Faulty or incompatible chargers can introduce electrical noise, disrupting the touchpad’s operation.
Try using a different charger that matches your laptop’s specifications. If the touchpad works fine with the new charger, it’s time to replace the old one.
6. Perform a System Restore
If the problem started recently, a system restore might help. This process reverts your system to a previous state, potentially undoing any changes that caused the touchpad issue.
To perform a system restore:
- Open the Control Panel and navigate to Recovery.
- Select Open System Restore and follow the prompts.
- Choose a restore point from before the issue began.
This step can resolve software-related issues without affecting your personal files.