1. Restart Chromebook
The issues with a Chromebook touchpad not working is often resolved by merely restarting the Chromebook. However, please note that you need to actually reboot the Chromebook and not just put it to sleep or close the lid. To restart the Chromebook, click on the time icon present at the bottom-right corner to open the “Quick panel.” Press the Shutdown button to turn off the Chromebook. Wait for 30 seconds, then turn on the Chromebook.
2. Reset Chromebook Hardware
In addition to the above method, you can try doing a hard reset on your Chromebook. This will not affect your files on the Chromebook but will restart hardware components like the touchpad and keyboard. Hopefully, the touchpad will start working after performing a hard reset. Tip: a hardware reset can also help fix keyboard issues on Chromebook.
3. Clean the Touchpad
Touchpads become sticky over time and will stop working if not cleaned on a regular basis. If you haven’t cleaned the Chromebook’s touchpad in a while, grab a microfiber cloth or any soft cloth and clean the touchpad with it. Make sure there is no dirt, dust, or oil left on the touchpad.
4. Do a Drum Roll
The official Google support page recommends drumming your fingers on the touchpad for at least 10 seconds. This causes vibrations, which can loosen dirt or other unwanted material.
5. Press Esc Key Repeatedly
If Chromebook’s touchpad isn’t responding to input, try pressing the ESC key several times on your keyboard. This will stop the current page from loading, and if something isn’t working normally on that page, pressing the ESC key will stop that process, and the touchpad will eventually start functioning again.
6. Adjust the Touchpad’s Speed
If the touchpad’s speed is too slow or fast, you might have accidentally changed its sensitivity. Follow the given steps to keep the touchpad’s speed within an optimum range.
7. Turn Off Reverse Scrolling
If Chromebook’s touchpad is scrolling in the wrong direction, it could be due to the reverse scrolling feature. You need to disable it to fix the Chromebook scrolling problem.
8. Enable Tap to Click
If you are unable to click on the Chromebook by simply tapping on the touchpad, it could be because the “Tap-to-click” feature has been disabled. You need to enable this feature so that you can once again tap on the touchpad to click.
9. Enable Tap Dragging
If you are unable to drag items on your Chromebook by holding down the touchpad, your device’s tap dragging feature may be disabled.
10. Enable Touchpad Acceleration
Another setting that could be responsible for touchpad speed issues is Touchpad acceleration. If you feel that that Chromebook’s cursor is moving too quickly, it’s probably because of this setting.
11. Update Chrome OS
If the touchpad still doesn’t seem to function correctly, it could be due to a bug in the Chrome OS. You must update the Chrome OS to the latest version to fix the issue.
12. Use a Different Chrome Profile
Sometimes the issues with a Chromebook touchpad not working is limited to one profile only. You must try using the Chromebook in guest mode or with a different account. Note: you may not see the Guest mode option if you are using a Chromebook from school or work.
13. Reset Chrome
Lastly, you must try resetting Chrome on your Chromebook. It will reset the home page, default search engine, disable extensions, themes, and clear temporary data like cookies. Resetting Chrome will not affect saved passwords, bookmarks, or history.
Tips for Using Chromebook
We hope applying the above fixes helped you fix the touchpad problems on your Chromebook. After it starts working, check out the best tips for using a keyboard on Chromebook. Also, learn how to use and customize Chromebook’s shelf.
