Now, this should be a simple process, right? I looked online for the instructions for this laptop, followed them, but when it came to the step to shut off the mouse, it was grayed out. WTF? Other info:
HP Envy laptop, only a couple of months old
Latest Windows version
I’m using a wireless Logitech mouse, as I don’t like touchpads.
Since there are directions, it would seem that I should be able to do this easily. I wouldn’t normally care, but every once in a while, my hand touches the touchpad and whatever I’m doing on the laptop goes awry.
HP Envy, what model? There is often (not always) either a hardware key (look for one of the Fn-keys with a rectangle with an slash through it), and/or the mouse settings or drivers might let you disable it and/or some versions of Windows should let you too. See How to Disable Touchpad on HP Laptop? 5 Simple Ways - Tech News Today for instructions, if you haven’t already tried. The device driver and/or BIOS/EFI methods should work the best.
As for the “grayed out”, is the wireless mouse you’re using Bluetooth? (Maybe it’s not letting you use it with only a bluetooth mouse and not a wired or non-BT 2.4 ghz wireless mouse?) Or it might be a driver issue.
Worst case, maybe tape some aluminum foil onto the trackpad and just block its sensors…?
I too hate a touchpad. On my work laptop the touchpad won’t work if my mouse is on (BT mouse) but does if the mouse is off. That’s fairly handy, actually because there are times I need to take a quick look at something and I don’t have to dig the mouse out of y bag as well.
I seem to remember there was a setting to prioritize the mouse, not necessarily disable the pad, but I did this over a year ago and I’m not the greatest techie. Mine is an HP, not sure which one though.
This page ultimately helped. The first couple of solutions weren’t possible, as there is no FN key for the touchpad. There was also no “disable touchpad” option. But there WAS a checkbox for “leave touchpad on when using remote mouse” (or similar words). I unchecked the box and problem solved. Not exactly intuitive, but life is now easier. Thanks!
Do you have local administrator rights on that laptop? Many times, functions are grayed out for standard users because the functions in question are deemed as administrative in nature. If you aren’t sure, search “Control Panel”. Click the “small icons” choice in the tab top right. Choose “user accounts” and then “manage user accounts”.
Another approach to the problem is to attach a mouse to the laptop. I never use touchpads.
On my Win10 machine fn-F6 does it. (Actually, F6 ought to do it alone but I have turned off the standard F keys for my own purposes. I think Caps-lock fn does that.)