# Laptop touchpad buttons not working **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 11, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682 "2017-06-11T12:43:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/1 "2017-06-11T12:43:25Z")
I’m using a Dell that’s a few years old, and running Windows 8. The new kitten walked across the touchpad/keyboard, and now the touchpad buttons aren’t working. The laptop was working fine before then. I’ve tried variations of Alt+F5, the touchpad button in the row of F keys, shift+F keys as suggested by a Google search. I can use the touchpad to move the mouse, but neither button works. I tried to change the mouse settings to switch left/right mouse buttons (in an attempt to click+apply to reset and change them back), but that hasn’t helped, either. Little help? ---
**Author:** ![Ricc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@Ricc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ricc)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/2 "2017-06-11T13:32:19Z")
Most Laptop touchpads have a somewhat hidden button in the corner on the main pad itself, top left or top right if not try the bottom corners. When pushed you will feel a click. It has the function of toggling the on and off of the touchpad. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/3 "2017-06-11T14:06:26Z")
Try control+f3 ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/4 "2017-06-11T14:20:01Z")
Nope. Neither of those worked Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/5 "2017-06-11T14:43:00Z")
There should be a touchpad icon probably on one of the number keys. Press it along with either shift or control…I forget which. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/6 "2017-06-11T14:44:04Z")
I meant just above the num keys on the f keys. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/7 "2017-06-11T15:30:56Z")
Have you checked the mouse driver settings? It should be under Control Panel -\> Mouse. Or you can probably get to it by opening the Start menu and typing “mouse”. There is usually a separate tab for the touchpad settings. ---
**Author:** ![race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@race\_to\_the\_bottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/race_to_the_bottom)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/8 "2017-06-11T16:53:32Z")
System restore ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/9 "2017-06-11T20:33:58Z")
Your kitten overlord has decided that you have no need for those touchpad buttons. Accept the decision of your master and cease worrying about it. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/10 "2017-06-12T11:13:37Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > I meant just above the num keys on the f keys. Tried that. No difference. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/laptop-touchpad-buttons-not-working/788682/11 "2017-06-13T21:45:11Z")
Just to follow up…I did a system restore, and the problem still exists. Guess I’ll have to take it in somewhere.