Windows 10: disabling touchpad when external mouse is attached

After one of the most recent Microsoft Windows 10 updates, a feature on our HP Spectre x360 notebook stopped working. Prior to that update, we could enter touchpad setting, additional settings, and click on 'disable internal pointing device when external pointing device is attached', which allowed enabled the situation whereby the touchpad was disabled when we plugged in the external mouse. Following the Windows 10 update, both the internal mouse and the external mouse operate simultaneously. As a result, the mouse pointer is difficult to control, resulting in erratic actions.


Have others encountered this problem? Can Microsoft reverse this change, and return this feature one of the options under the touchpad?

:)

 

Disable Touchpad and use External mouse

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

I understand that you want to disable the TouchPad of your laptop and want to use an external USB mouse.

To use an external USB mouse, please connect the USB mouse to any USB port on your laptop and it will be set up automatically.

To disable the touchpad you can try the following steps and check if that helps:

1. Press and hold Windows + X key on the keyboard.
   
2. Select Device manager from the list.
   
3. Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
   
4. Find Synaptics SMBus TouchPad/ELANClickpad touchpad.
   
5. Right click on the driver and select Disable.
   

Hope it helps.

Please reply with the status of the issue, we will be glad to help you further.

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

Disabling trackpad when external mouse is active

I have an ASUS laptop running Win10. The touchpad gestures sometimes accidentally activate and make a hash of my typing. I wish to use an external mouse and disable trackpad automatically when that mouse is active. Your advice says:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select Ease of Access.
3. Click Touchpad.
4. Under Touchpad, toggle the switch on or off.
5. You can also uncheck the box beside Leave touchpad on the when a mouse is connectedoption to disable it when you use a traditional mouse.

Once done with the steps above, check if the issue will persist.



As you no doubt know, these instructions are WRONG. There is no toggle switch under touchpad, and no option to toggle touchpad off when using external mouse.

I allow WIN10 to update. It is updated.

So what is the secret? And why is it a secret?

 

Deactivate touchpad when external mouse is active

Hi David,



Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.



I understand that you are facing issues with Windows 10. I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you.

The issue could occur if there is change in system settings.

To assist you better, please provide us the below information:

• When you say that "and the touchpad setting to disable when external mouse attached has disappeared from settings.", what are the settings available under mouse and touchpad settings?
• Are you able to see Touchpad option under mouse and touchpad settings?
• Are you able to recognized which are the recent Windows updates installed on the computer?

If you like to disable touchpad, then I suggest you to refer to the below steps and check if it helps.

1. Press Windows Key + R Key.

2. Then type “devmgmt.msc” without the quotes and hit on
Enter Key.

3. Expand Mice and other pointing devices.

4. Right click on the touchpad driver and click on Disable.

Reply to us with the information, so that we can assist you better.

Let us know if you need any further assistance on Windows related issues and we will be glad to help.